This hike was absolutely gorgeous - it's a winter wonderland.
I arrived at the parking lot at 11:00 am, fully anticipating a hard time finding parking since it was a Saturday and was extremely surprised to see about 10 cars in the parking lot (it was pretty empty). The hike itself is a steady incline on the way up, a little steeper during the switchbacks and then levels out closer to the lake; it wasn't too difficult but you'll still get a good workout. There was snow everywhere and it became thicker the higher I hiked. There are little waterfalls near the beginning and gorgeous breaks in the trees closer to the lake that provide views of snow-covered evergreens on the hillsides nearby.
The lake sneaks up on you and is breathtaking when you arrive. I reached the lake at around 12:30 pm and it was quiet and peaceful. It's slightly colder at the top near the lake so bring your layers, gloves and hats! I enjoyed the scenery for about 20 minutes before heading back to the trail.
My poles came in handy while descending to keep from slipping on the snow. I brought my yaktrax just in case but did not need them; I just took my time on the more densely packed portions of the trail and was fine. I made it down to the trailhead at 2:00 pm. I think this is a pretty underrated hike! I recommend checking it out for a wintry day-hike or overnight. I will definitely return!.
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