Destination was Diamond Lake. 45 y/o male, 36 y/o female, 9 y/o boy; 11:00am - 5:00pm total round trip and my GPS reported 9.2 miles round trip; we had notable route-finding difficulty in the last 45 minutes that certainly delayed us. Arrived at Diamond Lake around 2:15pm. This is a strenuous and challenging hike.
We left at 11:00am (late start), lot was pretty full, had to park in a “trailer” spot for horses. We encountered only one couple on the way up who had turned around before Diamond Lake because they couldn’t find the route and one family group on our way down. Otherwise, it was very quiet and beautiful.
There are a few tree down across the trail, but easy to get over and pass. The trail is in OK condition for most of the trip. Some loose rock and branches on a steep trail mean you need to watch your footing—especially on the way down. We all took a little tumble here and there. There are some wet and marshy areas.
The last 45-60 minutes of the hike is challenging due to route-finding and small snowfield crossings. The snow fields are thin in areas and we all found ourselves punching through in places. You could get an injury if you aren’t careful. The trail can be difficult to track. There are a few faded markers in the trees, but not very useful. Stay left of the rock cairn at a small marshy prairie.
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