Gentle climb along a creek (not totally dry in early August, but spots to take a dip are fewer) for the first 2 miles. Then it's a tougher scramble over granite -- look for the blue blazes -- before it calms down a bit and you're at the lake. RIght now the tram isn't running so it looks pretty spooky! We didn't take a dip in the lake because we got a late start, but I bet it would be nice.