16-mile drive from park entrance to trailhead parking lot that is right on Going-to-the-Sun road. (Note: a closer lot to the trail is to turn right off the road that is by the walkway across the road.) Only two other cars in the lot (5:45am)

One couple started the trail with their flashlight. Beginning is a nice boardwalk that is part of Trail of the Cedars. Then the trail follows along Avalanche Creek. A wooden pedestrian bridge crosses the creek with views of the bright blue water cascading through the gorge below. 

Then a short, steep climb where hundreds of trees were downed from recent avalanches. Elevation gain along the path is pretty steady (sometimes feels a bit like a Stair-Master workout).

Arrived at lake after 2 hrs 20 min. We sure are slow!

Yea, got here to see the sun starting to come up over the mountain (9:00).
Too smoky for the perfect photo. Visibility got progressively worse; couldn't even see the waterfalls across the lake. 
The lake sits below the 8694-foot Bearhat Mountain (interesting fact: Hidden Lake that we went to yesterday is right on the other side!)  Spent an hour soaking up the magnificent scenery along the large beach. Nice to have several benches convenient for having our snacks and watching little kids wading/playing in the cold water. 

One the way back there was a nonstop line of people going both ways, even more than on yesterday's Hidden Lake hike.   Makes sense since this is one of the most popular trails. Sure glad we got started early. 

Great hike; great variety of scenery--lovely creek, gorge waterfall, beautiful forest of cedar and hemlock with ferns and moss. At the end, a stunning blue/green glacier lake surrounded by mountains. What more could you want.