Enjoy the peacefulness of making it out to the lake for a quick hike without worrying too much about challenging climbs or difficult terrain. Take the wide fire road from the car uphill and then jump on the Phoenix Lake Trail. From here, you’ll combine this trail with the Gertrude Orr and Bill Williams trails.

Make sure you get here early on nice days or weekends. The parking lot holds about 20 cars and can fill up quickly. If you the spots are gone, it's not the biggest deal. Park along Lagunitas Road and add about 5-10 minutes of extra hiking depending on how far down the road you have to park.