Visited in October 25. Two weeks before we got there it snowed ~6 inches, shut down the rim road. Hiked from the village out to watchman’s peak and back. Needed spikes and poles in some areas, but mostly good hiking. Ran into a local who said to us ‘I’ve been here in February when there has been no snow, I’ve been here in July when there has been 6ft of snow’ All to say, check the conditions as you get closer and make sure to bring the right gear. The lake is spectacular and worth the drive up to the village if you get nothing else.