Woke up at my camp at Big Lake to a chilly 40 degrees. Packed up and drove to the trailhead just behind the lake and started down the trail. Very nice trail leading down to a series of beautiful meadows and then back out up along an old railroad bed. Towards the end of the hike I kicked up a big bull elk bedding down about 15 feet from the trail. He scared me pretty good and took off into the forest with a big hunk of branches stuck in his antlers. Happend so fast I was unable to get a picture. I really enjoyed this trail and would like to come back and see it when it's in summer prime!