The sign mentions that the trail to Joe Lake is unmaintained, and it really isn’t lying. Look for the thin trail branching off to the left of the sign, marked by a cairn. Follow the trail as it plunges into an alpine meadow overgrown with huckleberry, alder and maple. Pay very close attention to where the trail is beneath your boots, as it can be difficult to see beneath the brush (and very easy to lose).