The trailhead is located just past the ranger station about three miles after you enter the park. Parking can fill up quickly on weekends so arriving before eight would be a good idea. The loop is about four miles with moderate elevation gain mostly in the first mile. There is a nice overlook about halfway where you can see the lake. I would recommend bringing at least a liter of water per person and some snacks since there are not any facilities along the route. The surface is mostly packed dirt with some rocky sections near the top so good footwear makes a difference. I did this loop last month and it took us about two and a half hours with a short break at the overlook. The trail is well marked but I usually take a photo of the map at the trailhead just to be safe. If you want to extend the walk you can take the spur trail that adds another mile and leads to a smaller pond that is usually quiet. Let me know what time you are thinking of heading out and I can meet you there.

I think the raised bed approach would work well for what you described. The key with tomatoes is making sure they get at least six hours of direct sunlight each day. I have found that adding a layer of compost before planting makes a noticeable difference in how vigorous the plants become. For the variety you mentioned I would recommend spacing them about two feet apart so the roots have room to develop. You might also consider putting down some mulch after the soil warms up to help retain moisture and keep the weeds down. I have been using cedar mulch for the past couple seasons and it seems to hold up better than the shredded hardwood I tried before. As far as watering goes consistent moisture is better than drenching them every few days. A soaker hose on a timer has worked well for me since it delivers water directly to the roots and avoids getting the foliage wet which can lead to issues. Let me know if you want me to help you set up the bed layout next weekend.