Wonderful day for a hike! Middle Fork road is easily passable at this point in the year. Trail is still muddy and slippery in places but much of the path is in great shape. There is one river crossing that requires gingerly maneuvering over rocks in cold, quickly-moving water. Crossing would be difficult with children.

After we reached the riverside, which is the turnaround point for the 6-mile version of the hike, we pressed onward another two miles until we reached a large bridge and beautiful waterfall. I would recommend extending your hike and continuing to this point. Be careful with dogs or children on the bridge, however, as there is a portion of the railing missing.

Myself and my friend Greg set out 9am up the Snoqualmie Middle Fork road looking for some hiking adventure. We drove all the way up to Dingford Creek, the road was in ok shape, I’ve seen it better and worse.
We set out hiking from Dingford Creek and crossed down to the Middle Fork Trail. The upper Middle Fork trail is in good shape, NO snow to be found or even seen and only a couple small blow downs along the trail. The few creek crossings were easy enough and we were able to hop, skip and jump across without getting our feet wet.

After arriving to the Rock Creek (Snow Lake) trail cut off we stopped and discussed our options. We quickly decided to try the Rock Creek trail not thinking we would get very far due to snow. I must say starting up the trail it’s not your typical perfectly maintained Mount Si trail, which I have to say I prefer. The lower trail was in relatively good shape, we did a little impromptu trail maintenance by clearing blow downs but there are 15 plus larger blow downs that will need a saw to clear them. The snow patches started at about 2500 feet but was very traversable without traction devices. Once we got higher in to the steep open areas having poles was a must. In the open areas the views of Mount Garfield and the Rock Creek Waterfall are stunning, look north and you will start seeing chair peak show itself more and more with every switchback.
 
About a half mile from Snow Lake we hit steep snow fields that would have required crampons and ice axes to safely cross. Due to us having neither this was out turning around point. With the weather we are having I would say by June 1st this will be passable.

The trip down was a nice easy walk through the old growth. One heads up would to bring all the water you need after crossing Rock Creek on the Middle Fork, there are no water sources after that until you reach Snow Lake.

We stopped for a nice freeze dried bean and rice dinner on a rocky beach on the Middle Fork River and sat in the twilight glow until the bugs drove us to run for the car.

In short this was an amazing trail if you’re looking for something with no crowds and a little adventure. I will definably be back later this spring to finish the hike. Maybe lave a car at Alpental and get dropped off at Dingford and hike all the way through.

Side Note: We spoke with 2 guys that had just come down from spending the night at the Dutch Miller Gap trail head. They reported that the area up there is still under 5 plus feet of snow.

See you on the Trail,
Chris & Greg

 This is a nice spring hike because it is green and lush. There were lots of little wildflowers, though some like the bleeding heart were already past their prime. At about the two and a half mile point there was a large stream flowing over the trail. Long-legged people rock jumped across. Shorter-legged people like myself stopped there and basked on rocks in the sun.
  To get more of a hike, I went down the Pratt Connector Trail. The beginning of this trail is brown and not very attractive. All the better to look down and notice the new trail construction that WTA and others have done. I was particularly impressed with a turnpike that leads to a wide steam crossing where the water level didn't go above the tread of my boots. Farther along, steps and switchbacks take you down towards the river. This trail will give you more of a workout. After passing a very large rock, the trail turns green. It goes on a very long ways (12ish miles), but it makes for a good stroll for as long as you feel like strolling.

It was an almost perfect day for a visit. The recent regrade hasn't solved all of the problems with the drive in, but it is once again quite passable for a small car (it was not passable earlier in the season). Something about the mid afternoon light on a spring day made the forest as magical as I've seen it.

The stream at 2.5 miles is swollen, as one would expect. Headed out, it takes a bit of patience to find ones way across. But it is rather nice.

There is a bit of minor windfall in the next stretch of trail, and a bit of mud. But the conditions are overall good.

Having set out a bit late in the day, I turned around after a quick stop by the river (the nominal end of this hike), but I'm sure the waterfall a bit father on is nice this time of year as well. This is a great time to visit. The road is as good as it is going to be until it is paved.

Finally: cheers to the WTA work team, who were busy tidying up, and sorting out a washout.