Beautiful day for a trail run, lots of people out today. I started at the West Access entrance off of HWY 900. There is plenty of blow-down in the first 3/4 mile, so for now it is really slow going. Big chainsaw stuff. That was the worst of the trails i saw today. There is still a little snow here & there, but dont expect much. Instead of retracing my route, here is the status (your mileage may vary!):

Cleared:
Coal Mine
Old Griz (except the top 100 yards)
Perimeter loop
Coming up from May Valley TH (you wouldnt even know there was a storm there)
I didnt take C2 very far but I m guessing the rest is in also good shape

Not Cleared:
Phil's Creek between south summit trail and Griz intersections (many limbs)
Chybinski loop (though someone was working on it with a chainsaw when i went through)
EastSide Trail (south of Griz)
South Summit (one large, difficult tree down, and many limbs)

Just did a quick 5 mile ramble on some Squak Mountain trails, starting from the Mountainside Drive trailhead. There was no snow anywhere on the mountain, and the condition of the trails was in general quite good, with a lot of recent tread work visible. Even the short path that leads from the Perimeter Trail to the south vista had been brushed (although there still is no sign marking the junction). I lingered quite a while at the vista, enjoying the bright sun and the view of Mt. Rainier.

A few trail issues that I noted: the top part of the Bullitt Gorge trail, from its upper end down to the Perimeter Trail junction, is overly steep in places and could use a reroute. There's a mucky creek crossing that needs improvement - a bridge would be nice.

The west portion of the Chybinski Loop, downhill from the blockhouse, could use some drainage work on the steeply graded portions. For some reason, the trail crews that have done so much great work elsewhere on Squak have avoided this area.

Beautiful night for a trail run. I started at the West Access trailhead where the trail climbs gradually and crosses 2 bridges added/updated in the last few years. Then headed out on the Chybinski Loop to the base of the West Peak. These trails are in excellent condition right now. Dry, brushed, and blowdowns are cleared. From there I followed the Perimeter Loop trail which is far less travelled, but a trail you can almost always expect to have to yourself. There is a great viewpoint out there that looks to the southwest. Sunset was coming so I had to keep moving. Went past the May Valley trail intersection then climbed up to the Bullitt Fireplace trail. The forest in here is very dark, not enough light to even grow ferns. The west side of Squak is also mostly devoid of nettles which is a nice break. I climbed past the Fireplace and to the Central Peak Summit, now on C1. Not a great view from here, the trees block most of it but you can stare at the microwave tower (how exciting!)Down the road a ways, I take the plunging trail to the left and drop down .5 miles or so to Phil's creek. Don't step on a pinecone or round rock on this trail or you'll go down it on your backside. I took a left at the intersection onto Phil's to head back to West Access because my daylight was running out. To the right goes to May Valley trailhead, and can be a nettle-fest at times. The trail is a little overgrown now but blowdown-free. This trail switchbacks down and eventually dumps onto the east side trail (not sure of the name), which I followed back to the West Access trail. 1.2m from here back to the car. ~8 mile loop with some good runnable climbing. Dont expect to see wildflowers on Squak, however there are lots of mushrooms/fungi to examine. I also saw a barred owl on the Chybinski Loop. This is by far my favorite of the "Issaquah Alps" if you want a more quiet experience.

Doing the 7 mile loop hike around Squak Mountain is one of the nicest close-in hikes around. There are not many views, but the well-aged second growth forest, with trees 60 to 100 years old, is beautiful. Spring has finally arrived and lush greenery clothes the hillsides.

I started the loop hike at Mountainside Drive trailhead, then followed the wide, well-maintained Bullitt Fireplace trail onward and upward. After 1 mile, I veered left onto the East Side Trail, which takes a nearly level course along the side of a steep hillside overlooking Lake Sammamish, passing a succession of lovely ravines with trickling creeks. Someone has been working on this trail recently - several new turnpike structures have been built. About a mile of easy strolling brought me to the next junction, where I turned right onto Phil's Creek Trail and commenced a switchback climb of 300 feet to the Old Griz trail junction and site of an former sawmill, according to Footsore 1.

I continued the loop hike on Phils Creek, which gradually descends from the sawmill site on a narrow old roadbed to Thrush Gap, passing some impressive mossy cliffs along the way. Tucked between Squak's Central and East Peaks, Phils Creek is an exceptionally tranquil place. I always get a nice relaxed vibe here. The lower portion of Phil's Creek trail is a minor miracle: a horse trail that is pleasant for hikers, too. Extensive use of turnpikes and thick gravel "plating" of the trail has worked really well.

Eventually I reached the south access road. A quarter mile uphill hike on the road took me to the upper end of the May Valley Trail. Followed that to the start of the Bullitt Gorge Trail, which now sports a horse exclusion gate. Then it was a short, steep uphill slog on that old-school trail to the Perimeter Loop Trail.

I headed west on the Perimeter Loop trail, so-named because this was a portion of a once-planned loop trail around Squak dating from the Harvey Manning days (another more-or-less abandoned piece of the old Perimeter trail can be found connecting Thrush Gap and the East Side trail). The Perimeter Loop trail gradually climbs through lovely old second growth forest to a junction with the Chybinski Loop Trail.

I followed the CLT down and down to the West Access Trail, took that to the Coal Mine Trail (at the junction, be sure to follow the WAT a few feet to see the nice new handcrafted bridge over Chybinski Creek). Followed the CMT past the frog lady's ponds to the Bullitt Fireplace trail and back down to Mountainside Drive.

Maintenance needs: In general, Squak's trails are very well maintained, and there is little to report, mostly minor stuff. I spotted one failed drain dip on the Bullitt Fireplace Trail just beyond the Sierra Court trail. A few very minor blowdowns on the East Side Trail. The steeply climbing portion of Phil's Creek Trail near Old Griz has some narrow slumped tread. Bullitt Gorge Trail is overly steep in spots and could use some rerouting.

The west part of the Chybinsky Loop trail near the Blockhouse needs some attention. Mudholes near the summit. Drainage improvements are needed on the steeply graded portions. Water is running down the trail and eroding it in places. There's a section of trail in a deep trench in the hillside that need some extensive retread and drainage work. More mudholes where the trail approaches Chybinsky creek.