Talapus and Olallie Lakes

Beautiful mid-week hike. Crews are still working on the road at exit 45 so if you're eastbound, you still need to head to exit 47, get back on the interstate heading west and backtrack to exit 45. Other reports have indicated the presence of logging crews on weekdays, but this was a Thursday and I didn't see any logging activity at all. I've heard that even with the logging crews there it's still possible to get to the trailhead. I arrived at about 2pm to a full parking lot. I can't imagine what it's like on the weekend.

The trail is in good shape apart from several mud holes that require some elementary navigation. Bugs were virtually non-existent until I decided to sit down at the far side of Olallie to have my lunch. Then they all showed up. Most of them were flies and a few bees though, not mosquitoes. I'd say this is a moderate hike at best--I made it to Olallie in about 1.25 hours. Easy on the knees, and you get two lakes for the price of one!