My wife and I, and our 3 kids (8yr, 6yr & 3yr) had an awesome time on this hike. Got to the trailhead at 9:30am, the road leading there has one spot with some big rock. A lot of cars parked before it and just added an extra mile or so to the hike. We were in a truck so it wasn't a problem. Trail is nice and rocky so not really any mud despite rain the day before. We carried the 3 year old up most of the way but the other 2 did great. Took our time and reached the top about 11:00am. Kept a very close eye on the littest one on the peak as there are some cliffs. Weather was great and the view was amazing.

Had an afternoon free unexpectedly so decided to try a quick hike close to Seattle. Mt. Catherine was an excellent choice.

Like other trip reporters have mentioned, the road to the trailhead is a bit rough. My CRV handled it fine but cars with lower clearance might want to think twice. There is a small parking area on a curve about 1.5 miles from the trailhead, just before most of the worst parts of the road begin. You could easily park here and turn this into a 6 mile round-trip for a longer day out. 

Trail is short but the elevation makes it a nice little workout. Took me just under 45 minutes to get to the summit at a moderately brisk pace. The entire trip took only about 2 hours, including 30 minutes at the top for a rest and bite to eat. 

The trail is overall in good condition. There are some spots with mild overgrowth but it's all very passable. The only difficult section is the final scramble to the top, although there is a cable to help. 

All in all a great way to spend an afternoon. 

Took my friend on her first hike today! Although today was a bit hazy, and the view of Mount Rainier was quite obstructed, this was still a very nice hike. The road up is filled with pot holes and dry creek crossings, so I would definitely recommend a higher clearance vehicle. The trail itself is in excellent condition, and is very easy to follow. A moderately steep hike with a great payoff. The view at the top is beautiful, even when it is hazy. It looked like most of the huckleberries had already been picked, but there were still a few sweet ones left. 

Tried to hike this but the road conditions were impassable for my type of vehicle( aka tiny).  Please be aware that @ mile 3, there is a patch of huge rocks on moderately uneven terrain that is really only passable with a high clearance vehicle.  I watched a mini Cooper( mini Cooper!) almost give up, then try and fail twice, and then be pushed over the area by three guys assisting the driver.  Don't know how they fared on the way back, bit too risky for me....Disappointing because I've done the hike before and it's beautiful....