I hiked this with my three year old for the first time. I really liked this trail! I love that you gain the elevation in short distance. It’s easier to do lower mileage with my toddler, and I enjoy the challenge of the elevation gain. The weather was perfect too. We got to the top and enjoyed the views. We walked over to the road but I couldn’t figure out which way to go to the other viewpoint. I was ready to head back down anyways.

The road to the trail head is gated, but there is plenty of parking by the gate. Also, the walk to the trailhead is very short, so don’t worry about the extra distance. I love that the switchbacks aren’t super long, although there are a lot of them. I can’t wait to come back once the rhododendrons are all blooming!

This took us about four hours round trip. Not bad for carrying 30+ lbs of extra weight!😆

It was a warm, climate changey day - almost 60° F in January - and a bit windy. We parked at the gate and walked the quarter mile to the trailhead and another gate. The trail was completely snow free and in good condition. It's a good climb! There was one creek along the way for our dog to water himself at. We went to the north viewpoint and enjoyed the vista of nearby peaks, including Baker. We started heading back and, a bit tired, were just deciding not to go over to the south viewpoint when a couple other hikers returning from it insisted it was gorgeous. I'm so glad we went there too! There was a gorgeous panorama of Rainier. Definitely go to both viewpoints if you visit this mountain!

For some unknown reason, we walked the road back. It was longer and rougher on the feet, although pretty. Would not recommend. 

Hiked up the trail and down the road on a cloudy but high-visibility day! There is no snow/ice anywhere as of 12/29, but the bottom gate is closed so plan ahead for an extra 0.5 miles total of the initial road walk and for slightly trickier parking on a busy weekend day (though, I've never seen it that busy). HIGHLY recommend stopping at Catkin Coffee just in town in Quilcene before or after any hikes in the area - the coffee is incredible and the shop atmosphere is even better:)

A WTA trail maintenance work party spent the day renewing drains and knocking down berms along the ascending trail in order to allow the shedding of rainwater and future snowmelt, to prevent erosion and pooling of water.  There were a fair number of hikers out enjoying the sunny day, and it was great to see that every dog was on a leash and not a single poop bag was left trailside!

Arrived around 9am on Thanksgiving, we were the 4th car there. The road is closed so there's just a little turnoff from 101 before the gate. It can fit a handful of cars although when we came back there were a bunch parked along the highway too. Since the road is closed there's an extra ~0.25 mile walk to the trailhead. It's obvious and well signed.

This is a very well maintained trail. No snow, but a bit of frost at the top. Great views from the top and we enjoyed watching a few bald eagles soaring in the updraft on the north side for a while. That being said, we lingered at the south view point because it was in the sun and provided shelter from the wind.

Probably encountered 20+ other people on the trail and 3 off leash dogs (no leashed dogs).