Always stop here on my to Port Angeles/Olympic. Such a great leg-stretcher! The trail is short, sweet, and steep! As stated above, the upper gate is closed due a landslide, but the lower gate is open. USFS says that will close sometime in early November. Trail is in excellent condition. Only a couple down trees that are very easy to step across. Definitely go to both viewpoints! My photo is from the south one. The north one is totally different and quite lovely at the moment because of all the fall foliage. Had both viewpoints to myself for over an hour this morning. Didn't start seeing people until 10 am as I began my descent.

HIked with my wife, Karen, daughter Allya and grandson Charles.  Trail generally in good condition, but dry conditions on steepest grades (20 to 25 degrees) with quite a bit of loose gravel. Good gripping shoes recommended for down hill. About half of the hikers we met were like us age 50 - 70. Met some couples doing reverse climb (going down from the parking area atop the mountain, then back up).  Great views from the top as far north as Anacortes and tops of San Juan Islands, east to the Seattle skyline, and south through some haze to Olympia. 

Got to the trail head about 10:30 for a quick up-and-down. Conditions were perfect - warm but not too hot, not too crowded even being a Saturday in August, and said hi to a few people on the trail. There were a couple groups at the top but it was quiet and there was room to relax a bit and catch my breath before heading down. Rhodys are done for the year, so the scenery is standard late-summer evergreen. There was just enough haze that Rainier was a bit blurry and Helens wasn't visible at all.

I also met the WTA work party on my way up - they were all smiling and enjoying the day along with the hikers. I will definitely keep my eyes open for a chance to volunteer on the trail next time!

A great steep but short hike that challenges without killing you. beautiful views and bathrooms at top. Probably busy and gorgeous when rhodies bloom. my partner appreciated plant diversity beyond Ferns. I had knee surgery in Dec and went slow with poles. lots of mosquitoes at top. Easy to find. No water or bathrooms at bottom. Mostly shaded. Not packed.

We were hoping to see rhododendrons in bloom and a previous trip report mentioned they were out on this hike. So true!! It was drippy and gray out, but the pink blossoms brightened our day. We also spied some wild roses just beginning to bloom, a few columbine, and some candy stick.

The trail is steep (2 miles & 2000' gain) but it's in really good shape.