I met up with a friend for a post-Thanksgiving hike on this trail since they had never been to the Middlefork area before. We hiked from the second lot, including the connector trail - the mountain/river views from that section were fogged in when we started but clear on the return trip. It was more crowded than I was expecting today, even for a holiday Friday (got the last spot in the larger parking lot at 10am), but the weather was gorgeous so I’m glad people were getting outside. Lots of families, dogs, and kids on the trail.

There were two trees down across the trail, one shin-high at the lowest end and the other about knee high. Both were fairly simple for mobile adults to step over but since this trail sees a variety of users I wanted to mention them. Other than that the trail was in great shape, and not much mud or any standing water even after all the recent rain.

Restrooms were open and stocked, and trash was being picked up as we were leaving. The door for the toilet on the right side does not lock but the lock on the other one was functional.

This morning I did a quick stop at the Oxbow Loop Trail as a warmup for Otter/Big Creek Falls and Garfield Ledges. Nobody was in the parking lot or on the trail at 7:45, and I traveled at 3.5 mph along a raised gravel path in great condition, taking in the birds (golden-crowned kinglets, a thrush, a downy woodpecker, stellers jay, raven, towhee, Pacific wren, and a few frogs) as I went. 

No trees or branches blocked the path, and without a drop of rain all day I was able to shoot a few photos of the lake from the bridge before heading back to my car. I covered .93 miles in 17 minutes as a great warm-up for the rest of our hiking.

 I hiked the loop for the first time after I had had a very enjoyable time on Garfield ledges. After many times hiking and kayaking along the middle Fork, I never really knew about this loop hike. This is a very easy hike, which took less than an hour. The Oxbow Loop pond had several ducks and other water birds.

Got the absolute privilege & joy of having this trail all to myself today for a quick after-work hike. There were a few small trees down across the trail from the recent windstorm but they were easy to step over.

A previous trip report for the Middle Fork area said there was a tree across the one-way road (SE Lake Dorothy) so I took the alternate route (SE Middle Fork) just in case and it was clear.

Most of the fall color is on the ground but it’s still pretty. And the mushrooms are coming out!

This easy trail takes in an amazing range of Northwest scenery: dense, mossy forest, river, lake, and steep rocky mountains looming above. It was popular but not crowded on this Sunday, with almost all the parties on the trail including young children. Fall colors are coming in but not yet near peak.

We went to the larger parking area with the toilets. Toilets were stinky but OK, and the door on one doesn't lock. Regarding the WTA driving directions, they say after bearing right at the fork, "stay right and pass over a bridge spanning the Middle Fork Snoqualmie River" as if the bridge is shortly after the fork. In fact it's more than 4 miles to the bridge. Bottom line is just keep going on the same road. There are numerous trail heads along the way, but they're well marked.