Finally got a chance to check out the Oxbow Lake Loop Trail this weekend with the family. As prior reports have stated, this is a very nice trail. One can tell from the outset that it has seen recent work due to the nice layer of gravel on the entire trail making for a nice walking surface. 

We visited on a hot (for Western Washington) August day. We only saw one other person on the trail. Made a quick stop at the restroom which is noteworthy because there are two parking lots for this trail. The first one you come to on the road dumps you right onto the trail. The second parking area is where the bathroom is located and is a 1/4 mile from the trail although to be honest, there were some nice views on that trail as well so it was worth the extra walk. 

There are great views everywhere on this trail. From the outset, on the river access, on the peak-a-boo views of the lake itself. 

The only complaint we had were the amount of mosquitoes. They have been vicious this summer and any sort of repellent hardly keeps them away. If you stay moving it isn't bad but if you stop, prepare to swat them away. We wanted to stop and make some sketches of the views, but would have spent more time squashing mosquitoes. 

The saving grace was the amount of baby frogs we saw on the hike. They were everywhere and the kids loved seeing them! 

I wish we would have thought about bugs before we went. And we didn’t have any bug spray. We should have bailed but we persevered and got bitten so much that I still have marks and itch 2 weeks later. It would probably have been a lovely little hike with our littles had we not been running to get away from mosquitos.

What a difference a year makes.  Back then the trail was rough from the original trailhead, the bridge was merely trusses and a pile of wood, and the end of the loop was a bushwhack to FS 56 and a walk back on the road.

Today we parked at the new parking lot with bathrooms and kiosk.  This connector has a great viewpoint of the river and mountains from a log barrier along the way before meeting up with the old trailhead and the beginning of the loop.  The forest is covered in moss with some older growth trees, there's now a spur to the river, a nice view of the lake from the completed bridge, and the trail closely follows along the lake providing views with different perspectives as it loops back to the beginning.  There's also great views of Russian Buttes.  A million little frogs were jumping around so step carefully.  We also saw two snakes.

On the way back we stopped at the Mine Creek Day Use area and walked down to the water where the kids had a spirited water gun fight and dad got soaked.  I had a week and a half of epic hikes with the family out of town but I sure loved having my little hikers back home.

We had heard that this new DNR trail had opened recently off the Middle Fork Road, so decided to check it out. Turned out to be a nice hike. The main trailhead has a new restroom, and kiosk with map and info. A short ways into the hike we had a nice view down to the Mid Fork of the Snoqualmie River looking up stream. In 0.2 miles we came to the loop part of the Oxbow Lake Trail (aka Oxbow Loop). We went counter clockwise around the loop. There are many old/large Sitka Spruce and big leaf Maple trees along the trail. When we  got to the trail junction, we hiked the side trail that goes to the Mid Fork Snoq. River with nice views up and down stream. Back on the main trail we came to the only foot bridge, a long wood girder one near the east end of Oxbow Lake. After crossing the bridge the trail heads up hill to a ridge above the lake with some view spots along the way. There are several log sofa benches to use as you hike along the lake with South Bessemer Mtn. in the back ground. The trail loops around the west side of the lake and meets up with the trail from the trailhead parking lot to complete the two mile hike. This new trail shouldn't get muddy since it is covered in gravel rock. Would be a good family hike with kids. Had this new trail to ourselves today.

Since this is a short hike, you can add some other short hikes along the Middle Fork Road like the Pratt River Bar and Champion Beach. After the Oxbow Lake Loop hike we headed up the Middle Fork Road. Stopped at the Russian Butte View trail next to the Mid Fork Snoq. River. This is one short hike, about 100 yards! We then went to the Gateway Bridge parking lot we took the Mid Fork Connector Trail out to the Taylor River for lunch at the log sofa benches and seats. We saw the Camp Brown trail and parking lot was closed for construction by Mountains to Sound Greenway. Also at the parking lot for the Snoqualmie Lake trail to Otter Falls the road was closed with barricades up and "Road Closed" signs. The new trail that will go up to Garfield Ledges is still closed do to trail construction.

Looks like everything is open and good to go. We parked here to go up to the CCC trail, and afterwards enjoyed this lovely trail. There are two parking areas, and the vault toilet is at the second one, shortly past the first. A winding .2 mile trail connects the two areas. 

The trail is wide and freshly graveled. Log benches are plentiful (so are mosquitos!) and have good views. A short spur trail takes you to the river.