Just an update that the renovations are just about complete.

I checked it out before a trip up to South Bessemer. (Basically the same parking area.) Based on signage (which I didn't see until finishing the loop), it's currently closed, but should open summer 2019.

The trail is now super obvious without any searches for markings or blazes needed, and makes a nice, easy loop for those who want a nice walk in the mountains without marching up a mountain for hours.

Trail currently closed for renovations.

We headed up the Middle Fork Snoqualmie River Road to hike some shorter trails we had not done in the past when we had hiked other trails. Our first stop was the Oxbow Lake Trail (Oxbow Loop Trail on GT map). There is parking for a few cars at the trailhead. The trail heads down hill from the road into a flat area. You can see several really big Spruce trees along the way. When we got to Oxbow Lake we came to the new DNR 80 feet long bridge over the outlet creek. The steel girders, wood deck and railings were brought in via helicopter. You can not cross the bridge yet since the stairs to get up to the deck have not been built. We walked the trail by the side of the bridge and in about 1/4 mile came to an over look high above the river. A little further we turned around as the trail was getting muddy and over grown. Looks like this area of the trail will need some turnpikes and the brush cut out. No DNR or MSGW trail construction crews have been out to the site in some time. After getting back to the trailhead we drove up the Middle Fork Road to hike the short trail to Camp Brown.

The sign is missing for Camp Brown at the parking area for this trail. We hiked over to the river for lunch at one of the camp spots with a nice view of the fast moving water and Garfield Mtn. in the background. There are several camp spots and they were all clean with no garbage laying around. Camp Brown was an old logging camp used by the Snoqualmie Falls Lumber Co. when they railroad logged the Middle Fork Snoqualmie River and Pratt River valleys from 1914 to 1942. Some of the trails in both valleys are on old logging railroad grades. After eating lunch we headed out for two more trails to explore. See out report for Pratt River Bar and Champion Beach.

Oxbow Lake was our choice for a First Day Hike. The day was sunny but crisp, with temperatures just below freezing when we started. FR56 was easily passable, with no snow or ice. The trail is marked on FR56 by a sign indicating "Oxbow Trail." Nevertheless, Oxbow Lake remains an informal, hiker-defined trail; the trailhead kiosk is still without signage. There were no cars parked at the trailhead's pull-in parking spot when we arrived just before 10:30 am.

The trail starts off unceremoniously, a bootpath that departs southeast from the kiosk area. The trail around Oxbow Lake is a loop, but the trail joins with FR56 before reaching the kiosk/parking area, and I recommend starting at the kiosk area and taking a clockwise path. It might be difficult to find the trail heading the other way. At the outset, there were "tank traps" in which the trail dips abruptly for 10-15 foot stretches. The trail is covered by frozen leaves, but winter has solved the issue of overgrowth. There are mudspots, blowdowns, and places where brush is encroaching on the trail. There is also a creek crossing that could get your boots wet. Occasional flags mark the path of the trail. When the trail brings you back to FR56, I recommend walking on FR56 the rest of the way, rather than trying to bushwhack back to the TH.

Along the way, we had peekaboo views of Russian Butte and the lake itself. There are two locations on the trail, approximately 0.6 miles and 1.0 miles along the route, with breathtaking views of the lake with the Middle Fork valley mountains in the background. We finished our circuit at approximately 11:35. We did not encounter any other hikers on the trail.

We next drove to the Granite Creek Connector trailhead pull-in. There were a couple cars there when we arrived. We ventured approximately one mile along the Connector, until the viewpoint of Teneriffe and Green Mountain, and then we turned back. The trail was covered with leaves but otherwise was in good condition. There were several passable creek crossings along the way.

It was a fantastic and scenic start to 2018!

This is why I love trip reports.  With shorter days I had only a few hours after work but thanks to a recent report I was able to get out in the woods.  There's a small sign on the left side of the FS56 indicating 'Oxbow Trail' not long after the Bessemer Road turnoff with parking on the right shoulder where it actually takes off from.  There's a sign board there but not in use yet.  The trail drops rapidly for a short distance and was slippery from the wet leaves covering it but obvious.  Once on level ground it proceeds South/Southeast eventually meeting up with the framework of a bridge and the first glimpse of Oxbow Lake.  From here the old road bed provides a trail that is a little rougher and a little wetter but still obvious.  There's some nice peek-a-boo views of the mountains along this stretch and the river if you climb the embankment.  Turning North you eventually arrive at a short side trail leading down to the edge of the lake and the best views.  Back up at the top you quickly come to a fork with the right branch now marked by White flagging.  Follow this branch and come out at the road South of Bessemer Road, closing the loop by walking FS56 back to your car.