Most vehicles can make the trailhead past the “closed” sign. Just need a bit of clearance. I have a GMC Acadia and what was the worst part is all the branches that dragged alongside my vehicle since this road isn’t used very often. The first 3 miles in you hike close to the creek with not too much elevation and lots of creek crossings. When you get to the boulder field there are carins On the other side just below and a pink ribbon the show the way. Then you start climbing and the trail becomes an adventure. Since this trail isn’t used often lots of rocks, roots, climbing, fallen trees to get past; which made this hike an adventure. After climbing a bit we found an opening to see 3 fingers and had lunch. We needed to turn around but the trail kept climbing so I bet the views continued. Didn’t see another soul all day on a Saturday. 9 miles 2200 elevation.

What a difference a few weeks makes during the shoulder season.  Two weeks we were in over a foot of snow at 4000' (Curry Gap) and this week no snow at the same elevation at Squire Creek Pass.  What a gorgeous destination on a sunny fall day with both Three Fingers and Whitehorse Mountain in full view and peekaboo mountain views starting early in the hike.  The pass is a vast gently-sloping granite slab with multiple large white rocks that are perfect for sitting. There were some frozen granite slabs just below the pass and a few frozen waterfalls above the scree slopes we traversed, but nothing we had to cross.  The creek crossings were all quite do-able without getting wet.  

I did this hike 10 years ago, and although it seems that several of the trip reports are about the difficulty of staying on the trail, our party of 3 did not have any problems navigating the trail.  There is a creek crossing with a large (mainly dry) creek bed at ~3.4 miles in, and at this crossing the trail jogs quite a bit downstream to continue up the valley.  The trail is marked with a cairn on both sides of the creek bed.  There were several cairns and pink flags along the way to confirm the route.  That is not to say that the trail is easy, however.  There were at least 24 downed trees, some of which required significant gymnastics to get around, and the trail is full of challenging footing, very rocky in many stretches and some very large steps.  It is a rugged trail and not well-travelled as the first two miles (the old road) are a narrow still-grassy track.  It is a shame the trail is not maintained, as the views along the way up the valley are much more impressive than the ascent via the Eightmile trail.

We did park in the parking lot at the end of the road, going past the "Road closed" sign (maybe a half mile before the end of the road) which a recent trip reporter noted is posted because a small chunk of the road has slid off a short distance beyond the sign.  A pickup truck also made it to the parking lot.  The road is not blocked.  We didn't see any other party on the trail all day, but we did see a pair of hunters in the parking lot (one seeking a bear and one an elk) before we set out in the morning and a pair of backpackers at the pass.  The latter had come up the Eightmile trail for a night.  We heard pikas in the scree slopes, but didn't see them.  The forest was dotted with many old-growth cedars once you cross into the Boulder River Wilderness area at about 2.8 miles.  We logged 5.7 miles one-way to the pass and 2800' elevation gain.

After kayaking on the Sauk, my friend and I thought this trail sounded like a fun adventure.  The road is in good condition, albeit overgrown with alders, carefully driven in a minivan.  The trail is still easy to navigate though it is overgrown.  Of the many creek crossings, only one required us to wade through rapid, knee deep water using stout sticks to keep our balance. No doubt this won't be an issue as the season progresses. We made it as far as the switchbacks before time ran out due to our late start.  Got the first salmonberries of the season.  Plenty of bunchberry, bleeding hearts, trillium,  violets and columbines, not to mention countless other flowers I don't yet know.  Really impressive waterfalls crashing down the granite flank of the mountain on the opposite side of the valley.

OK, Folks! Here's the nitty gritty on the road to the TH of Squire Creek-coming from the Darrington town side:

There is still a large hill of snowplowed snow where the county road becomes unpaved gravel road. It is still impassable here by vehicle.

For clarity, a vehicle cannot get past this point until that large mound melts away or someone comes up with a great ideas to plow it level.

Snow is seen beyond that point. Don't be snow fooled. It is only a short distance, and from there on, the gravel road is bare and dry and can be hiked on/not driven. Of course, with its usual narrowness and small trees and brush lining the path.

My SnowDog Gideon and I spent some moments clearing the road of fallen trees and potential blocking material. Once the snow mound at the county road end is gone, travel to the TH should be clear of fallen debris. The Golden and I hiked to the TH and had a very nice lunch in the sun. 

I offered Giddy some of my whole wheat pita bread with PB and Banana on it, but he was settled on chewing on stumps, branches, bark and wads of moss. Whatever suits your fancy, pupper!

Attempted to reach Squire Creek TH from north side(through residential area in town). Drove to where county road ends. Snow of about 14" blocked any further travel.

Fellow hiker and I, along with snow-trooper Gideon the Golden Retriever, followed what appeared to be a x-country ski path. Snow was relatively firm in the path. No post holing-at least, very minimal. We traveled the trail for short of a mile and the x-c trail ended abruptly. Beyond this point it would require snowshoes or x-c skis, which we conveniently left back at the concrete jungle hut(home).

The road from Arlington to Darrington is well manicured and snow plowed. Lots of snow still filing the fields and hills to enjoy.