Started from Middle Fork trailhead and went to try Stegosaurus Butte for the inaugural 2024 hike. Cross the excellent bridge and turn right toward Pratt River. Pass the Wilderness boundary sign and the trail will be on your left after another minute or so. It's exactly as the guide says - unmarked but pretty obvious. After that it's a relatively easy trail to stay on (we had a couple spots where we walked the wrong direction but realized our mistake after <10 steps and refound the trail). Made it to the top about 45 mins after leaving the car with stops to admire the river, and the first views. Glorious views down the Middle Fork Valley and across the valley to the Preacher and the Pulpit. 

Only issues were a  bit of mud (one section of less than 50 feet but on a slope) and the steepness. The trail averages 18% grade and there are some sections that reminded me of Old Mailbox. That being said, neither I (poles) and my partner (no poles) needed to use our hands while headed up and my buddy had one small slip on the way down but otherwise an uneventful hike. There are 2 blowdowns across the trail, one which is an easy step over and one which requires climbing around. 

Ol' Steggie, is what I like to call this mountain. A fun one on a gorgeous day on the Middle Fork. 

Over the bridge, hang a right and watch for a spur trail on the left side of the Pratt River Trail. The trail was pretty muddy for about a quarter of a mile. Slippery, wet, deep mud. Water proof boots are probably a must until this trail dries out. 

After the mud, it's a steep climb with a couple of memorable flat spots to catch your breath. The view point to marvel at Garfield Mountain was a great stopping point to chug a Gatorade and then onto the summit. I stopped at the second view point, (staring at Preacher Mountain) so technically I didn't go all the way up. 

It took me about 50 minutes to get to my stopping point. On the way down, I wished I had trekking poles because relying on slippery roots and trees was not ideal. Nevertheless, I did make it up and down without poles. 

I passed one other hiker on my way up. Other than that, not another soul for the time I was on trail. 

The parking lot was practically empty as I started at 9:30. The lower forested section was fairly muddy, but nothing out of the ordinary for springtime. The steeper rocky section had some interesting Pacific Yew trees right on the trail. The views at the top were beautiful. I got to the main overlook around 10:30, and was back in my car around noon.  

We embarked on a hike this Saturday, March 30th, starting at approximately 9am. The road leading to the trailhead was devoid of snow and fully paved, making it accessible to any vehicle. Upon arrival, we found the parking lot to be around 20% occupied, with an additional second lot available for latecomers, capable of accommodating at least 30 cars. A Northwest Forest Pass is required for parking, and the facilities were open for use. Once we returned, the 1st lot was 100% full. The trail itself was snow-free all the way to the summit. Upon crossing the bridge, we veered right at the fork. After a brief 4-5 minute walk, we encountered an unmarked junction on the left. It's important to note that if you continue walking for about 10 minutes, you've gone too far. Entering into a stunning landscape adorned with carpeted moss and ferns, the hike gradually began to reveal its elevation gain, particularly noticeable about half a mile into the trek. While there were multiple easy scramble sections, the elevation gain was palpable. Eventually, the trail opened up to a breathtaking view of Mount Garfield. To capture the full beauty of the Middle Fork, we ventured about half a mile further beyond the viewpoint.

I've attached a video for more details -https://youtu.be/CJBtznKTwzQ

Tried out Stegosaurus Butte for the first time today - great hike! Amazing how quiet it was up there given how busy the area was. Once we left the Pratt Connector trail, we only saw one hiker. This is a steep hike recommended for experienced hikers with great footing. There were some quite muddy sections shortly after the turnoff from the Pratt Connector, then it was pretty dry (except for a small patch of snow at the summit). The terrain is tricky for most of the trail with a lot of negotiating rocks and roots.

The views were beautiful at the top! Clear day, and you can see Garfield and other nearby peaks and valleys. The spring vegetation is just getting started. There were some lovely, peaceful sections coated with moss and ferns, and in one of these we stopped to look at a creek, noticed a Douglas squirrel snacking nearby, and were serenaded by a tiny bird.

The bridge across the Middle Fork is cool if you haven't seen it before, and there are lots of great spots to hang out by the river when you get back down.