Though the weather and time of year had me thinking this would turn out to be a more interesting hike, the trail condition, precipitation, and temperature were fairly unremarkable for a Washington winter in the mountains. There were a few downed trees necessitating a few big steps and a clamber, but as a whole, the trail was clear, not washed out, and pleasantly flat.
The trailhead parking lot is neat and small, with a latrine in good condition, though stinky as one would expect. A few signposts at and near the beginning of the trail give some historical context of the trail being a former rail route for logging trains, though other than a general flatness to the path, there were not any huge visual clues about the trail's history.
Almost the entirety of the trail was gravel or well packed dirt, and except for a few wet spots where water had pooled or trickled nearby, there was a minimum of mud. These few muddy spots were easy enough to avoid, as well as being small enough to simply trudge through with minimal muck collected on the hem of my pants.
There were a few downed logs across the path, most small enough to step over or around, and some of the larger ones had been notched to make a step. One more recently fallen large tree necessitated a hand on the trunk and a hop. Additionally, a 15ft steeply sloped portion with a notched log made the need for the use of both hands and a modicum of flexibility, so less agile folk may have a challenge, though I found it to be a nice mix-up.
The trail ends abruptly at the Beaver Lake, as a large tree has smashed through the bridge, rendering any further progress unadvisable. The bridge is safely blocked off, and provides a nice viewing location for the three beaver lodges in the marshy lake.
Overall, an uncomplicated yet interesting hike.
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