Parked in the Oxbow lot (maybe 100 yards past the locked gate) and had the trail to myself for a good chunk of the morning--I didn't encounter any other hikers, just a few groups of trail runners. Luckily, the forecasted rain mostly didn't materialize, although last night's rain made the brushy parts of the trail wet regardless.
A few of the stream crossings are still a little sketchy and I was very grateful I decided to bring a trekking pole along. Despite that, I still got my feet wet a few times, as the rocks people have put on the streams without log bridges are pretty shaky and after a close call on one of them I decided to just walk through the water.
I ended up hiking more like 9 miles because there was no signage at what I now assume was the Brawling Creek waterfall, and based on the trail description I expected to find something more noticeable as a stopping point. But after hiking considerably longer than 3.5 miles should take me--partially along another section of old road, which the trail meets as it leaves the brush--I turned around in a clearing and headed back. (On the return journey the small waterfall at Brawling Creek did look more noteworthy. Be smarter than me and use Strava or something if you're worried about missing it!)
Most of the elevation on this hike is gained on the section that goes up the old CCC road. The salmonberries are just starting to ripen and line both sides of the road in abundance--on my way out I filled up a water bottle full of them in maybe 15 minutes of foraging. I saw plenty of thimbleberry buds but no berries. This is also a good season for new Douglas fir tips and there were plenty of those to chew on as I walked, too.
All in all this was a fun and pleasant hike and I enjoyed the solitude it brought. I didn't bring my dog along this time but it would be a good one for pets and kids.
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