Had an afternoon free unexpectedly so decided to try a quick hike close to Seattle. Mt. Catherine was an excellent choice.
Like other trip reporters have mentioned, the road to the trailhead is a bit rough. My CRV handled it fine but cars with lower clearance might want to think twice. There is a small parking area on a curve about 1.5 miles from the trailhead, just before most of the worst parts of the road begin. You could easily park here and turn this into a 6 mile round-trip for a longer day out.
Trail is short but the elevation makes it a nice little workout. Took me just under 45 minutes to get to the summit at a moderately brisk pace. The entire trip took only about 2 hours, including 30 minutes at the top for a rest and bite to eat.
The trail is overall in good condition. There are some spots with mild overgrowth but it's all very passable. The only difficult section is the final scramble to the top, although there is a cable to help.
All in all a great way to spend an afternoon.
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