First, the bad news: While the first 7 miles of service road are great, the road is blocked about 1.5 miles from the trailhead. If the snow doesn't get you, the large tree across the road will. I parked at a turn-out before the block and headed up to the trailhead. The trail is completely covered in snow that I could feel wanted to post-hole. With warming temperatures, I had to bail on it. If you have trekking poles, traction devices, and enough gumption, you might be able to manage it, but an easy day hike in the woods this isn't right now. It needs at least another month to thaw (and to have someone deal with the fallen tree).
Now onto the good: up to the road blockages, the road is well graded and WIDE; I passed multiple oncoming vehicles including a large dump truck and had no issues with passing. You won't need to worry about the who's-going-to-back-up ballet on this forest road. I have a low-clearance Subaru Impreza that handled it up to the blockage well and I am confident in a month I won't have trouble making it to the trailhead once it's clear. Wildflowers were in abundance at the base and were just poking through the dirt on the top, so in a few weeks there's going to be color. Despite not making it down the trail, there were some great views of Rainier and the surrounding peaks visible from the road, which makes me all the more excited to come back late June or early July and see what the trail has!
Give this one another month to go, and I think it'll be a good hike. It's not there yet, though.
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