I've been wanting to get out to this hike since I saw the first posting a month+ ago. The parking lot was near empty. Maybe 3 cars counting ours. 40 degrees by the time we were starting at just before noon.
Such a nice way to gain 700 feet in less than a mile. The trail starts out with that brand new feeling, all that crushed raised gravel. Deluxe. The switchbacks are great! The stairs are so sturdy, just perfectly done. Amazing to see the amount of rocks most likely moved. Some even used as stairs.
The forest is mossy and the sun kept weaving its way in. Lots of old growth stumps throughout, with that tell tale notch. Seemed to be mostly Douglas Fir, a few Cedar and Big Leaf Maples. Saw some mushrooms and heard and saw a couple of Douglas Fir Squirrels. And you really can hear the river on the whole lower section which is lovely.
We had a group of 3 adults, 3 babies pass us on their way down just before we were at the ledge.
A commanding view. It's something else to trace that river back up the valley, I'm assuming the same way we Subaru wandered on in.
We passed 2 when we were on our way back down. Then another couple with a dog on leash. Their was a couple gearing up with 2 little ones in backpack carriers back in the parking lot.
Just over 2+ miles. The trail was dry. One tiny area with mud. So many adventures to be had off this road. We will be back again and again.
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