This is a good "I can cut out of work a little early this afternoon and get outside to enjoy the weather" hike; also it would seem to be a good hike for young kids or those not in tiptop shape who are open to a small challenge yielding a wonderful view at the top as a reward.
The trail is quite nice and well-maintained; most of it is soft tread, not rocky or rooty. Stairsteps in a few especially steep sections. The route is clear as can be. It is almost entirely shaded; no need for sunscreen or a hat unless you plan to linger a long time at the "ledges" at the top, where there is full sun exposure.
The only 'watch out' is that while Middle Fork Road is a smooth, paved road in excellent condition (and you have to travel quite a ways on it), the pavement ends about 200 yards before the trailhead parking, and there are some very severe potholes from that point onward. It would be a very unpleasant and challenging drive if these conditions were present for a longer length. It's probably navigable for a conventional vehicle (though do your best to steer around the holes), but an SUV is preferred, and definitely not a vehicle with especially low clearance.
My hiking companion and my dog and I arrived at the trailhead at about 3:00 PM on a Thursday afternoon, only 4 vehicles there. We encountered only one other hiker (a solo hiker) on the entire hike. 50 minutes from trailhead to the top (my hiking companion is an avid photo taker, without her in tow it probably would have been more like 35-40 minutes), about 25 minutes down. My Fitbit recorded 5321 steps.
There are two pit toilets at the trailhead. There are also a couple of picnic tables (in good condition) by the river across the parking lot from the trailhead; that'd be a most pleasant place for a pre- or post-hike snack or picnic.
Anyway, bottom line is a good, short hike that is not "jaw dropping" with respect to beauty (by Washington state standards) or overly physically demanding, but is most pleasant and enjoyable, and the natural beauty is certainly nice enough. If it were in Ohio, it'd be the most beautiful place in the state :).
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