The drive up was an interesting drive.  The WTA directions are easy to follow and even if you're not paying attention to mileage, you shouldn't have an issue. If you have a low clearance vehicle, you will want to take special care though you should be able to make it up to the trailhead.  Parking at the trailhead wasn't an issue though it is limited.

Weather today was amazing.  Drove through fog and mist getting there but burned off by the time we started up.

The trail was fantastic.  The first third is an easy stroll up to a great viewpoint that can be done 3 abreast.  The remaining trail to the lookout was well maintained but less accommodating.  For most of it you're on the side of the ridge headed up and there was a great breeze.  Lots of bear grass and other wild flowers is bloom.  Even found some ripe wild strawberries.

The view from the lookout is awe inspiring. 

The trail wasn't overly busy.  When we arrived there were 4 other cars and when we left a completely different set of 4 other cars were there.  We saw 4 or 5 other small groups for maybe 20 other people in our roughly 4 hours wandering up and down the trail.

Unfortunately, some folks were using a target area as a place to set off fireworks so you could hear the blasts echoing around the entire area.

 

Amazing day for a hike with my wife.  It's short and steep, but the switchbacks are in good condition.  Incredible views from the lookout tower!  This was our first lookout tower hike, we had been wanting to try one for some time and this was a perfect one to try first.

No complaints on the trail at all.  The directions were right on...make sure you watch your mileage from the turnoff, as it's pretty accurate.  The road, as stated in the directions, is washboard in some areas but in good condition.  The cars at the parking lot were all standard mini-SUVs and trucks.

Have fun!

After seeing some pictures of this lookout, I knew I wanted to try a sunrise hike. We had a group camping nearby although the drive was still over an hour to get to the trailhead. At 2:00 in the morning we made a few wrong turns. Should have followed mileage directions better. We were still half asleep as well. Got to the trailhead and ran into a couple heading up as well. We had a group of about 9 people and three dogs. Definitely recommend having a long leash for the dogs. I made the mistake of bringing our shorter leash and my dog kept wanting to cut the switch back corners which made it difficult for me. We planned on about an hour to hour and a half to get to the top. Started our hike around 3:30 and got to the top between 4:30-4:45. Was a stunning morning. Clouds were rolling in that looked like ocean waves. Got a lot of pictures in. There was a couple sleeping in the fire lookout, but not sure if they were the people that got there ahead of us or if they stayed the night up there. They missed the sunrise though. The view of mount rainier was amazing as well. I would like to do this again for a sunset hike, but worried about going down in the dark. Could be quite hazardous.

Although not hikable together these peaks are a quick drive away from each other. Kelly Butte came onto our radar because it has a standing fire lookout. Colquhoun is another former fire lookout that we thought would be fun to visit.

Kelly Butte has a new trail (as opposed to the original, steep scramble). It is fabulous. It starts as a quiet ramble on an old logging road. After 3/4 of a mile it turns uphill through steep basalt cliffs and airy hillsides covered in wild flowers. Bear grass, penstemon, snow bank parsley, indian paintbrush. In all we identified ~35 different flowers.

The trail quickly reaches a long gentle bench which rises up to the beautifully restored fire lookout. Inside there is a working fire finder. Views stretch for miles. Rainier is right in your face, the Stuarts linger towards the east, and the snowy county line between King and Kittitas counties is a jagged mess of peaks.

Colquhoun, while only a few miles away, was also a fire lookout. It's old trail is infrequently used. It is barely discernible initially from the trail head. A number of trees are down over this quiet trail but we cleared it for easy hiking. A ridgeline near the summit provides good views of Rainier. The former fire lookout location has no views. A few remnants of the lookout are scattered about.

Both of our GPSs measured Kelly Butte and 2 miles one way. Just a little bit more than the 1.7 miles noted on line. Although this is a great hike for children be sure to keep them close while going through the steep section.

Followed the WTA driving directions and got there no problem. Ample parking room to park as only a handful of cars in the parking area. Half of the hike was mostly under forest so there was some shade for a hot day like today. At the halfway point, when you reach the signage directing the trail, this is where the hike inclines moderately. Today was hot and not overcast, so this section of the trail is very exposed and there are some portions that do not offer shade and reprieve from the sun, so be prepared with plenty of water (I hiked with a dog and he was very hot, also no water sources) and sun protection. Otherwise, the day was beautiful, many wildflowers blooming and outstanding views of Rainier and other mountain ranges.