This is a perfect time to visit the awesome Grove of the Patriarchs. The Stevens Canyon entrance is not yet open, but one can drive through the un-manned gate to park at the trailhead, and without paying the park's entrance fee. Arriving at 7:00 in the morning, there were no other cars to be seen and no one else encountered on the trail. Two years in a row I've visited the Grove in April-May range and encountered not a human soul. About 2/3 of the trip is snowbound, but it's soft and easy going over the 1.6 miles RT. The ""presence"" of the old wise ones (red cedars and doug firs) never ceases to amaze and awe those humans fortunate enough to have a quiet communion with them. Please note that Forest Service Road 52 (a crucial link between Ashford and Packwood) is still closed due to snow.

Mount Rainier National Park - From Box Canyon N. to the ridge, and back down the other side to Grove of the Patriarchs. Hatch! Clouds of gnats, mosquitoes, and some deer flies near even the merest puddle of water. A very few snowpatches on the ridge for water, streams flowing w/in 300 vertical feet of the ridge top.

Did this one following Silver Falls hike. The biggest difficulty was swatting away the tourists they were thicker than the flies. It would be a good family hike mid week and can be combined with Silver Falls route across the road.