We arrived at the parking lot around 8:30ish. There were a few cars but no one around. Across the gorgeous gluelam beam bridge and we were on our way!

We hiked to the river access view point about 4.1 miles in then took that loop down to the water's edge for lunch before heading back. In hindsight I think the extra 3/4 of a mile to the intersection with the Dingford Creek trail (I think it's called?) would have been good to see the bridge there. The river access loop we took did not have the best river access or seating area for lunch but it was all good.

My hiking partner was expecting a challenging water crossing along the way but it was bone dry this year. She had seen it booming on a previous hike and was very surprised at the lack of water this time of year.

Lots of flowers blooming along the trail. We also tried multiple Salmonberrys but frankly they did not have much flavor. But always fun to eat berries growing in the wild.

No large animals spotted but we did see a Pacific Wren, a Douglas squirrel and a very large toad in the middle of the trail nowhere near a water source. Go figure? One of my favorite things was the tree that had fallen over but still managed to stay connected to the stump with some very bendy wood. (Pic attached.) Nature is amazing!

Total round trip for this day was 8.45 miles. We ended with a foot soak in the river back near the parking lot before heading back to civilization. *Sigh*

Middle Fork to Rock Trail - In good shape, couple of blowdowns as you near the Rock Creek Junction but easy to step over.  Some brushy sections but the trail has been cleaned up pretty well recently.

Rock Creek to Snow Lake - Trail in good condition.  Snow patches to traverse as you get within half a mile of the lake, including one steep section.  If you are comfortable with snow travel it will not be an issue.  No spikes necessary in the soft snow.  If you want to avoid snow, It'll be melted out by Summer Solstice.

Still significant snow at Snow Lake.

One other note, lower section of Rock Creek has no water sources so if you are low on water best to top off right before the junction.

Easy and delightful hike especially after recent knee replacement. Turned right after bridge to follow Pratt River Trail No. 1035. Wildflowers and ripening strawberries. Quiet except sound of river and birds. 

This is probably the prettiest trail I've hiked this year, but there are some important caveats for both the road and the trail. 

I started from the Dingford Trailhead. The road in is challenging, particularly a couple of dry creek crossings. It took me 40 minutes to go the 6 miles. High clearance would be wise. There were 5 other cars at the trailhead and around 8 or 9 people, most of whom appeared to be going to Goldmyer. (Those were the only people I saw all day.)

The Middle Fork Trail from the Dingford bridge down to Cripple Creek is one of the most scenic stretches, which is why I chose to start here instead of the lower Middle Fork Trailhead. It also cuts several miles off the trip. It's mostly flat here and the mile or so to the turnoff goes quickly.

The Tin Cup Joe Falls trail starts right after the bridge over Cripple Creek. I felt like it's a pretty clear trail all the way up to the start of the falls. I would say it falls into the "fun obstacle course" type of trail, particularly with the blowdowns, many of which you have to go under as they appear to be old growth trees.

The challenge though starts at the base of the lower falls.

The official trail fords the creek. Today I felt it was too deep and swift to do that safely. There is also a way to the upper falls on the climber's right side of the creek without fording, but it involves scrambling and route finding. 

If you choose that option, previous hikers have set cairns along the creek that lead to a talus gully, which you follow up until more cairns show a way across a log and under slide alder, then back down to the base of the upper falls. I don't think I can emphasize enough that if you go that route, pay extremely close attention. Once you're down at the base of the falls, it's somewhat hard to see the route back up. In fact, this part of the hike would make a really great commercial for those inReach devices. My more primitive GPS and downloaded trail map didn't really cut it here.

Hiked from Dingford TH along road until a creek crossing about a mile? past Crawford Creek, turned back, took Middle Fork trail between Horse Camp and Goldmyer, returned to road from there.

ROAD: beautiful as ever :o)

ROADTRAIL TO HORSECAMP: good condition, no issues.

MIDDLE FORK TRAIL: brushy, nearly screened out in parts, especially on north side of river. However, it's all soft forbs, would be easy work to clear it. Not as much water/deep mud on trail as previous trips up there, no blowdowns. Burntboot Creek was running high and hard, would have made for a difficult crossing.

DUTCH MILLER GAP/WILLIAMS LAKE TRAIL: No tread or drainage issues, a couple blowdowns that are a pain to cross. Brush (mostly thimbleberry and bracken fern) in the avvy chutes will be a nuisance later this year and start screening you out next year if it doesn't get cleared. Crawford Creeks were running high enough you can't cross the first safely without dunking your feet, it came up to my calves at a couple points. Snow doesn't begin until the "No fires past this point" sign. Allegedly at 4000', but it didn't feel like I went quite that far. There is an unnamed creek crossing not far past there that was also running high enough to be a ford, and the snow was covering more and more of the path. I decided to turn around at that point.

While I had originally planned to camp, it was only 1300 and I didn't feel like stopping. Wound up deciding to just head back to the car and do another day hike the next day, as I didn't want to stop at any of the other sites along the way (either too early in the day, or simply not amazing sites. I miss my winter snow camp site). On a whim decided to take the scenic route back, since I hadn't taken the Middle Fork trail yet this year. It had rained for a couple hours midday, and between that, the creek crossings earlier, and the bracken fern dumping all the water down my shoes, my feet sure were soggy.

By sheer dead reckoning I estimate I went 11.5mi from the trailhead (total 24.5mi w/ the scenic route) and was on trail about 14hrs (including cooking dinner). Phew! Daily mileage record broken!