Nice trail, perfect for a midwinter ramble, especially lovely this week with frost caked on branches, ferns and moss.  I clicked "Minor obstacles on trail" because there are very occasional icy spots but otherwise the route is devoid of major obstacles.  The road in is paved and mostly clear although, yesterday, there was a road crew working which reduced traffic to one lane - but no wait, being a weekday.  

Road is clear and parking is plentiful. Bathrooms are open and one roll of TP remains.

Trail is muddy in many places as you'd expect after lots of rain.

There are about a dozen trees 12" diameter or larger down between the Gateway bridge and Dingford Creek bridge (mile 6). All the small stuff (branches) has been cleared and the logs are easy to step over. 

About 2.5 - 3.0 miles from the parking lot is a larger creek to cross with no bridge. On days of higher flow rate - like today - crossing the creek where the trail goes requires either wading through at least 1 ft deep water or jumping 5 ft onto a wet rock on the other side. 

Fortunately a large tree fell across the creek earlier this winter (likely during the bomb cyclone) about 50 ft upstream from the trail and crossing on it is easy. My apologies for not taking a picture of it. 

Other than that the trail is in good shape. 

I decided to spend the night.   The trailhead parking lot is in great shape and the bathrooms are open.  

I hiked the 5.8 miles upriver to the campsite just prior to the Dingford Creek Trailhead bridge.   There was one other tent there when I arrived at 3 pm.   There are three tent sites in total.  The hike took exactly 2 hours from the Middle Fork Trailhead parking lot.

The trail has approximately 12 - 15 downed trees.   They range from 2 to 42 inches in diameter.   Some you step over and some have makeshift trails built around them.   There is no snow on the trail.  It is wet here and there, but nothing horrible.   It was a beautiful hike.

Large tree blocking road about 4 MI from the trailhead, impassable. someone was trying to chainsaw it away.

Disclaimers

Quick-and-dirty version

Access: Middle Fork Snoqualmie Trailhead
Round Trip: 11.8 miles
Elevation Range: 1000'-1440'
Essential Gear: none
Dog-Friendly: yes

THE ROAD

• Similar to yesterday's report, some debris but no downed tree today, passable in all vehicles

THE TRAILS

• Not much has changed since yesterday's report, debris and small windfalls were easy to step over.
• A large unnamed creek at mile 2.75 past Nine Mile Creek needed more focus to cross over slippery rocks.
• Mile 3.25 and 3.75, groups of windfalls may require leaving the trail briefly to bypass.
• Mile 5, the beautiful, two-tiered Cripple Creek Falls

My Route

I turned around at Dingford Creek Trailhead. I've wanted to check out the crossing over the Middle Fork Snoqualmie River below the parking for some time. But despite having started several trips from there, I hadn't bothered to walk the short way down.

Highlights

• Constant view of Mount Garfield above the trees despite being in the forest the entire time
• Access trails to the river
• The occasional sunshine and blue sky above the trees, plus solitude

Lowlights

• None