I lugged my 9-month old up Si for a challenge and boy was it! Up in 3 hours, break+down in 2. Hadn't been here in probably 6 years. Still a classic! 

People: on a partly cloudy Thursday afternoon, there were some people, but I was surprised to have some solitude. The parking lot was not busy. I chose Si in part because I didn't want to go somewhere very secluded with a kid in tow, so that worked out well. Lots of positive encouragement for taking a baby out which was sweet ❤️

Trail conditions: Great, dusty in places but that's it

Sights: Some beautiful lilies, the afternoon sun through the trees was lovely, and the views up top were pretty good given some cloud cover

Bugs: there were flies flying around, but they didn't seem interested in human flesh

Difficulty: I'd forgotten how big of a climb this was, and very much wanted to give up at times but I was too close not to finish! Si is no joke. 

Parking: any car can make it, plenty of spaces at 11:45am on Tuesday. Privy pristine and stocked!

Trail: excellent condition, steep and challenging but really well maintained.

Bugs: there were some mosquitos about a mile before the top, but nothing noteworthy.

Berries: plenty of ripe red huckleberries!!!

The hike took me 2.5hrs up and 1.5hrs down. It surprisingly was never crowded on the trail!

i’ve missed this absolutely beautiful hike!! definitely rated hard for a reason 😅

i got to parking lot at 1:30pm on a monday; plenty of spots. everything on the trail was in great condition! the whole hike took about 4 hours, i got back to my car around 5:30pm.

i had to stop about a mile in to put moleskin on my ankles - if you’re prone to blisters like i am, make sure you bring some because this elevation is no joke!

took me about an hour 40 mins to get to the top, and just over an hour to get back down.

I arrived around 7:30am on a clear Sunday morning. The parking lot wasn't quite half full yet.

Overall this trail is in good condition, and has a solid elevation gain throughout, making it a great choice for a workout. I did not do the scramble up the haystack, instead opting to stop at the talus slope and enjoy some lunch before turning around. Good views of Rainier from here!

My Apple Watch clocked 7.83mi, 3,091ft of elevation gain over 4 hours total.

TLDR: Recommend this hike for a clear day to catch the views, but make sure to pack sun protection in the summer months. Bonus right now of wildflowers, berries, and moths/butterflies, but be aware it's a bit buggy too.

Hiked this in the opposite direction: up Mt Si, over to Mt Teneriffe, down Mt Teneriffe Trail, over Roarding Creek Trail, and back to Mt Si parking lot.

Arrived on a Sunday ~9:50am and there was plenty of parking. Had the whole back lot to myself. Lot is fine for a compact car, but there are some DEEP potholes at the entrance and exit of the parking lot that require some navigation.

Mt Si was busy as always, but more people seemed to be coming down than going up. Was pleasantly surprised that most of the way from Mt Si to Teneriffe is in the trees, providing shade with dappled sunlight. There are a couple of exposed sections though (example pic below), so I'd recommend a sun hat, sunglasses, and sunscreen for these summer months. The rock pile at the top of Mt Si is also exposed, so same recommendation for there. Lots of wildflowers blooming right now and even the occasional edible berry. With the wildflowers in full bloom, there were a lot of moths and butterflies fluttering about which gave the hike a whimsical feel. Saw 4 different varieties!

However, there are also a lot of flies and possibly mosquitoes from Mt Si to Teneriffe. If you don't stop, they're not too bothersome, but at the Si and Teneriffe summits, they were quite annoying. I also heard what may have been a hive in the last mile or so of the Teneriffe ascent (lots of concentrated buzzing) but didn't see anything and was not bothered/bitten.

Views were gorgeous from both Si and Teneriffe (example pics below), though I'm partial to the view from Teneriffe. Rainier is nicely framed and the views are 360, rather than at Si where the rock piles and haystack obstruct the views in some directions. Saw three mountains from Teneriffe, all with some snow still.

Comparing Mt Si trail to Mt Teneriffe trail, Mt Si is definitely more shaded, but is also definitely more crowded. Teneriffe is quite exposed to the sun in some sections, but in the shade, there was often a cool breeze that helped compensate for the earlier roast. Didn't pass anyone on Mt Teneriffe trail, but passed ~50 people on Si. Teneriffe had more loose rocks/gravel, compared to the rock/log steps of Si, so I had a couple of slips on the way down. As a result, I'd recommend wearing hiking boots with ankle support for insurance if going down this route. Saved me a couple of times!

Saw a bus leaving the area when I arrived and about 3 on their way in when I left. One of the pickups said Capitol Hill, but I didn't catch the others. Seems like the service is pretty frequent!