UPDATE 12/9: After the atmospheric river yesterday, tried to hike down to the Snoqualmie Falls lower viewpoint, but it is currently closed. The upper viewpoint is open and VERY wet (in a good way... heavy mist like a rainstorm). I have attached a video of the falls this morning (1st YouTube "short" link below) - it reached major flood stage in the wee hours of the morning.

Bottom Line:

Rattlesnake Ledge x2, Poo Poo Point and Little Si x2... local hiking with the variable weather! Today was driving rain at Little Si, but I dunno... I think the trail was more beautiful than ever! Mount Si next door is fine, although most of the forest ascent is pretty boring. Little Si on the other hand, is a stunning trail with a canyon between the two Si's that never ceases to enchant me with its huge trees, giant boulders, cliffs, moss, ferns and cliffside hanging pocket-gardens. The rocky terrain with thin soils creates a forest and understory that would be right at home in the San Juan Islands (minus the arbutus). The video from today highlights the beauty... with a wet lens for some of the time!

Stats (combined):

• Distance: ~ 25 miles
• Vertical: ~ 7000 ft
• Duration: over a week+ with ~9 hours of trail time
• Road/Parking: Easy parking at all 3 trailheads due to the time of year, with unlimited overflow at Rattlesnake, walk-to overflow at Little Si, and more limited parking at Poo Poo. Toilets. Discover Pass at Little Si and Rattlesnake.
• Weather (12/7): Windy, driving rain and fog - I got my 12-year-old boy groove on and enjoyed every minute of it, stomping through mud and puddles! Appropriate rain gear and waterproof hiking boots recommended.
• Trail: Rattlesnake Ledge is the easiest trail with the de-rocking work a few years ago - I do miss trying to descend by jumping from rock-to-rock. It gets a lot of traffic, even this time of year. Next up in difficulty is Little Si, with lots of roots and rocks and some steep sections, and finally Poo Poo, which is short and steep. All trails are wet and muddy, with water flowing over the trail for a short section of Rattlesnake, and extended sections of Little Si. All have some recent blowdowns, but most have been quickly cleared. With the rain and wind storm this week, that may change. There is (surprisingly) very little water in Rattlesnake Lake right now, compromising the view a bit.
• Takeaway: Looking forward to hiking Rattlesnake and Little Si in the snow if we can get some low extended low snow levels. Both are great for sunrise and would be especially so after a snowfall. I do think Little Si is by far the prettiest trail, but I might be biased - it is kind of in my neighborhood. The rock-step bottom part of the Chirico trail is also a highlight. Nice to hike all three after staying away all summer due to warm-weather traffic. NOTE: Please stay on the trail and do not cut switchbacks - some significant erosion problems on all 3 trails that could eventually lead to closures.

Just phone pics today - it has been wet! Two videos attached, the 1st of Little Si with its beauty perhaps augmented by the driving rain, and the 2nd a short for Poo Poo Point (tilt your screen; there is a CAT paragliding for your viewing pleasure/concern!) 

Trail is in great condition, even though there are fallen leaves on the ground, it wasn't too slippery. A few muddy spots, but those are easily avoidable. It wasn't too busy and there was plenty of parking mid morning on a Tuesday. Bathrooms were well stocked and very clean. Beautiful and chilly at the top, a few sprinkles on the way down.

My wife and I could not pass up a perfect, sunny, autumn day.  We decided that Poo Poo Point was a great option.

We showed up at the Trailhead at 10:00a, Saturday morning.  The parking lots was full.  But, we just hung behind a small line of cars that wanted to wait it out.  There is a steady stream of people coming and leaving from this trail.  We waited for less than 5 minutes before a spot opened up.  There are 4 Honey Buckets at the trailhead.  The ones I used was clean and stocked.

This trail is steep, but pretty short and <2 miles up.  The trail is narrow at the bottom and widens futher up.  There are lots of people on this trail.  We were constantly moving to the side to let people pass.

But, it was worth it.  It was a clear day and the view from both of the Launch Viewpoints was amazing.  The Southern view of Mt Rainier is especially amazing.  It was such a clear day, that we could see Mt Baker, like a bright beacon, at the North Launch.

The launch points have a lot of space.  So, although there were plenty of people, we were not climbing over each other like Rattlesnake Ledge.

There are bathrooms at the North Launch Viewpoint.  They were in pretty bad shape though.

Be careful on the way back down.  The rocks are wet and there are lots of wet leaves.  Easy to slip.

Today was a wonderful day for a hike here. The trees in the middle of the mountain have turned yellow, creating a wonderful landscape for hikers. The weather was a bit cold, but one or two layers is enough. The hike is not that long, just watch out for slippery rocks or roots on the trail. Dont stay in the summit for too long, the wind will blow cold air straight into your face. It's not too busy today, so parking should be fairly easy to find.

This was my first time doing this hike and I can see why it's so popular! Very close to Seattle/Tacoma and offers a fantastic trail and views! You'll either think its short and sweet or short and steep!

For being a little under 4 miles round trip and going up almost 1800', the trail is very steep. I was carrying my infant daughter up this hike and it was a real leg burner! The trail is in very good condition, between the way the rocks are laid out and the tree roots, it's almost like a staircase to the top. Hiking on the stone parts is so cool, you will feel like you are walking up to a medieval castle! 

There was a cloud cap on the top when I got to the trailhead but it dissipated just in time for me to see Tahoma, Mt Baker, Puget Sound, and some of the Olympics from the top. You get two awesome viewpoints on the top of this trail. 

Carrying about 25 lbs of precious cargo on my back, I was very careful with my footing on the way back down. Some of the loose dirt is very slippery and the roots can catch your feet. Even without a baby on my back I would be careful on the way down, poles recommended. 

On a cool, fall weekday the trailhead was pretty full at 10am, there were only a few spots left, I think on a nicer day it would fill up pretty quick. I am a fast hiker and it took me 2.5 hours to finish the hike with a quick break at top.