We love this hike in every season - but, this year I recommend waiting until the road is repaired. See Wheeln's trip report. Sounds like they went out on Saturday and we tried on Sunday. I wish I had read it before we headed out. We made it as far as the Mount Rose trail head before having to turn around.

The road from the Big Creek Campground entrance all the way to the Park boundry to the Staircase Campground (7 miles) is in HORRIBLE shape. Even in a 3/4 ton 4x4 truck I felt like had been kidney punched a hundred plus times in the nearly 1 hour it took me to bounce my way to the entrance. The condition of this heavily used access road to such a highly coveted trail system is a shameful disgrace to our National Park Service and should be addressed immediately. That being said I do not recommend going here until this road is made more serviceable or be prepared to need repairs to your vehicle as some of these enormous potholes are not only very big, they are also very deep, deceptive and unavoidable. You have been warned.. If you can get to the entrance the parking lot had a minimal amount of snow/ice but nothing any vehicle could not make short order of. I started off across the bridge towards the Big Cedar spur trail but before I could even get that far I happened across a family of 4 Elk out for a morning stroll and grazing. They were absolutely beautiful,a bit camera shy and timid but a very welcome sight. The trail was a little icy and slippery in places but nothing a little careful navigation cannot overcome. There are some windfalls cross the trail that you can either go around or climb over. The east side of the river trail a small creek had turned into a raging river that looked a bit too dangerous to cross so I turned around and backtracked my way back out. Overall I still love the Staircase Rapids hike but the road conditions right now do not make this trip worth the damage and wear to your vehicle to go see. I would hope they will service this road a restore the publics enjoyment of this wonderful area soon.

The road in was quite challenging with hundreds of significant pot holes and some pretty slick ice. it took a while to pull and push a Volvo back onto the road. Just go with 4- or all-wheel drive and good tires, and bring a tow rope and shovel and/or sand. The trail was totally snow-covered but no big obstacles. We heard from a fellow hiker that it's best to hike up and back on the near side of the rapids because on the far side you need to shimmy across a slick log crossing.

Day hike of the Rapids Loop and spur out to Four Stream. Trail in good condition overall, a few down trees that you can get over or go around. The trail becomes a little hard to follow around Beaver Flats and Beaver Burn just because it hasn't been used much. The main gate to Staircase was open. The parking lot had plenty of snow but was useable. The unpaved section of the road (FS-24) out to Staircase was pretty bad with potholes, plan on going slow unless your vehicle has good clearance. We came up 119 then to FS-24.

Beautiful day hiking the short bridge loop from Staircase parking lot. Lots of snow on the trail, but easily navigable. Overestimated my Subaru and got stuck in the parking lot. Headed up today to get it out (hopefully!) with my husbands truck!