As you all know, Staircase Rapids is a wonderful day trip. A few things to be aware of.. The entry road is not in very good conditions. There are quite a few road pits that can be a beat deep, so be careful while driving in. There are a few locations where you will be driving about 5 miles per hour. When you get to the trails, they are all open and in good shape. If you just do the Staircase Rapids loop, it is in very good condition and very comfortable. Now we love adding the 4 stream hike near the loop bridge. Now there are a number of trail conditions on 4 stream that can be a bit of a challenge regarding your balance due to boulders, tree roots and a bit of trail collapse. Now they are small and passable, but if you have concerns regarding your balance, it would be helpful to have your hiking poles to get past those areas. But as noted, they are small and passable, but a bit of a challenge. But still, one of the most enjoyable hikes you can do!

I followed boot-prints in the snow for the last half-mile to the lake, so I suppose it's theoretically doable, but let me assure you: you'll be bummed if you try. Patches of slippery, icy snow start around 3k and then, right after the B&W Lakes junction, it gets very deep and slushy. I put on snowshoes at that point and finished the ascent with little difficulty and explored a bit of the lakeside and spit, shaking my head sadly and tsk tsking at the various posthole tracks. Of course, lugging a pair of snowshoes 15 miles is not necessarily the best day-hike experience, but ymmv. I figured I'd give it a go, especially after getting snow-blocked on my last few hikes, and was glad to have made my destination.
Other stuff: quite a few logs to go over/under, but nothing serious. I'm not sure when they finally chopped that huge cedar by the boardwalk section, but it still smells divine. The washed out bridge near the TH has a stable logjam replacement and it does the job (see pic).
Flowers: lots of trillium and yellow violets, a few coltsfoot, but not much else so far.
Wildlife: heard a lot of quail, but only saw one. I didn't get a great look at them, but I also saw a family of elk at Slide Camp on my way out.
Bugs: quite a few buzzing bees and I spied a few mosquitoes, but they aren't biting (yet).
The road: a bit rougher than I'm used to, but they probably just haven't gotten around to regrading it - I can't remember when it happens, but it's sometime in spring (I think?).
The crowds: hiking on major holidays is the best. I saw one pair of backpackers on their way out (presumably from Spike Camp), but otherwise saw no one until I ran into a pair of guys making an ill-advised late afternoon attempt at Flapjack while I was on my way down. Eight more people on the Staircase loop and a couple more in the parking lot, but that's it.

The trail and day was wonderful! Little trash and minor blow downs. 

We did run into a slight issue, a day hiker with her 2 dogs off lead on the trail. Not near the trailhead but well into the wilderness. I confronted her on why she had her pets with her and why they were not on a leash. She claimed she knew nothing about not being allowed to have her dogs with her. I informed her that there were no less than 2 signs between the parking lot and the actual start of the trail. She stated several times there were no signs. And when I explained the reason as to the safety of her and her precious pups, she told me that is why she carried a gun. The fact that this ''local'' thinks that the rules of no pets and no firearms do not apply to her is appalling.

This will not prevent me from hiking the trail again and exploring even further.

*UPDATE*

I stand corrected. I did some research and see that as of 2/22/2010, firearms are allowed within the park. My bad.

This hike was a short but beautiful walk alongside the river and rapids.

The trail is in good condition except for one of the stream crossings, which just requires some gymnastics between rocks and logs!

Road is in Spring form- full of giant potholes that are navigable if you go slow.  A carefree Ford Focus went flying through them.  The gate was open and parking available all the way at the road's end.  No rangers around and Spring cleaning has not started.  A small blowdown was on the trail in to the suspension bridge and on the return loop, we decided not to attempt to cross the creek crossing where a log bridge is nowhere to be found.  Adventurous people should be able to maneuver the makeshift bridge.  A spectacular day at Staircase and only a dozen or so people to share it with on a Monday.