Hiked Notch Pass today and everything in good shape, except for the bridge that is featured on the cover. It has collapsed due to rotting through. Right now you can make your way over it but it's sitting in water now and once the heavy rains start and water levels rise, I would be surprised if it survives winter. In addition, when temps drop and ice is on the bridge, this will be quite dangerous. Rpt written so WTA can see this picture taken today.

**WARNING** Bees nest within the first 1/3 mile from the bottom trailhead.
We went on the rough road with huge potholes and like other trail reports from July, the first section is definitely overgrown. However at about a quarter mile in, it does open up. We encountered the large ground dwelling bees nest shortly after that. I lucked out, as the leader of the hike, but my fellow companions were not so lucky, getting stung about a dozen times between them. After running from them (twice, as they did follow us) we decided not to return the same way and made the hike a loop, by taking Notch Pass to it's terminus on the LBQ, following that trail to it's end and walking the 3-4 miles from that TH to the Notch Pass TH. If you lost a hiking pole on this trail (I can only assume dropping it due to being stung by bees, coz it was very close to the nest) then we left it at the NP trailhead.
Regardless of this rude start to our adventure, a lovely walk we had. It is a good effort climbing to the first road crossing (which I'm recommending be the start point for at least through the Summer) and then lovely mossy areas and pretty bridge crossings all the way to the LBQ.

Too overgrown.

I went to the East start of the trail (main) and took Pennywise road. The gravel road to the trail had larger gravel rocks and you need AWD and a higher clearance vehicle.

At the trailhead there is enough space for two vehicles.

At .3 miles up the trail I turned back. it was too overgrown and I am not familiar enough with the trail to know what was ahead. Many berries. I could not see far enough in front to feel safe bushwhacking. Bees and bugs were very bad. 

I went to Lower Big Quilscene amd did that trail instead. I came upon the end of the other side of Notch pass and could not tell if many people had been up there recently. It still looked overgrown a bit on the west side start.

Had this trail on my list for awhile and finally got out to hike it. It was a little disappointing tbh - it's mostly just a steep forest trail with a lot of cardio and switchbacks. I made it up to the junction at the top and then turned around since I got a late start - no views up there. I saw only a single person and that's on a 3 day weekend so if you like seclusion then this is a great option. I think there will be a lot of berries here later in the season. Many wild rhododendrons were in bloom. Be careful on the way in - the last road is dicey and narrow with large uneven gravel in sections and some big water filled potholes. I probably wouldn't have done it without AWD. It's only a few miles long so just take it slow.

We could not get to the trailhead due to the road being recently graveled with very big rocks (like a base layer). We were in a low riding vehicle and afraid of getting a flat tire - it would have been passable with a pick-up. We were out for exercise, so ended up doing Mt. Walker.