Unorganized planning lead me to Deer Ridge trail and a little bit of obstruction point trail (goal was Maiden peak but failed due to snowshoes breaking).

I took snowshoes but did not need them for deer ridge. It was surprisingly snowless until a bit before the camp. Road for deer ridge was clear driving in (just Potholes) and trail was in great conditions.

I didn't realize that road for the deer camp must not be used, it was so picture perfect when I arrived, it hadn't been touched since the snowfall. At the camp the snow is just ~shoe high

Because I made good timing I decided to continue on to Obstruction point with Maiden as a goal. I once again didn't need snowshoes until perhaps just pass half way to Maiden. The snow became tiresome at perhaps 1700m, and then became progressively more tiresome. All but one strap on my snowshoes ruptured, thus the "tiresome", speaking from someone that is still healing from a torn labrum...oops.

I started to wonder about avalanche possibilities around 1800m just before the 1926m point, there is one sloppy and bare section to cross (sorry, all my maps are metric). I bailed on the Maiden idea because the going became too slow so I tried for the point. I picked a terrible line and hope nobody will see my postholing disgrace. So I turned around a few meters from the top because although the snow felt it would hold me. Everything beneath me was a mystery, I am was mostly on what felt like slabby rock or buried trees and I did not like that too much.

On the way back I went up to Blue mountain and that was really nice. I've spent so long in the cascades that I forget you can see the ocean so close! Also a very cute family of deer calling camp their home. 

On the way down I realized I didn't appreciate how nice the upper section of the deer ridge was. With easy terrain and perfect views of the Royal Basin edge, it was really something special. The forest was so so but the bottom where the Rhodos are is a haven :)

We did a quick overnight up Deer Ridge to camp at Deer Park. The plan was to enjoy the quiet of a closed campground… but of course, we happened to go the day the road reopened. Still, it was pretty quiet and not crowded at all.

The trail's in great shape—steep in spots, but nothing unexpected. Like others have said, there’s no water along the way. We lucked out with a seasonal stream flowing near Loop B, Site 9, and filled up there.

Views were incredible (as always). Deer Park is one of our favorite places—it really feels like you can see the whole Olympic range from up there.

Tons of wildflowers right now: rhododendron and dogwood lower down, then paintbrush, phlox, glacier lilies, and penstemons once you hit the high country.

We also walked the road up to Blue Mountain—totally worth it for the 360 views.

This was a loop trail from Slab Creek to Gray Wolf River to Deer Creek Campground and out. It was a really tough hike (at least for me!) but so worth it! Around 17 miles. 1st you hike down into the valley and then up again to Gray Wolf River. Around 7.5 miles. Along the way you'll see Pacific Rhododendrons and when you reach the valley and start up you'll see Calypso Orchids, which were a highlight for me. Also Coral Root, bunch berry, vanilla leaf, indian pipe, and one I haven't seen before called Sugarstick. The next day is a killer - up and up towards Deer Creek Campground - around 4.7 miles. You'll see common paintbrush, dog violet, currant, horseshoe vetch, purple fringe, spreading phlox - the list goes on and on! The last day is a downhill stretch from Deer Creek Campground along the Deer Ridge Trail. You'll need to watch your step - it's a steep downhill. And more Pacific Rhododendrons. All in all a beautiful hike and well worth the extra effort.

Day hiked a 17 mi. loop, down Slab Camp, up Gray Wolf, up Three Forks to Deer Park, and down Deer Ridge.  On a beautiful day, I saw no other hikers till nearly the end of the hike.

The last few miles of road into the trailhead are badly potholed, and I wouldn't want to take a low-clearance vehicle on it.  I reached the trailhead at 7:45 a.m. on a Tuesday, and there was one other vehicle there.  The Slab Camp Trail was in good shape, with only one small log on it.  Some rhodies were in bloom.  The campsites at Duncan Flat by the Gray Wolf River were clean and in good shape, as was Camp Tony on the other side of the bridge.

The Gray Wolf Trail was in generally good shape.  I counted 16 logs on it up to Gray Wolf Camp, but none posed a significant obstacle.  There were many fairy slippers, paintbrush, deer's-foot, and rhodies in bloom.

Three Forks Shelter was in good shape, and the camp was clean.  Three Forks Trail was also in good shape.  I counted 4 logs on it, with none posing a challenge.  As I approached Deer Park, the wildflowers multiplied:  spreading phlox, woodland strawberry, stonecrop, hookedspur violet, red-flowering currant, etc.

Views from Deer Park were good up Grand Valley and Cameron Creek Valley.  There was no snow.  The Deer Ridge Trail was in excellent shape, with no significant obstructions.

I was back at the trailhead at 6 p.m., making 10 hours for the hike.  Total elevation gain:  4800 ft.

Road: chunky, but navigable. 

Trail: in good shape with no snow. Relentlessly steep in some places, but lots of viewpoints. We also walked the road up to Blue Mountain - snow starts just above the upper parking lot and the snow route has some mild exposure . The view from the top was very much worth it, including a surreal view of a cruise ship in the Strait.

Bugs: none

Flora: the rhododendrons are still a couple of weeks away from peak bloom, but there are some. We also saw trillium, paintbrush, glacier lilies, phlox, and more. 

Fauna: the deer are unafraid. They were very interested in us when we were cooking and very interested in our sweaty bags and gear otherwise. Shouting at them from as close as 10 feet away did not phase them. We also saw lots of birds and rabbits. 

Water: we heard that there was a trickle of water along the trail and a trickle of water at camp. Along the trail we did not see much more than a messy seep of water, which I might use in an emergency but not otherwise. At camp, we were pleasantly surprised to find a small but quick moving stream by Loop B. Because I believe this source is seasonal there were a lot of bits of organic material so we used a handkerchief to prefilter.

Infrastructure: we camped near a shelter which was useful for unpacking while it was still a little misty. There are bear boxes. The toilet was, surprisingly, unlocked and stocked with tp and hand sani. It was a little eerie to have the whole campground to ourselves (well, us and the deer). We passed a solo hiker and a Mountaineers group on Saturday morning and otherwise did not see another person until Sunday afternoon.