As others have reported, the pullout for the trail head is on the left across from the 'Buck Creek' sign. Only space for 3-4 cars. We parked 1 mile north at a larger parking area and had to walk over a mile along the White River Trail to the junction with Little Ranger Trail. There were many unsigned Y's on the White River trail and we kept right to stay nearest the highway. For the 6 mile roundtrip hike, go just a little past the hairpin turn to the right. There is a sign for a fantastic viewpoint on a rocky outcropping. Great place for rest or lunch. The trail is consistently up hill but at a gentle grade. Only one downed tree that was easily stepped over. The yellow Pioneer Violets were plentiful in lower sections. We saw one Trillium and one Calypso Orchid.

The 12 miles, elevation gain and friendliness to pups were what attracted us initially to this hike and we were delightfully surprised to find ourselves alone the entire way!! Our only encounter with other hikers was at the peak, where there is a cabin...our fellow hiker had come up the Palisades side. We were happy to chat over water and snacks but enjoyed our separate trails alone. The trail itself was dry throughout its entirety and the elevation felt gradual, which left it feeling like a great "conditioner".

I took the Snoquera Palisades trail, hoping that if snow conditions permitted I would go all the way to Ranger Shelter and make a loop by returning on Ranger Creek trail. I parked at the Camp Sheppard lot, figuring that it would be about halfway between the two trailheads. I hiked up to the White River trail (#1199), then turned left and hiked about 1.3 miles to the junction with the Palisades Trail (#1198). I had stopped at the Enumclaw Ranger Station to ask about trail conditions, and had been told that the trail was in good condition and snow-free at least up to the second overlook. That proved to be accurate. Although the section to just above the falls is fairly steep – about 700 feet gain in a little over a mile – the only obstacle was the first stream crossing, where the rushing spring thaw made all the rocks wet and slippery. Trekking poles were useful here. From here the trail zig-zags up next to the falls, providing several great views before reaching the steps – about two dozen rough wooden steps leading to near the top of the ledge. Beyond this, there is a bridge with a few loose planks, but it’s perfectly safe if you’re careful. Past that bridge, the trail leads gently through a forest to the first overlook, at about 2 miles from the trailhead (or over 3 miles from my Camp Sheppard parking lot). You get a good look over the White River Valley here. But another 1.3 miles of gradual uphill hiking takes you to the second overlook, where you begin to see Mt. Rainier poking its head over the opposite ridge. I proceeded another 1½ miles to the third overlook, with a much better view of Mt. Rainier. There was some snow on one portion of this section, beginning about 4150 elevation, although it was spotty and easily navigable. After enjoying lunch on the rocky outcropping, I decided to push on to see if I could reach the Shelter. It was farther than I expected – another 2 miles – and the snow soon got heavier. There were faint boot tracks to follow, but the trail was often obscure. I was glad I had microspikes. You could probably manage it without them, but it wouldn’t be easy. Nearing the Shelter, the snow was close to a foot deep in places, and I postholed several times. With all the snow and the routefinding, it took another 1½ hours to reach the Shelter. I had spent 4½ hours on the trail and had covered 7.9 miles and gained over 2600 feet elevation. Running late, I immediately started down the Ranger Creek Trail (#1197), which was likewise covered with a foot or so of snow. Here there were more recent bootprints, although they didn’t always follow the trail. In one place they led straight down an open slope – I was glad I was following them down, not up! After dropping about 500 feet, though, the snow soon gave out, and the rest of the trail was uneventful, with the exception of one massive log blocking the trail. Upon reaching the junction with the White River Trail, I was chagrined to find that I still had nearly another 2 miles of up and down to reach my car back at Camp Sheppard. The weather was sunny and mild for the entire trip. I suspect in a few more weeks most of the snow will be gone, all the way to the Shelter. The entire loop was 13.7 miles, with a cumulative elevation gain of 2760 feet.

Three trees down on Little Ranger, only one of significant size. It's not easy to get over, but if you're spry, you can do it. Virtually snow free, with only very small patches up to the 3,900' elevation viewpoint. I rode my Mountain Bike, and the whole trail is rideable, and only the big blowdown near the bottom was a challenge to get passed.

My wife and I did the nearly 12 miles round trip to the "true" Little Ranger Peak. We had a beautiful day - the weather was warm and had clear skies. There was no snow on lower 6 miles round trip section, though encountered some patches on our way to the shelter (gators and a hiking pole were helpful but not absolutely necessary). Once we got to the shelter, the last 1 mile trail to the peak was almost entirely clear of snow. In all, the hike has a nice gradual climb the whole way up. It was also excellent for solitude as we only encountered two other small parties.