trail went up from the first step and did not stop. trail was easy to fallow. lots of rain that day. cold at the top. enjoyed the hike very much.

We started this partial 1-way hike from the Notch Pass 3 trailhead, hiked downhill to junction with Lower Big Quilcene river trail, turned north to reach Camp Jolly, retraced our route to the junction with Notch Pass and continued to the Lower Big Quilcene trailhead. The car shuttle was an easy 5 miles and there's an ample parking area off the road at the Notch Pass 3 trailhead.  Total 9 miles, 618' gain 1266' loss.

On the Lower Big Quilcene trail we encountered a large group of mountain bikers and their many dogs. They were considerate and polite. Luckily we were in a place wide enough to get out of their way. But their (and other's) tires have torn up the walking surface, leaving loose roly-poly gravel especially where the grade changes and at curves. The curves are not configured or banked appropriately for mountain bikes … so, are they supposed to be on this trail, anyway?

The 1 mile section of the Notch Pass trail between FR27 and junction with Lower Big Quilcene is pleasant. It appears that trail work and repair is underway. Trail surface is not torn up as it was on the Lower Big Quilcene (see above). There are a couple nice log bridges (see picture).

At Camp Jolly, there appeared to be a recent campfire. I guess some feel that a burn ban does not apply to them 😠 Next to the river at Camp Jolly, there were lots of ripe salmonberries and huckleberries – we ate them all 😋(just joking).

There isn't much I can add to the WTA narrative, which is still accurate. Parking at this TH is limited to two vehicles, providing the first to arrive parks considerately. When we hiked this, the rhodies were present almost the whole way along the easily-navigated nice-on-the-feet trail. You'll get a workout, but you won't suffer, and there are options to add mileage as you wish by walking the connected forest service roads and/or continuing down to Bark Shanty. It's not a wowser as hikes go, but it's peaceful and shaded if it's hot out.

Started at the Notch Pass 1 Trailhead. The road to the TH is in pretty rough shape in spots, I have a Subaru Outback so did not scrape bottom, but beware! The trail is in pretty good shape with a few downed trees on both Notch 1 and Notch 3 - all passable by stepping over or going around. There will be one exception soon...on Notch 3 just past Allen Creek, heading to the Big Quilcene trail, there is a HUGE cedar log section that has rolled (?) into the trail. Right now one can walk around it but right through/next to a devil's club patch. YIKES! The Club is just starting to sprout, so no issues, yet. Beware. Trilliums, calypso orchids, mahonia and yellow violets in beautiful profusion right now. The Townsend's warblers and Pacific wrens were singing away; I hear a couple varied thrush, a band-tailed pigeon and robin as well. It is a great "workout" hike - UP (Notch 1) downish but mostly across (Notch 2) then down (Notch 3) - then reverse that to get back to your transportation! About nine miles of excellent cardio!

No problems getting to the lower trailhead for Notch pass today – there were already two cars filling the small pull out. But just beyond an eighth of a mile there’s a second pull out that can accommodate a few more vehicles.
Intermittent snow started about 50 feet above the trailhead, and we worried that only one of us had brought spikes. Indeed, the snow got deeper maxing out at about 6 inches at Notch Pass on the first and second road crossings. But it was never slick today, mostly drippy and melting , and we didn’t need ice walkers, nor spikes on our feet.
This was only my second time on this trail, and I wanted to make it to Bark Shanty, which I didn’t get to see last time. Alas, the longer, snow covered bridges near the river were a bit nerve-racking, and we turned back shy of the shanty. Our start time was 1247, we were back to the car by 4:45 PM, with a slow and steady pace. We only saw two other hikers all afternoon. Excellent trail, perfect choice for an easy access Olympic charmer.