A beautiful spring day for a hike. These plants were starting to leaf out

• Bleeding hearts
• Salmonberries
• Oso berry (Indian plum)
• Sword fern
• Deer fern

These were starting to flower

• Trillium
• Osoberry

A few other groups on the trail but not many. 

The trail to murphycreek is a dead end from which you need to return, not the main trail.

Great lowland river hike! We took the pups and had a blast. 

A perfect day for one of our favorite river strolls!  
We walked from the first access point to the third, stopping for late lunch on a sandy beach before taking the ADA trail to the middle access point and continuing the trail from there. 
We passed maybe three parties the whole walk. 
The forest here is beautiful, and there were many huge blowdowns!  We had to hop over a few of them, but it was not bad.

Beautiful winter day for a hike. TH is located right off of Mountain Loop Highway about 10 minutes outside of Darrington. No bathroom at North TH where we parked. Trail is mostly flat through the forest with lots of roots and rocks. Beautiful views of Sauk River and a few steep areas to access the river, but may want to bring water for dogs. Lots of amazing old growth trees, moss, and mushrooms. Great trail for all ages and skill levels. Trail is listed as 3 miles one way with 600 ft total elevation gain, we did the first two miles before turning back. 
NW Forest pass is required at the TH and dogs must be on a leash. Please practice Leave No Trace. 

This is a lovely winter hike and I picked it as I wanted some nice mountain views without actually driving into the mountains, and an uncrowded trail with no parking hassles for a first day outing.  The trail doesn't offer mountain views per se, but the drive to Darrington does.  So after admiring White Horse from the car on the way in we drove south from Darrington and parked at the main southern trail head (about a quarter full).  Out house was clean, but not stocked.

I have hiked here before years ago but took a quick look at the kiosk map on the way past, too quick it turned out, and we took straight off in a hurry as it was very cold.  The ADA trail is just a luxe way to take in the beautiful forest. I ignored both the signed river view spur trails we passed concentrating on finding the turn to the northern terminus.  Soon we were headed back toward the car which was all wrong and I knew we had made a rookie error.  Completing the full loop of the ADA trail we found ourselves back at the kiosk and this time I studied the insert map (pictured so you don't do the same thing), and could see the trail to the north terminus leaves from the view point itself so we should have taken either of those signed spur trails.  So back we went up the ADA trail and were soon at the nice river view point and then on our way up the main hiker trail to the north parking area.

The best part of this trail is that this north section is never far from the river and there are lots of mini view points along the way.  The forest is very wild  and I was soon enveloped in that calming forest bathing feeling, the slightly warmer temps at the upper end with the sun streaming through the trees helped as well.  The trail is just lovely no mud and very few roots or other nasties.  There is lots to admire along with the river views, some remaining big trees, fungi, mossy goodness and today lots of hair ice.  Three large rocks across the trail announce the north parking area.  A quick snack here for energy and we turned to head back admiring it all again on the way back.

Temps never got out of the 30's and with our extra loop I clocked six miles which is a decent distance for a winter walk.  A great way to welcome the hiking new year.