Left out of Big Creek Campground

I got about 3 miles up and the snow was almost hip deep and I kept falling through too much and had to turn back. Never got to a view point!! Was a total bummer. But it looks like off this trail you would be right across from Rainier and have amazing views. I'm pretty sure this area was clear-cut at one point. 

You need snow shoes for this, or you could be like me and end up with soaking wet boots and super sore legs and a great workout! 

Decided to try a trail I haven't seen much info on. Osborne Trail (#250) starts at Big Creek Campground off of Skate Creek Rd on the southwest side of MRNP. It is actually in the Gifford Pinchot NF. The campground is closed so I merely parked off the road just outside the gate. I got a late start and didn't begin the hike until just after 11am. The first section of the hike, about 200-300 yards was all frost covered not slippery but just frosted. Once I hit the actual woods, the frost disappeared and the hike up started. This trail is open to horses and bikes as well and while I did see signs of bike use (not recently), I doubt any horse has been up here in a while. Once you enter the forest the next 2.5 miles is all switchbacks. It is pretty steep in places and you will get a workout. Once you reach the top of the ridge, you will notice one obvious trail (to the left)and one not so obvious trail (to the hard left). You want to take the hard left (going up). The other trail (#255) heads down towards FR8510. There are no signs for this intersection. From this point you move in and out of trees. To the south you can see Griffin Mountain. And behind it, Mount St. Helens. You can even see Mount Adams peeking from behind some smaller mountains. This section of trail did have a little snow on it. Not much and it was scattered. I only got about a mile further before I turned around so I could make it back down before the sun set. But another mile or so, you could make it to one of three lakes, Pothole, Bertha May and Granite lakes. I will come back next year to get to the lakes when I have more time (maybe even camp at the camp grounds) and when the sun is up longer. One last thing, despite being right next to Mount Rainier, you will have almost no views of it as the trees block it most of the time. (PS the map coordinates thing isn't working so do not believe the GSP coords as I didn't set them.)

Our group stayed at Big Creek Campground and made the hike on our second day. We started later than expected due to rain that morning, but made it to the second clearing at the top before the snow and temps started affecting the teo small dogs with us. The trail is definitely a challange with steep inclines and constant switchbacks, but the views were amazing. We experienced loose soil, mud, and fallen trees along the trail. Use caution.. all of us went down at some point or other. Towards the top, temperatures changed quickly and the snow made the narrow trail hazardous in some places. We met two other groups.. some hikers with children had to turn back due to the snow and a group of montain bikers that had a few issues with fallen trees. We're hoping to go back when the weather gets warmer. There are several lakes and a hot spring that can be hiked to from the top of the trail.

For me there are many changes to the lower portion of the Osborne Mt. Trail from Big Creek Campground. Private property on either side of the trail has been logged. On the left side of the trail, logging was about 3 years ago. On the right side towards the very beginning of the trail, logging must have been in 2008. The mossy mini-rainforest character is gone. But, the charcoaled old-growth snags are still there as some sort of reference from how the trail looked 4 years ago. Many new species are filling in the newly cleared area which is interesting to see. The area has been replanted with Douglas Fir, so the intermediate alder and fireweed stage of the clear cut will not last so long. Some of the small branches have not yet been cleared from the trail, but someone has been working on it. The trail is easy except for where the trailbikes have eroded into the sandy soil on the uphill stretch. Wear long pants to avoid nettles and thistles. Creek and river levels are fairly high. Weather was gorgeous. I saw a large Cascades frog, Stellar's Jay, Crows, Thrush, and Ravens. Big Creek campground was full Saturday night, but nearly empty on Sunday night. After the hike you can find the busy Copper Creek Cafe on Hwy 7 doing brisk business on long hours. I think it's the most reliable restaurant in Ashford, WA, just over the Nisqually River from Osborne Mountain. Trail park pass required at the Big Creek Campground TH of Osborne Mt. Trail. You can buy one at the historic Suver's General Store on your way through Ashford on Hwy 7.