I'd really just like to update on the current road conditions - there were workers or volunteers with heavy machinery smoothing out the first ~five miles of road when I went up today..... I have a feeling that's where a lot of issues with the road were from. Besides that, around mile six there were some pretty rocky/big potholed parts of the road that didn't seem extreme to me, just take it slow and as I discovered - on a weekday, driving up the road at 1pm, I only encountered TWO cars coming down the road. So I was able to navigate the potholes by driving on the left side of the road as well. Anyways, I have a 2wd stick shift SUV, drove it up this road right after it rained (kind of slick) and I'd still drive this road any day over Canyon Creek (very sketchy, no matter what the forest service road condition updates say).
----- As for the trail, it was a full parking lot (maybe 16 cars) and as I went up the trail I passed five groups of people. Pretty low key day without much trail traffic. Pretty socked 2 miles up the trail where you can see the valley and you start walking over towards Baker -- I stopped there because I had blisters from my stupid backup hiking boots... but it was nice to take this hike after a few years of taking a break from it. I'm mid 30s, don't have bad knees/issues, but I decided next time I do this hike I'm brining hiking poles, particularly for the last section as you descend - the trail was damp/wet and there were roots and rocks everywhere that were easy to slip on, and the last section is a bit steeper than the rest. Mushrooms are out! I'm assuming they flourished after the rain and cooler weather.
Biggest advice, take the road slow and you'll be fine and definitely do this hike on a weekday if you can, much better than weekend traffic.
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