As mentioned on the WTA website, with the Ohanapecosh campground closed, you can't do this hike as a loop this season. I went up and back the eastern section of the trail.
The MORA website said that normal winter recreation was still permitted, so despite the construction on HWY 123, I drove around for my annual visit to Silver Falls. There was some construction on HWY 7 near the Nisqually State Park entrance that had the road down to one lane with an automatic light controlling things. Thankfully in the morning there wasn't enough traffic for this to be a long delay (once the thing turned green). Came back an alternate way so I can't speak to what it was like later in the day.
I’m assuming bicycles are included in the, “No public vehicle access” noted on the MORA website, because the dump truck traffic on the highway would make it completely unsafe for any bicyclists (in the ~3 miles I was on the road, I saw around 20 dump trucks).
For hikers, be sure you are listening for the dump trucks, as they are booking it. Most of them were very good about moving over when they saw me, even though I was getting well off the road when I heard them coming.
Wanting to get off the road as soon as I could, with the Ohanapecosh Campground and all associated trailheads also closed for construction, I took the short spur trail that’s about 0.4 miles up the road from the campground driveway. You’ll see a small parking area for ~8 cars on the west side of the road; the spur heads north from there. There are three large downed trees along this spur, two of which have fallen on each other and take some clambering to get over (other choice is to go under – see photo #2 below) but they are manageable.
Once on the trail itself I headed up to Silver Falls, then continued north on the Eastside Trail to the bridge over Olallie Creek. There were some downed trees to navigate (photo #2) but nothing that felt unsafe to get over/ under. As you descend towards the bridge near Silver Falls watch your footing – the hillside has shed dirt/ rocks onto the trail again this winter.
Vault toilets at the Grove of the Patriarchs trailhead were stocked with TP and hand sanitizer – shout out to the Park staff!
Flowers included yellow violets, trillium, calypso orchids, and small flowered blue-eyed Mary. There was no snow on any of the trails I hiked. Bugs were swarming, but nothing was biting.
It was a fantastic day to be on the trail!
I was told by the person manning the gate at the Park boundary that they are working Mondays through Fridays from 6AM to 7PM but currently at least they are not working on the weekends, if you’re looking for a quieter hike.
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