This is a lovely spring hike if you want to get out for a bit. Wild flowers are just starting up and we saw trillium, native bleeding hearts and yellow violets. Flowers should just get better and better now. Trees are still leafing out which meant some nice peek a boo views to the river along the way. It was a chilly low 40s at the trail head when we arrived before nine, but mid 60s on our return. Plenty of parking even on a sunny Sunday as there is a large overflow lot. Outhouse clean but not stocked.
The best part of the hike is the first half, nice trail, river and mountain views with roaring creeks. The second half is way more meh, narrow, cobbly and the salmon berry bushes are starting to get grabby. We were on the early side so passed very few hikers on the way out, so cobwebs in the face for me too. We stopped for snacks right before the (empty) backpackers camp, down the obvious short side path to a river overlook. I had that at 3.5 miles. It's a nice spot to bust out the chairs and I was glad we'd brought along the hot coffee. More crowded as we came back although most folks seemed to stop at the large dry rocky creek crossing. Fun to see all the families with little people having grand adventures.
The trail is in decent shape for early spring. No mud pits but there are several things to climb over or duck under, one section of destroyed trail that is already part way fixed, and one multi blow down jumble that has an established non-technical boot track around.
The trip description is a little off as this is not a flat trail. There is some elevation gained and lost with a hump climb right in the middle. So coming and going I think you can claim around 500 feet total or so. You can move at a decent pace though and we were back in time for a picnic lunch at the very scenic table overlooking the Taylor river, steps from the car.
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