Grotto Falls via Trillium

This excursion began after a meeting w/ friends and was an alternate route chosen after the snow began to accumulate. Being that I was on the Roaring Fork Motor Loop route when our meeting ended and the snow was falling heavy I chose to access the Trillium Gap Trail and hike to Grotto Falls. A trail and location I'd not experienced yet.
Dudes, and Dudettes! What an awesome day for it! The Park service had not yet closed the gate and w/ a little slipping I got to the parking area. The hike was relatively moderate but required some extra attention w/ the snow, and some ice buried beneath it, leftover from previous days. I busted it a couple of times on hidden ice. This portion of Trillium is no where near as difficult as the first few miles of Bull Head, though I'll recommend it w/ caution to novices. Cautions such as bring some water and snacks for the kids.
The whole walk was fabulous w/ the steady snowfall, heavy for the first half of the walk, and the lack of other folks.
The closed section of the road (closed each winter) parallels the trail for most of the first 2 miles from the Old Sugarlands Trail Head. Which is where one must park during the seasonal closing.
A Park service employee was closing the gate as the snow continued and I left the park. Another wonderful day for a hike! Peace.