We clocked about 8.0 miles with 3,000 ft vertical. Very few people on the trail. Nice 360 degree views reward you for a hard climb at the peak. A fairly steep middle 1/3 section has lots of loose sand, which is tough on the way out and even tougher on the descent back. It would be hard to do this trail without the trekking poles. Once you past that middle section, the final 1/3 after the turn off right towards Mt Baldy is much easier and quite pleasant along the ridge with a view in both directions. The turn is quite easy to miss, so keep an eye on the map, and double check once you realize you start descending from the intermediate peak, about 2.5 miles in.
The trail is a mix of open and shaded sections, so it's good to plan for the sun: hat, sunscreen, short sleeve, long sleeve, etc.
The bugs were getting worse as we got higher, and turned unbearable at the peak. The lesson for us was to use the Deet wipes as soon as we noticed them on the lower elevations. Once applied, we could focus on the views around us and relax a bit.
There is an awesome berry patch about 1.5 mile in, where the trail flattens for a while.
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