Parking not too bad at TH on a weekday, about 9:20am. Weather good for hiking about 60 degrees, overcast. Trail starts out with a moderately steep ascent and except for very few traverses, stays steadily uphill for 2.9 miles. There are a couple of viewpoints along the way as you get higher. My route was a loop to include Rodney falls on Hardy creek. There's another attraction called Pool of the Winds near the falls. Worth taking a look. After the falls you go over the bridge which is very nice and ascend easily. Finally the trail is intersected by one leading off to the left. I stayed straight to Hamilton Mtn. summit. There isn't too much of a view at the actual summit. Stopped only briefly there and continued toward the saddle which is the trail to your left. (the one to the right simply dead ends in a hundred yards or so). It's less than a mile or so to the saddle which is a good spot to eat and enjoy views. (on my hike, the mountains in the distance were obscured by overcast clouds, however).
Continuing on, I chose "Don's cut-off" which is near the place where about three trails converge. Take the 3rd one to the right,(bypassing the wider Equestrian Trail). This trail is a nice, slow descent. At one point along Hardy creek you'll come to a picnic table. I went left there finally coming to the point at which this trail rejoins the Hamilton Mtn. trail and back to the car. I think this loop logs in at about 8.2 miles.
Very pleasant hike, trail is in good condition. No blowdowns, no bugs, plenty of wildflowers. Actually not encountering too many other hikers.
I hiked this same loop back in March, I believe, and there were patches of snow, but very passable.
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