The only reason I selected "minor obstacles..." for the trail condition was for the bit of boulder scrambling near the summit. All quite manageable if you're up for that kind of thing and you keep your wits about you.
I will reiterate what one of the previous posters mentioned as to the directions. From the freeway off-ramp it's right turn (off the ramp), RIGHT turn onto the gravel road and then a left onto #5510. From there it's pretty easy to find.
At the trailhead (I arrived at TH about 11:30 on a Saturday and there was still parking available along the side of the road) plenty of cars...and apparently only one other hiker. They are all rock-hunters apparently - I didn't know this was a thing out there. After taking that initial right turn off the trail, up a very loose and steep embankment, I only saw the one other person (+ her two well-behaved pups) and no one past the trail intersection with the upper road (#5510-110). In the early portions of the trail every stump and the hillside is pocked with excavations. Initially I thought the work of a meth-addicted badger or something...but then I realized, "...no, just us humans..". While I appreciate that everybody enjoys the out-of-doors in different ways, it's sort of a shame the mess that's been made out there by the digging. Lots of undercutting of embankments and trees, erosion, piles of dirt and rocks, etc.
On the trail the climb is no joke...relentless after that initial right turn. I was grateful for the relative shade and cover on this hot, sunny Saturday. Trail is dry so bring plenty of water. I enjoyed the bits of scrambling nearer to the top - sort of interspersed with steep sections of trail - until you hit the summit proper and all of the big boulders there. I worked my way to the southern end of the summit for some big, flat rock lunch spot and to dry out my soaked shirt. Three turkey vultures were circling the summit in ascending spirals and eyeballing me (sorry birdies, no carcass here for you today) as I started to pack up, almost right at eye level - could count the pinion feathers. Butterflies abound at the summit. I am grateful for the solitude.
Back at the truck I ventured the rest of the way up #5510 to the gate at Hansen Creek Trailhead. It's billed as a picnic area and does sport a couple of picnic tables...but I gotta say, a pretty inhospitable picnic area. A large washed out area with some dirt embankments, no trees or shade (at least around the picnic tables). Maybe more of a jumping off point for other explorations - I did run into another group of crystal-hunters there. Sort of a sketchy conglomeration of U-Hauls, trashed RVs/trailers and a pile of bicycles and other detritus, at a wide bend in the road. Saw a glorious coyote cross the road twice in front of me on the way down.
-d
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