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.

1 of 4 
Great hike on a warm day. The trees and breeze made conditions almost perfect. A bit overcast when I reached Little Hamilton but when I was coming down the Lower Hardy Creek Trail from The Saddle, the sun was out! I saw a pair of turkey vultures at Little Beacon.

Route: Hamilton Mtn trail to the top, ridgeline to The Saddle, down to Upper Hardy Creek Trail via Don's Cutoff, back to Hamilton Trail via Lower Hardy Creek Trail, detour through Hadley Grove to Little Beacon, back to trailhead via the campground.

I did encounter a number of trees (14) across the trail or partially (since I can only submit 4 photos per report, I'll split into 4 reports):

1. 45.64271, -122.01479 - 8-10” log, partially over trail, user detour to get   around, causing tread creep
2. 45.64271, -122.01479 - same GPS coordinates at previous tree, this is just a few feet from the other log. It’s virtually off the trail but should be bucked back a few feet
3. 45.64961,-122.00645 - 8-10” log, over the trail. Users can climb over easily
4. 45.64962,-122.00628 - the crown of the previous tree is mostly cut back from the switchback, it’s mostly off the trail but causing tread creep uphill side.

4 of 4 
Great hike on a warm day. The trees and breeze made conditions almost perfect. A bit overcast when I reached Little Hamilton but when I was coming down the Lower Hardy Creek Trail from The Saddle, the sun was out! I saw a pair of turkey vultures at Little Beacon.

Route: Hamilton Mtn trail to the top, ridgeline to The Saddle, down to Upper Hardy Creek Trail via Don's Cutoff, back to Hamilton Trail via Lower Hardy Creek Trail, detour through Hadley Grove to Little Beacon, back to trailhead via the campground.

I did encounter a number of trees (14) across the trail or partially (since I can only submit 4 photos per report, I'll split into 4 reports):

13. 45.65079, -122.01317 - 8” log over the trail at chest high, trail erosion where people a stepping over the log on the downside the trail
14. 45.64758, -122.01027 - a pair of 8” logs right next to each other (a bit challenging to step over); a 10” log a few feet from the aforementioned pair

3 of 4 
Great hike on a warm day. The trees and breeze made conditions almost perfect. A bit overcast when I reached Little Hamilton but when I was coming down the Lower Hardy Creek Trail from The Saddle, the sun was out! I saw a pair of turkey vultures at Little Beacon.

Route: Hamilton Mtn trail to the top, ridgeline to The Saddle, down to Upper Hardy Creek Trail via Don's Cutoff, back to Hamilton Trail via Lower Hardy Creek Trail, detour through Hadley Grove to Little Beacon, back to trailhead via the campground.

I did encounter a number of trees (14) across the trail or partially (since I can only submit 4 photos per report, I'll split into 4 reports):

9. 45.66377,-122.01780 - 6-8” tree over the trail. Easy to step over
10. 45.65571,-122.01600 - 12-14” tree over the trail. Easy to step over
11. 45.65335,-122.01517 - 4-6” branch parallel to the trail, just needs to be moved off the tread
12. 45.65221,-122.01370 - two issues: group of limbs at head/chest height (have to duck under); 12-14” log over the trail w/ user detour around it

2 of 4 
Great hike on a warm day. The trees and breeze made conditions almost perfect. A bit overcast when I reached Little Hamilton but when I was coming down the Lower Hardy Creek Trail from The Saddle, the sun was out! I saw a pair of turkey vultures at Little Beacon.

Route: Hamilton Mtn trail to the top, ridgeline to The Saddle, down to Upper Hardy Creek Trail via Don's Cutoff, back to Hamilton Trail via Lower Hardy Creek Trail, detour through Hadley Grove to Little Beacon, back to trailhead via the campground.

I did encounter a number of trees (14) across the trail or partially (since I can only submit 4 photos per report, I'll split into 4 reports):

5. 45.64991,-122.00603 - 8-10” log - log is partially on the trail, causing tread creep on the uphill side
6. 45.65528,-122.01011 - 12-14” tree with attached root ball is over the trail. This has been here over a year. User detour is causing trail erosion
7. 45.66386,-122.01679 - 6” tree over the trail. Easy to step over
8. 45.66391,-122.01767 - 6” tree over the trail. Easy to step over