After over 100 days of no hikes (except for a quick trip to Boyce Thompson in mid-Nov), I did two hikes back to back... go figure. Anyway my brother and I took the trail heading east first, counter clockwise, around 1:00. There was quite a bit of traffic on the trail. I'm not sure which way is easier but when you hike it clockwise, that first hill is pretty tough (in that it's long). Overall, it's a great hike either way. You have about three long hills but they are on a gradual grade.
Once again, not much wildlife except for two lizards and a bunch of birds in one area. But we did pass by two nuns in full garb and tennis shoes and a priest. Now being a former Catholic, that was quite a site in the middle of the wilderness so to speak.... and they were hiking at a pretty good pace too.
I put the distance at 5.8 as that is what the person at the gate told us it was. The trail was in good shape and we look forward to coming again when the wildflowers are in bloom.