Good short hike with nice views of the city in the distance, the Santa Cruz mountains etc. Can get windy on top.
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I hiked this trail on a Friday which meant there weren't many other people around. In fact, other than the ranger opening the parking gate, I didn't see another person until I walked through the park headquarters. While I'm sure there are more people around on a weekend, I think this is a good place to get away from the crowds.
The hike starts at the Grant Lake parking lot. The parking there is free, saving the $6 fee for parking at the main entrance. The temperature was in the upper 30's at 8 a.m. so it was nice heading uphill at the start, especially since the sun wasn't yet hitting the western facing slopes. The most recent heavy rain was a little over a week ago, which meant the trails were mostly in good condition. Mostly—but not completely—there were still a few soggy sections; notably the lower section of the Washburn Trail and the Edwards Loop Trail between Mt. Hamilton and Quimby Roads. The Edwards Loop Trail was made worse because of the cattle in that area, resulting in poor footing and wet conditions.
The bench at Antler Point had been repaired since I last visited it five months ago. On clear days the point has a great view of Silicon Valley It's a nice place for a short break, five miles into and at the highest elevation of the hike.
If you want a shorter hike you could visit Antler Point and turnaround. Or hike to Mt. Hamilton Road and return to the parking lot along the road. There isn't much traffic on the road on weekdays, I'm sure there's more on the weekend.
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