Great hike. The leaves are already starting to change near the top. This is the perfect time to go. The trail has changed enough that the once 9+ mile loop is now just shy of 12 miles. I would say the trip was a moderate hike with a 3,000 foot assent in the first 3.5 miles. The way up there is a fair amount of scramble and light non-technical climbing. Once you reach the top Saddle trail is steep but no scrambling required for about 1.5 miles. Afterward you will be on the fire trail for the remainder of the hike. You will speed up significantly so don't be too alarmed if you have been moving slow thus far. I think we averaged just under 3 miles and hour on the fire trail and finished it in about an hour 15 minutes. We arrived the parking lot around 11:30 and we had plenty of time to complete the hike ending back at the parking lot around 7pm. Our pace included lots of breaks to enjoy the views and almost an hour at the top. I even was able to take a short nap and eat a late lunch.
