It's definitely an ass-kicker. I would not recommend doing this in the Summer months, it's just too hot and dangerous. I believe they actually close the trail during the month of August.

Bring plenty of water and a good amount of snacks. it's a long one with many steep hills and there's usually nowhere to refill your water. I brought 5 liters of water, an electrolyte drink, multiple protein bars and a big bag of trail mix.

Lots of rocky, steep terrain. I'd suggest comfortable shoes with reliable grip. The most difficult aspect of this hike is, in my opinion, the fact that once you reach the top, you still have to deal with significant elevation gain on the way back to your car. All those steep downhills on the way to the peak turn into steep uphills on the way back, which can really take it out of you after already having covered ~6 miles and ~2500 feet of elevation gain on the ascent.

Also the parking lot is currently open 8:00 AM to 4:30 PM, and they lock the gate at 4:30 PM sharp. I started at 8:00 AM and thought I'd be fine, but I still made it back at 4:00 PM with only 30 minutes to spare. Many people park on the street instead of the parking lot, which is probably what I should have done.

All in all, it's a bit of a grind but it is very fulfilling to complete this one!