I did a grand loop, with side trips, that starting from the Beacon Rock Campground, passed Hamilton Mountain, and extended to the far reaches of the Upper Hardy Creek Trail.
The first side trip is Little Beacon Rock. This is a great hike for people with limited range, who want a nice view. The trail is easy and in excellent conditions. At Little Beacon Rock there is a little scrambling available, with exposure, so young kids should be under adult supervision.
At the mile mark, the second side trip is Hardy Falls. Currently, the falls is pencil thin. The better view was from near the top of the side trail. The trail down to the viewing platform is steep and irregular. It doesn't meet the stands of the first miles of the Hamilton Mountain Trail.
A hundred yards further is the third side trip -- Wind Pool. This a unique, delightful pool, carved into the center of the cliff. There are waterfalls coming into it and flowing out of it. It is a short easy walk from the main trail. There is also a beautiful bridge across Hardy Creek, below.
The Hamilton Mountain Trail is very good for about the first two miles. After that there are two sections of switchbacks of note. Both have some problems with short cuts, the trail sliding off the hillside, pokey-rock climbs with no clear trail, and exposure. One thing about exposure is it provides some magnificent view. The second set of switchbacks is the worst (or the best, depending upon your preferences). (This section could use help from the trail engineers who built the switchbacks cantilevered off of Beacon Rock.)
From Hamilton Mountain I continued north to Hamilton Saddle, and continued north again on to the Upper Hardy Creek Trail. In 0.2 miles there is a "Y". I stayed right on the Upper Hardy Creek Trail. The trail to the left rejoins the Upper Hardy Creek Trail, but looked less well maintain. It is 0.2 mile shorter.
It was a day of very nice forest and beautiful views, but eastern reach of the Upper Hardy Creek Trail was my favorite mile of walking for the day. The forest was lovely and the grades are benign. As you turn the corner, the northern lobes of the Upper Hardy Creek Trail are overgrown in places, but passable. Heading consistently south, as the trail approaches the junction with the Bridge Trail, trail conditions improve markedly. By the time it reaches Don's Cutoff Trail it is a well maintain trail again. About 0.2 miles south of this junction there are trail-side toilets.
Where the Upper Hardy Creek Trail intersects with the Equestrian Trail, it takes the latter name for 0.1 miles. At this point there is a well placed picnic table, if you are feeling the urge to nosh, and the Hardy Creek Trail heads off to the left.
The Hardy Creek Trail gradually climbs, descends and traverse well above the creek for a little over a mile, until you rejoin the Hamilton Mountain Trail. From here it is about 1.25 miles back to the campground.
Door-to-door, with my little side trips and view seeking, it was an eleven mile hike.
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