My first time on this trail, as I've been meaning to do it for years. One car in the lot when I arrived.
Trail in good shape up to the kiln, just wet leaves and a few mud puddles.
Beyond the kiln (about 150 yds) the trail is runoff flooded for a stretch. About ankle-deep (depending on the mud where you step, maybe deeper), so taller boots recommended if going beyond the kiln. Other than that, trail is good.
If a first-timer to the loop at the end (like me), I recommend going left (clockwise) as the trail around the backside of the knob has a very narrow and fairly steep section that I wouldn't care to be going down in wet/slippery conditions. Same view -- safer travel.
Be advised -- heard several rifle shots on the return, so hunters are out there this time of year and the trail does pass by or thru private land.

As a beginner hiker, there was some parts of this hike that proved a little difficult for me, but the entire experience was amazing! Four hours total, but I did stop along the way to take pictures and admire nature so I did take longer to finish. The kiln was bigger than I thought it would be, the rusted artifacts scattered around were a show stopper. Since the rain season has already set in, there was mud and pools of water along the trail, along with some fallen trees, but nothing impossible to navigate.

Saturday morning at Lime Kiln with me + 4 people and 2 dogs, arrived 8am to 3 other cars at the lot. There are 4 stream crossings with wood plank or log crossing which require balance to cross. Fall foliage is out. Muddy trail, shallow puddles navigable by most boots. Trail is 1 person wide in places and thorny brush kept clawing at my rain pants.

We went to the train bridge lookout which was unremarkable but if you skip the bridge lookout and keep going, the far side of the loop on the way back to the kiln was very jurassic with massive ferns and mossy trees. super beautiful.

3h trip time. upon return 6-7 vehicles in lot. porta potty at TH in decent condition.

No pass needed. lovely morning for a walk.

The forecast for the day called for rain in the morning, but clearing up in the afternoon. I got to the trailhead around 1pm with only a few other cars in the parking lot and the weather has indeed cleared up.

Based on the morning rain and some prior trip reports, I was a little worried about mud but the trail was in great condition. There were a few small sections where water pooled up, but it was all passable and nothing particularly muddy. There were also a few areas where you had to go around some trees and a narrow bridge, but that was all relatively easy to navigate as well.

The early parts of the trail has you navigate near some private property, but there are plenty of signs that make it clear which way to go.

I turned around at the kiln and my watch recorded about 5.5 miles roundtrip. By the time I got back to the trailhead, a few more groups had arrived but the parking lot never filled.

This is a lovely trail, just challenging enough to remind you your outside doing something, long enough to make the drive worth it but not too long for a day hike, and the historical aspect is really cool, the lime kiln is much more impressive than I thought it would be, and the river access is a nice treat to soak your feet for a few minutes before the return trip