The trail begins on a flat covered by lodgepole pine. From there you travel through open stands of mountain hemlock and true fir. Timberline is reached about 1 mile from the summit. The last half mile is quite steep and rocky and may be too difficult for small children.
The volcanic origin of the mountain becomes evident above timberline with many interesting geological formations. Those who reach the top will be greeted with a crater, a rock garden that hosts wildflowers at certain times of the year, and a rock wall with a window overlooking Mt. Thielsen. At the summit, Mt. Thielsen and Diamond Lake can be seen in the foreground with the Cascades in the north and Mt. Shasta in the south (visible on a clear day).
The first 2 miles are used for cross country skiing in the winter and mountain biking in the summer.
