It was about a 45 minute hike from the parking lot to the top of the crater on a slow and steady pace, so it's easily a 2 hour round trip. Hiking up/down the crater portion itself was about a 15 minute hike on a 45% incline with some loose gravel, so I'd definitely recommend wearing a good pair of hiking shoes.
Its like a walk in the park, till you get to the crater itself. There is plenty of lava rock that is a plus and minus. Plus of the lava rock is its sort of like walking on grip tape. Minus of the lava rock. Its sharp as hell if you fall it might cut you. It also absorbs and radiates heat. So if you go plan to go between fall and spring, in the summer months you'll bake in the heat. Take plenty of water, there is no natural shade. Watch out for rattle snakes.
I'd.say its between a 4 and 6.out of 10 in strenuousness. as far a being technical, it's probably a 3 out of 10. As long as you're not sloppy about where you're stepping, you'll be fine. However, if you do fall, the rocks are very unforgiving since it's volcanic rock which tends to be sharp and a bit unforgiving.
Between easy and moderate. No shade, bring water, it's 3 miles round trip.
It's a moderate 4 mile hike, the elevation gain is less than 500ft, but it's the desert so there's no shade and it's still in the 80s in fall and spring.
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