Expect cooler temperatures than down in the valley. The first mile is gently sloped, traveling through partly open areas. You go onto Route 672 for several hundred feet, to cross the parkway spur, then turn right back onto trails. The next mile is hillier, but with some nice long stretches of wide trail. The last several miles are mature woods trails.
Footing is uneven throughout, although better than most trails.
Some branch trails exist which are not on this map, nor on the trailhead map. Follow the red blazed trail carefully, checking at any intersection you encounter. Be aware of downed trees. When I ran recently, I dodged about 10 trees over the 5.4 mile loop. From downtown Roanoke, take Walnut St. toward Mill Mountain.