8.7 mile (the loop) - 4 hour, 35 minutes (Return trip). Moderate. (Mostly easy, with some boulders).
Elevation
2780 - 3730 feet
Access
All cars, exit Little Blair Valley (S2 mile 22,3) and park at the 3 way fork at the saddle.
A nice loop above Little Blair Valley.
Hike up along the canyon dirt road and when the road ends keep on going. A couple of short stretches with boulders, one with fairly large boulders.
This area is after all famous for it's boulders.
But nowhere are the boulder stretches long and most of the hike is easy.
The route visits a tiny dry lake higher up, look for mallows (there may not be anything recognizable, the same mallows can also be found in Little Blair valley dry lake.
Eventually the route passes the Smuggler drop off, heads back along the pictograph trail and cross country back towards the car.
Alternative:
Follow the markers "Alternative 1" to "Playa 2" and continue to follow "Alternative 1".
This is a shorter very scenic route, but with 2 bigger boulder fields.
Only try this route, if you are comfortable with larger boulders.
The route is about one hour shorter.
Follow the Alternative 2, included in the GPX and KML files.
This route doesn't follow the road up, instead it follows a couple of washes.
Shortcutting the loop by going down a rocky drainage.