When to hike.............
While the trail is open to hikers all year and I have hiked the trail during the summer, I recommend hiking during the cooler times of the year. During the summer time it is very humid and buggy (ticks, mosquitoes, deer flies, chiggers ect). If you do plan to hike during the warmer time of the year, use a bug spray/juice of some type to help protect yourself. During and after the hike; check yourself and other hiking partners for ticks. Be sure and spray lots of bug spray around your ankles as there lots of chiggers along the trail and you will not know they are there until after your hike and you start itching. Don't ask how I know this.
Also try and avoid hiking right after a rain as the trails can be extra soggy. Even under the best of conditions you can expect to get wet feet.
Don't be suprised if you see the Marines on the trail. As MCAS Cherry Point is next door to the trail (you can see parts of the air station while hiking the Pine Cliffs section); the Marines sometimes use the trail for training hikes; only the Marines call it a "forced march" (meaning we hike real fast, I am a retired Marine and have done a few forced marches)