Mileage: depends on how far you go and how far down you leave your car - lots of trails intersect this trail. There is no water unless you drop below Blowout Mountain where that side trail crosses Blowout Creek. You could backpack that far fairly easily as I guess it is about 5-6 miles. I hear there's a cabin down there and a scrabble trail to Blowout summit. Getting to this lookout - not worth it unless you really want to visit all in the area as while the foundation was cool, there's no longer a view AND the drive is on not so great roads taking close to 90 minutes from the exit 62. The last road was too rocky for my car last half mile but kind of a nice campsite up there. I saw lots of hunters and motorbikes in the area, but almost no-one on the middle road 4110 - wet and strewn with small blowdown. The trail is really rocky in places and torn up a bit by motorbikes. I didn't meet anyone - not a hiker or a motorbike, but when I was on PCT section, I heard them. So when get to top of first set of switchbacks at last switchback, head right into woods. After first few feet, it is easy going to the site - almost like a road was there. I continued hiking - got a nice view of Rainier and Cascades occasionally. Nice fall color.