For two miles, the trail averages no more than 10% grade. There are brief stretches that reach 13% or so, but those are never long enough to truly exhaust you. Then, for another mile or so, the grade stays even lower.
On its way up, the trail will start out as a narrow hillside singletrack through a sprinkling of oak trees. Later, it leaves these trees behind and, after a brief open segment, enters a large patch of chaparral through which it continues as a smooth but wider trail (which seems to have been recently redone as of the time of my ride).
China Hole Trail terminates by connecting to Manzanita Point Road in the major campground area of the same name.