Miles: 5.2 miles RT
Elevation Gain/Highest: 1795ft/3110ft
Favorite Eats After Hike: Gustav’s, Yodelin’s Broth Company, South, Dan’s Food Market, or just Pack A Cooler. You can learn more about these places in my Must Hike Must Eat Eating Out Guide.
Find out current conditions and as always, practice Leave No Trace. Pretty please.
Hike Details:
The Sauer’s Mountain trail sits on privacy property outside Leavenworth and is a popular trek in spring when the balsamroot is showing its yellow blooms. A straightforward walk up the ridge line after a few swooping switchbacks, the view points offer views of the Wenatchee River Valley, Icicle Ridge, Glacier Peak and the Enchantments. You can continue beyond a bit further on a rolling ridge. The trail is well maintained but not built to USFS specs so expect some steep and narrow sections.
My trip report: 4/26/2019
Lots of trip reports for Sauer’s Mountain right now and rightly so. The balsamroot is out and spring must be here! I thought I would share some of my observations from our hike that were different than other descriptions I have read.
We really enjoyed the rock formation that the trail splits around at .25 miles into the hike. Reminded me of hiking outside Colorado Springs. We went up to the left and came back on the right, which seemed the steeper option coming down.
It is good to note that this is a well maintained trail but the outslope is exaggerated in quite a few places (trail slanted aggressively to the outside). Not a big deal but there are places where the trail is narrow, sloughing away or a layer of dust. Careful footing is important and I found myself leaning inward to keep my balance.
I loved the views down into the valley, blocks of fruit trees for miles. Their dusty white bark was in contrast to the green and blues of the meadows and sky above. And then that explosion of amarillo everywhere!
The expanded logging road at 2.5 miles meant scrambling up to continue onto the ridge. I am assuming it will eventually be fixed but right now it is bootpath and might need a hand or two. About 6 feet of loose dirt and rock compacted by hikers.
There is nothing that makes me happier than to see bees flitting about on wildflowers. Honeybees even! I found myself down in the blooms watching them busy at work. Our total stats for hiking up one side of the loop and back down the other on Sauer’s Mountain was 5.25 miles and almost 1,800 feet of ascent.
Post hike we stopped in Leavenworth and had some delicious salads on the patio at Yodelin Broth, check them out if you are in town!
Directions: Go through Peshastin, three miles east of Leavenworth, follow the North Road and make a right before the cemetery on Anderson Canyon Road. Drive 0.7 mile to the trailhead on the left side of the road. Park your car on either side of the road. There is room for about ten cars. If the parking area is full, please head to a different trail for the day. Please respect the property owner’s privacy. There is no camping allowed at the trailhead.
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