Aurora Ridge

Start hiking from the small but lightly-used trailhead parking area through the old-growth forest. It begins to climb steeply, but when you reach the ridge, it's mostly flat.

After a steep 2.5 miles, the trail comes to the ridge. You won't enjoy views yet, but the worst is behind you since the vertical climb has leveled out and small views open up, promising more the further you go. At 5 miles, the mildly primitive path comes to a junction with the Eagle Lakes Trail. Eagle Lakes are small but pretty lakes about a half-mile from here. Eagle Lakes is a great place to go bird watching.

Three miles past this junction, you'll come to the Sourdough Mountain junction. Sourdough Mountain rises 300 feet above the ridge and has fantastic views.

The peak is only 2,000 feet from here and is worth it. The summit elevation is 4,610 feet, which marks the highest point on the hike. Continue back the way you came or traverse further on top of the ridge. Past the peak junction, the trail goes all the way to the Happy Lake Ridge. But as a day hike, the peak and back is enough.