From US Highway 2, turn east onto Wenatchee River Bridge (Main Street) 4.8 kilometres southeast of the intersection with Riverbend Drive in Leavenworth or 1.4 kilometres northwest of the intersection with US Highway 97.  Cross Wenatchee River and follow Main Street for 550 metres before going under a railroad bridge.  Immediately past the railroad bridge, veer left and continue on Main Street--eventually becoming North Road--for another 1.4 kilometres before turning right onto Anderson Canyon Road.  Drive for 1.0 kilometre to the trailhead for Sauer's Mountain.  Parking is allowed on both sides of the road here, but care should be taken to heed all signs and not block any nearby private driveways.

After reading a plethora of regulations posted at the trailhead, Zosia and I began climbing up the winding trail which passes some interesting artwork en route to the National Forest boundary.  The trail splits about half a kilometre from the start, and although both trails are viable, we opted to take the left-hand fork which is slightly longer but gains the ridge crest earlier.  The hike along the ridge crest was very pleasant, and although views were somewhat limited, the abundance of wildflowers and occasional wildlife kept things from becoming dull.  Roughly around the 5-kilometre mark, the trail crosses a forestry road and climbs up a short but eroded embankment on the far side.  This was the only spot during the entire trip where the footing was suspect, and we had to be extra cautious going up and coming down here.  A sign and register container marks the "summit" of Sauer's Mountain at a scenic viewpoint, and while most people stop here, there is a slightly higher point only a short distance further up the ridge.  The actual highest point of the ridge, identified as "Peak 3180" on peakbagger.com, is another half kilometre or so beyond, but we did not feel compelled to extend our hike there.  Instead, we tagged the first high point and returned to the sign for a leisurely break.

For our descent, Zosia and I retraced our steps most of the way back down the ridge, but instead of descending the same way we came up, we took the right-hand fork that we skipped at the start of the trip.  This trail drops well below the ridge crest and plunges steeply before reaching the aforementioned split.  We had no issues descending the right-hand fork, but I was thankful that we did not climb up the ridge this way.  A final short descent through the easement concluded a most enjoyable hike.

	Sonny gets ready at the trailhead for Sauer's Mountain. Photo courtesy of Zosia Zgolak
	The easement through private property is well-decorated with artwork.
	Balsamroots are in abundance all along the trail going up the ridge.
	The trail climbs above some dramatic cliffs.
	Most of the ascent is a pleasant ridge walk.
	A mule deer seems genuinely curious about the hikers passing through its grazing spot.
	The top of Sauer's Mountain is visible in the distance as Zosia makes her way further up the ridge.
	Zosia stands on an embankment above a forestry road cutting across the ridge.

A sign and summit register for Sauer's Mountain can be found at this viewpoint.

 

	Zosia tags the next high point (956 metres) beyond the viewpoint.  Although this is not even the highest point of the entire ridge, peakbagger.com designates this spot as Sauer's Mountain.
	A young western skink crawls out from under a rock near the viewpoint.  Juveniles are distinguished by their blue tails.
	Zosia and Sonny pose at the viewpoint with Icicle Ridge dominating the background.  Some of the Enchantment Peaks are also visible behind the trees at far left.
	On descent, Zosia takes an alternate trail which drops under the same dramatic cliffs she hiked above earlier in the day.
	Total Distance:  9.9 kilometres Round-Trip Time:  5 hours 19 minutes Cumulative Elevation Gain:  571 metres GPX Data