AURORA DIVIDE TRAIL

Length 5.6mi/9.0km
Access Barnes Greek Trail; Aurora Ridge Trail; Happy Lake Ridge Trail
USGS Maps Lake Sutherland; Mount Carrie
Agency Olympic National Park

This trail connects a lowland path, the Barnes Creek Trail, with two upland ones, the 
Aurora Ridge Trail and the Happy Lake Ridge Trail. The path begins 3.9-mi/6.3 km up the 
Barnes Creek Trail from Lake Crescent, at 1500 ft/457 m elevation.

The route parallels an unnamed creek that flows in a deep ravine, the trail at first 
ascending through stands of Douglas fir and western hemlock having little or no 
undergrowth. The forest is quiet, the silence broken now and then by the hoarse croaking 
of ravens. One can see, across the ravine to the left, where avalanches have knocked 
down a number of trees.

The climb is gradual, but steady, via long switchbacks, and as elevation is gained the 
Douglas fir is replaced by silver fir. Near the ridge crest the terrain becomes less 
precipitous, and dense undergrowth is present,

As it switchbacks upward, the trail crosses an avalanche track several times. The slide 
zone is covered with thick growths of salmonberry, willow, huckleberry, devils club, 
and baneberry. The trail then climbs co a campsite (3.2 mi/5.0 km; 4200 ft/ 1280 m) where 
water is available. The forest is thinner here, and huckleberry bushes grow beneath the 
trees. The path goes by a couple of ponds, then meanders through moss-covered boulders 
and crosses the divide-Aurora Ridge or Happy Lake Ridge, whichever one chooses co call 
it. (This is near the indefinite point where one ridge becomes the other.) The trail then 
intersects the Aurora Ridge Trail (3.6 mi/5.8 km; 4750 ft/1448m),

The trail climbs up and down as it follow Happy Lake Ridge, either traversing along the 
crest or on one side or the other. Here it alternates between forest and meadowland. The 
trees consist of sub-alpine fir, mountain hemlock and silver fir; the wild flowers include 
lupines, gentians, mountain azalea, daisies, and thistles. Hikers should keep alert 
because the tread deteriorates and often disappears in the meadows. One should watch for 
signs of the trail or note on the tree trunks bits of orange-colored tape, which 
indicate the way.

On this exposed divide, one can hear the wind in the trees-murmuring softly on quiet 
summer days, howling during wild autumn storms. At one point the trail dips a bit, 
and one can see, to the left, the steep pyramid of Lizard Head Peak (5370 ft/163? m). 
The trail then enters a dense stand of sub alpine fir. The tall trunks rise to a 
considerable height without limbs, and the crowns arc festooned with lichen.

Eventually the trail comes out on aslope where the sound al a stream'-a tributary of 
the North Fork Sol duc-rises faintly from below. The path continues down the ridge, 
and one can look to the right into the headwaters of the North Fork Soleduck or to 
the left across the Barnes Creek watershed and the valley of Lizard Head Creek. During l
aic September, Kolftvi edttlis a prized mushroom, can sometimes be gathered here.

Again the trail follows the narrow spine, at times through stands of sub-alpine fir and 
mountain hemlock, where gentians bloom beneath (he contorted trees. Then, coming out 
into another meadow, the trail ends at a junction with the Happy Lake Ridge Trail 
(5.6 mi/9.0 km; 4950 ft/1509 m) where the latter departs its namesake ridge to follow an 
unnamed divide to Boulder Lake. This is not only confusing hut also illogical, but the 
trails in the Olympics do not always follow a logical course.