This trail is one of those down-the-hill, up-the-hill hikes. Inbetween hills you cross large meadows, some with small lakes. The mountain in the background is part of the Sourdough Mountains, the ridge that you are following all the way to the Palisades Lakes. That was our destination on a previous hike , but this day, we were heading to Hidden Lake. (My best friend was with me this trip, one week after my daughter and I had explored the cut-off trail to Hidden Lake.)