Jamie Hale/The Oregonian

The Elk Mountain Trail starts with steep uphill climb, and until it reaches the summit at nearly 2,800 feet high, it barely ceases for a moment’s reprieve.

Nestled into Oregon’s Coast Range about 30 minutes east of Tillamook, Elk Mountain is a tough little hike that rewards visitors with views of the old volcanic mountains above the Pacific Ocean.

The trail is only 1.8 miles from the primary parking area to the summit, but over that distance it climbs about 1,800 feet of elevation, according to a recent GPS track. That's an average of 100 feet up every .1 miles – steeper than the notoriously steep Dog Mountain Trail in the Columbia River Gorge.



Take your time going up (as if there’s any other way) and you’ll be rewarded with great views at the summit. From there, you can see Kings Mountain just to the west, as well as the rolling, forested hills of the Coast Range.

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Jamie Hale/The Oregonian

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Jamie Hale/The Oregonian

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Jamie Hale/The Oregonian

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The Coast Range is known for its patchwork of brown clear cuts, but the view from the top of Elk Mountain, part of the Tillamook State Forest, is all green – for now. It’s a hike that’s best tackled when the weather is clear, and the sun has been out long enough to dry any mud on the trail.

Because as tough as it is to summit, Elk Mountain is just as difficult (if not more difficult) to hike down. Watch your step and climb carefully down the trail, utilizing trees and rocks for support. If you use trekking poles, now is the time to break them out. If not, be sure to step precisely and keep a low center of gravity in case you slip and fall.

It can certainly be a taxing hike, but when it comes to finding great views on the way to the coast, it’s tough to top Elk Mountain.

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Jamie Hale/The Oregonian

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Jamie Hale/The Oregonian

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Jamie Hale/The Oregonian

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ELK MOUNTAIN HIKE

Distance: 3.6 miles, up and back

Difficulty: Difficult

Elevation gain: 1,801 feet

Amenities: Parking lot, restroom at campground near trailhead



The Elk Mountain hike is accessed by the Elk Creek Trailhead, found about an hour from Portland. From U.S. 26, merge onto Oregon 6 and continue for about 23 miles. Look for signs to the Elk Creek Campground and turn right onto Elk Creek Road.

Follow signs for trailhead parking and continue on Elk Creek Road past the campground (where you’ll find restrooms), until it ends at a parking lot. There’s also a smaller parking area closer to the campground, which will save you about 0.2 miles of hiking if there’s a spot available.

There are two trailheads that leave the main parking lot. Take the trail closest to the large, wooden sign, ignoring the trailhead at the back of the loop. From there, another big sign will point you left to access the Elk Mountain Trail, along the long and winding Wilson River Trail.

After 0.3 miles through a fern-filled forest, turn right at another signed junction onto the Elk Mountain Trail, which immediately turns steeply uphill. The trail continues to climb for 1.5 miles – occasionally leveling off and even dropping downhill for a brief stretch – before reaching the Elk Mountain summit at 2,788 feet. A wooden sign at the top marks the spot.

Take in the views of Kings Mountain and the forested Coast Range hills to the west, then head back down the way you came up. Those looking for a bigger adventure can continue on to access the summit of Kings Mountain, making a loop hike by returning to the Wilson River Trail, though it adds another level of difficulty to an already difficult hike.



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--Jamie Hale | jhale@oregonian.com | @HaleJamesB

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Jamie Hale/The Oregonian

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Jamie Hale/The Oregonian

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Jamie Hale/The Oregonian

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Jamie Hale/The Oregonian

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Jamie Hale/The Oregonian

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Jamie Hale/The Oregonian