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TRIP 12 Elk Mountain Loop

Distance 8.5 miles, Out-and-back Elevation Gain 2500 feet Hiking Time 4 to 5 hours Optional Map Tillamook State Forest Usually Open Late March to November Best Time Mid-May to mid-June Trail Use Dogs are allowed, but it’s too rocky and rough for most. Agency Forest Grove District, Tillamook State Forest Difficulty Difficult

HIGHLIGHTS All your hard work on that stair-climber at home will come in handy on this thigh buster. The trail up Elk Mountain is short, but it’s brutally steep. Fortunately, the flower show is excellent, and inviting views stretch over hundreds of square miles of hills and valleys. Be aware that this trail can be treacherous, especially downhill, because of loose gravel and extremely slippery mud. Boots with good traction are a necessity. There is no drinking water along the route, and since you will do a lot of sweating, you’ll need to carry at least two quarts of water per person on a hot day.

DIRECTIONS Drive west on State Highway 6 toward Tillamook. Near milepost 28, turn right on the well-marked gravel access road to Elk Creek Campground. The trailhead is at the end of this 0.3-mile road, just after you cross a bridge over Elk Creek.