Elk Mountain

Distance: 4 miles out and back

To reach The Elk Mountain Trailhead, travel west on HWY 26 from Portland and take the HWY 6 exit n route to Tillamook. Once you connect to HWY 6 watch your odometer closely! The Elk Mountain Rd turnoff is exactly 23 miles down the road and to the right.

The trail begins with a smooth and constant incline, until you reach a five foot tall dirt wall, about a half mile in.  If there wasn’t a sign marking the path, you would never know to scale the obstacle. From this point forward the inclines and declines become much more volatile. You will encounter plenty of jagged rock and a narrowing trail; I highly recommend trekking poles (especially for the return trip).

Endless view of mountain tops

The beauty of this hike is the unbroken view of rolling hills, valleys and mountains to your left. There are several flat ground resting spots along the way. Stop at them to catch your breath and enjoy the scenery.  The grueling path to the summit is like 2 miles on a stair-stepper. Take breaks.

Video of summit

At 2,788 feet you will reach the summit of Elk Mt.! Bring a lunch and stay a while. The panoramic view is incredible!