Elk Mountain-Elk Meadows Loop Hike

Overview

This moderate day hike gives access some of the most alluring features of Mt. Hood's east side, while staying within very reasonable elevation and distance limits for most hikers. The lookout site, lower down from the summit on Elk Mountain's ridge, was abandoned in the 1940s, but it afford vistas down into the East Fork Hood River valley and south to Mount Jefferson and beyond. From there, you can make a loop around beautiful Elk Meadows and return the way you came via the notorious Newton Creek Crossing The Elk Meadows Trail begins in mountain hemlock forest, with silver fir, Douglas-fir, noble fir, Engelmann spruce and western white pine. There’s a huckleberry understory that invites plunder in late summer. Cross one firebreak and then another one. There’s an unmarked trail junction, with a trail leading left to a parking area for the Meadows Nordic Center. Reach the Elk Meadows-Umbrella Falls Trail Junction and keep straight. Drop to cross Clark Creek on its handrailed footbridge after passing the Elk Meadows-Clark Creek Trail Junction on the right. Before the bridge, there’s a Wilderness permit box. After crossing the bridge, the trail heads up a bank and enters the Mt. Hood Wilderness. The trail levels and drops to cross two small creeks, then heads gradually upward. Cross a creek on a footbridge and then, on a level section, reach the Elk Meadows-Newton Creek Trail Junction. The trail rises and then drops into the Newton Creek channel. A plank usually affords a good crossing of Newton Creek; otherwise, especially early in the season, you will have to pick your way across. Cairns mark the route to the trail on the opposite bank. The dusty trail switchbacks up, passing over many lush seeps and small brooks. Switchback again and note the many large Douglas-firs on this steep hillside. Pass through thimbleberry thickets with active mountain beaver warrens. There are more springs. Switchback five more times into drier woods with bracken and bear-grass for the carpet. There are two more switchbacks and the

Trail Stats

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