Elk Mountain Trail

Elk Mountain Trail is an out-and-back from Deer Park to the summit along Grand Ridge. The full walk is about 11 miles round trip: 5.5 miles out and the same way back, with about 2,249 feet of climbing. Allow about 7.5 hours. The climb has a deceptive start: you lose roughly 400 feet in the first half-mile before the long ascent begins. If you want a shorter day, Maiden Peak makes a good turnaround at about 3.5 miles out, or roughly 7 miles round trip.

The trail starts around 5,300 feet, drops to about 4,900, then climbs through mixed subalpine forest and crosses Green Mountain below its summit. For a while, the views come in brief openings, with small meadows, blueberries and seasonal wildflowers between stretches of trees. Around the time the forest thins, the walk changes character: the ridge opens and the views stay with you.

The trail skirts Maiden Peak rather than taking you over its true summit. It crosses the broad meadow below the peak, then passes the rocky subpeaks and drops toward the saddle between Maiden Peak and Elk Mountain. The low point is marked for Roaring Winds Camp, about 4.5 miles from Deer Park. There is a short, narrow crossing over steep scree here; it is the part most likely to bother someone uneasy with exposure. From the saddle, look into Grand Valley and up at Elk Mountain’s north face before the final climb.

From the saddle, Grand Ridge winds up Elk Mountain’s steep slope. The main trail brings you close to the summit, but there is no distinct tread for the last short walk to the top. The ridge has open, walkable ground; keep to safe footing and do not turn the last bit into a scramble. Snow can cover the upper trail in any season, and navigation can become harder when it hides the tread. The trail continues toward Obstruction Point beyond Elk Mountain; turn around at the summit for this hike.

The payoff is a wide high-country panorama. From the open ridge, you can look north toward the Strait of Juan de Fuca, Vancouver Island and the Canadian peaks; east toward the Cascades; and south across the Olympic Mountains. The Needles and the ridges above Grand Valley are especially striking from the Elk Mountain side. If the air is clear, look back along the bare ridge toward Maiden Peak; framing that ridge in the foreground gives the view a sense of scale. Marmots, chipmunks, horned larks and other birds have been reported along the route, though wildlife sightings are never guaranteed.

The trailhead is on the west side of Deer Park Road beside the lot and Ranger Station. Deer Park Road is 18 miles long; its last 9 miles are narrow gravel and are unsuitable for RVs or trailers. The road closes from late fall until snow melts in late spring. The campground near the trailhead has pit toilets but no potable water. Pets and bicycles are prohibited on park trails, and overnight camping requires a wilderness permit. Once the high-country snow has melted, usually by late August, there are no water sources along the trail. Refill before you leave Deer Park.