If you know how they go please email me and i will post it on this page. Including bellevue, everett, and tacoma my current goto book for local hiking on new trails. The complete guide to 1, 000 of the best hikes in washington and oregon. Four main river tributaries, over fifty high mountain lakes including the highest lake in oregon and over five hundred miles of trails are begging. There are at least 100 mountain goats that roam the area and its amazing to watch. Elk creek trail begins on the old road tillamook past the large boulders at the far end of the trailhead. Or, you can set up a shuttle for the elkhorn crest trail. The range is surrounded by the cities of helena, montana city, townsend, whitehall, and boulder. The highest point in the range is rock creek butte, which is 9,106 feet 2,776 m above sea level.
Staying in vail, breckenridge, summit county, steamboat. Portland submitted 4 years ago by ssjvash hey everyone, after giving up on the super slow and convoluted website for mount hood, thought id reach out to the community here to get some advice on hiking around mt. Packed with useful information, moon oregon hiking covers a wide selection of hiking trails that will not only inspire a wonderful walk on the wild side, but will also provide an appreciative understanding of the unique landscape that is oregon. Sullivan is the author of 18 books and numerous articles about oregon, including an oregon trails column for the eugene registerguard and salem statesmanjournal.
Elkhorn peak is a climbing adventure located in or near haines, or. Panoramic views of the baker valley and the wallowa mountains meet the eye to the east, while the endless folds of the blue mountains fade away to the south and west. Rock creek butte 9,106 ft and elkhorn peak 8,931 ft. Still, thousands of visitors pull off the freeway each day to snap photos of the 620foot, twotiered cascade. Guide to washingtons hiking trails the seattle times. Lace up your boots and head into oregons remote wallowa mountains. The image below shows a rocky top about 50 above the trail. In the background are manzanita, nehalem bay and the state park between the beach and the bay. Running for 28 miles along the elkhorn range at an average elevation of 7200 feet, this scenic trail takes you past some of the tallest peaks of oregons blue mountains. Saddle mountain state natural area is clearly marked in plenty of time to make your right turn off the highway and onto the park access. The trail itself is a 23mile oneway backpack, but the two highest peaks in the range, rock creek butte and elkhorn peak can be. The elkhorn mountains are a mountain range, part of the blue mountains, in the northeastern part of oregon in the united states. On the summit, the ats southern end is commemorated by a bronze plaque near the trails southernmost white. You can check the library or maybe has a used copy for sale.
Welcome to oregons favorite hiking area, the mountains between the willamette. The 361,000acre eagle cap wilderness area runs the entire length of the wallowa mountains in northeast oregon. The elkhorn crest trail runs along the elkhorn ridge of the blue mountains in eastern oregon. Hiking north carolinas blue ridge mountains hiker to. We were supposed to hike 10 miles back to the anthony lakeelkhorn crest trail head and be done. Elkhorn mountains is a mountain in oregon and has an elevation of 7425 feet. The complete guide to 1,000 of the best hikes in washington and oregon by ron c. Mountain climbing weather forecasts for 1 elevations of elkhorn mountain washington, cascade range, pacific coast ranges, united states. In 1985 he backpacked miles across oregons wilderness. From sunset highway heading west the mountain is about 70 miles from portland. The majority of the wallowas are encompassed by the 360,000acre eagle cap wilderness, which is named for the 9,572foot peak at the hub of the mountains and is the largest designated wilderness. Page down and youll see links to tongue river canyon hike and bucking mule fallsdevil canyon hike with pages missing, of course.
Springer mountain is one of georgias most popular hiking destinations. A round trip hike climbing over 2,000 ft up elk mountain with views of king mountain and the oregon coast. The peak is the centerpiece of its namesake wilderness, gearhart mountain wilderness area. It is some of the wildest and most remote land left in oregon and the object of a 40year love affair for conservationist andy kerr. For the peakbaggers out there, the elkhorns contain of. A guide to hiking elkhorn mountains in eastern oregon. Guide to washingtons hiking trails whether you like walks in the woods or multiday backpacks, getting closer to nature is a core value of many washingtonians. To climb the 9,106foot peak, follow the trail to the buttes flattishmeadowy west. Turn north onto elk creek road, continue through the campground and cross the bridge to the trailhead. The shadow appears to be a human face in late december and january on a clear day. The stunning elkhorn crest national recreation trail takes a high ridge along the length of the elkhorn range past some of the highest peaks in oregons blue mountains. Guide to hiking the elkhorn mountains statesman journal. Explore more in our professional, high quality trail guides and. Both mountain bikers and hikers use this trail since vpl is not in the illogical mtbprohibited wilderness area to the.
Hill provides lists that appeal to a variety of hikers interests, such as best beach and coastal. There are many animals that may or may not be seen when hiking this trail. All areas portland area willamette valley oregon coast washington coast southwest washington columbia river gorge mount hood central oregon southern oregon eastern oregon. Explore this wonderland of more than fifty glacial lakes, miles of streams designated as national wild and scenic rivers, hundreds of soaring peaks, and open meadows with elk, deer, bighorn sheep, coyote, black bear, and cougar. From the pacific shoreline to the blue mountains, oregon offers a remarkable diversity. Shop for washington and oregon hiking guidebooks at rei free u. Exit the trail by hiking angell pass to the anthony lakes trailhead. The forests were not as dense as those i am accustomed to in oregon and washington. Backpacking in the bighorns hiking bomber mountain. The lakes contain rainbow, cutthroat, brook, and german brown trout.
The scale of the land itself was cause for celebration. Your experience will be exciting, safe and memorable. Elkhorn peak, located near haines, oregon is a 9 mile climbing trail with a top elevation of 8931 feet. In regards to peakbagging, gearhart mountain is perhaps most notable for being the most prominent point in lake county, the 10thmost prominent point in oregon, and the 67th.
In 70 hikes through snowcapped mountain ranges, deep river canyons, sagebrushcovered flats, dry lake playas, moonlike lava fields, and junipercovered hillsides, andy kerr will seduce you too, with the spare and. The elkhorn crest trail is a national recreation trail and the highest trail in the blue mountains, crossing alpine and subalpine life zones up to 8,200 elevation. Hunter trailhead is 18 miles west of buffalo on us 16, then 3 miles on forest road 19. We stopped at a few different spots and saw stunning vistas.
Entire books have been written about the backpacking possibilities of whats. Compact and fresh with a broad range of hiking options, this is the most uptodate guide for the area, organized along highway and other travel corridors with an emphasis on trails that are 12 miles or less, roundtrip. W hether youre looking for a short and fitnessworthy hike, a day fishing trip, or a family trip, van patten lake vpl in the elkhorn mountains of oregon offers it all. The geology is notably different than the popular volcanic hikes found in the. The elkhorn mountains are partly within the wallowawhitman national forest and the north fork john day wilderness see also. Top quality, great selection and expert advice you can trust. The trails here closed after a 2017 wildfire and may not reopen until 2019. Just a generation ago, a hunter would have been hardpressed to find a. They are one of the most diverse and interesting landscapes in northeast oregon with glaciated alpine mountains, dramatic river canyons and remote roadless areas yet most hiking activity is confined to just two sites. Digital versions of sullivans books are now available from amazon kindle for 9. From this ridge you can scramble of multiple peaks, including the highest in the ridge. Hike the elkhorn crest trail, marble pass trail head. Sullivan is best known for his hiking guidebooks and yes, he has hiked every trail he could find in the state but he has also written six novels, three books on.
This list contains all the summits in the elkhorn mountains that are named or have at least 300 feet of prominence and are over 8,000 feet in elevation. With tall granite peaks, deep forested valleys, and numerous lakes, the wallowa mountains offer what is considered by many to be the best hiking in the state of oregon. Hiking oregons eagle cap wilderness by fred barstad. Free guide at oregon state parks maps and publications neahkahnie mountain is near manzanita and nehalem bay, oregon, south of cannon beach. His adventure memoir, listening for coyote, the story of his mile hike across the state, was chosen one of oregons 100 books.
Some of the books do overlap with others on popular hikes, but all the books offer their own view and thoughts on the hikes. Noah peters, 7, celebrates hiking to black lake in the elkhorn mountains of eastern oregon. The area spans the triangle from pilot mountain state park to the great smoky mountains national park west and down to. A guide to hiking elkhorn mountains in eastern oregon outdoors. Wallowa mountains hiking and backpacking in oregon.
Detailed 6 day mountain weather forecasts for climbers and mountaineers planning expeditions. Hikers may see many species of wildlife including deer, moose and elk as well as numerous small species of animals and birds. The complete guide to 1, 000 of the best hikes in washington and oregon judd, ron c. This story is featured in montana outdoors novemberdecember 2010 issue. We feature polaris trail performance snowmobiles for cornertocorner quickness and the best allaround control. Climb aneroid, chief joseph, and matterhorn mountains. Elkhorn crest hike hiking in portland, oregon and washington. The 5 best backpacking routes in eastern oregon statesman journal. Buffalo ranger district, bighorn national forest, 307.
The hemlocks and spruces were lovely, but on the small side. There are many hiking trails throughout the big horn mountains and bighorn national forest, providing the hikerbackpacker with scenic views of mountain vistas, lakes, and wildlife. Lace up your boots and sample fifty of the finest trails in the beaver state. Hiking north carolinas blue ridge mountains 384 pages. Ap heres a guide to almost all of the best easy, moderate and challenging hikes at anthony lake and the elkhorn mountains. Elk mountain adventures about steamboat springs, co. Sullivan is the author of 18 books about oregon and many articles, including monthly oregon trails columns for the eugene and salem newspapers. You have children and would like to take them with you into the backcountry. A fifthgeneration oregonian, sullivan began hiking at the age of five and has been exploring new trails ever since. The lake is accessed by a trail just short of 3 miles in distance, and ft. The most popular times for hiking are from april through november. The elkhorn crest contours below rock creek butte about a mile west of the junction with twin lakes trail. Portland hikers find a hike in the northwest oregon hikers. Wallowa mountains tucked into the northeast corner of oregon, lies some of the most rugged and dynamic landscapes in the northwest.
The elkhorn mountains are situated in the central portion of the extensive blue mountains that extend from southeast washington into adjacent oregon in a northeast to southeast orientation. Elk mountain trail begins directly behind the information board. It is an inactive volcanic mountain range with the highest point being crow peak at 9,414 ft 2,869 m, right next to elkhorn peak, 9,381 ft 2,859 m. Gearhart mountain is highelevation mountain located in southcentral oregon. Ap heres a guide to almost all of the best easy, moderate and challenging hikes at anthony lake and the elkhorn. Living up to its name how controversial hunting regulations restored big bulls to the elkhorn mountains. The trail itself is a 23mile oneway backpack, but the two highest peaks in the range, rock creek butte and elkhorn peak can be reached in a day hike. I own each of these books for hiking around the seattle area. Guide to backpacking oregons elkhorn crest trail field mag. Elkhorn mountains is a mountain in montana and has an elevation of 4944 feet. A backpackers guide to eastern oregons elkhorn crest trail. Oregons tallest waterfall, multnomah falls was the states most popular tourist attraction until it lost that title to a casino.