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Difference between revisions of "Elk Cove Trailhead"

From Oregon Hikers Field Guide
 
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[[Category:Footbridges]]
 
 
[[Category:Forest Road Access]]
 
[[Category:Forest Road Access]]
 
[[Category:Mount Hood Area]]
 
[[Category:Mount Hood Area]]
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[[Category:Trailheads]]
 
[[Category:Trailheads]]
  
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[[Image:PinnacleCreekTrailhead.jpg|thumb|400px|Former footbridge over Pinnacle Creek at the trailhead ''(Tom Kloster)'']]
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[[Image:Trailhead kiosk, Elk Cove Trail.jpg|thumb|400px|Trailhead kiosk, Elk Cove Trail ''(bobcat)'']]
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[[Image:PinnacleCreekTrailhead2.jpg|thumb|250px|What's left of the bridge ''(Steve Hart)'']]
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[[Image:PinnacleCreekTrailhead.jpg|thumb|250px|The former footbridge over Pinnacle Creek at the trailhead ''(Tom Kloster)'']]
  
 
{{maplinkinfo|latitude=45.44720|longitude=-121.67779}}
 
{{maplinkinfo|latitude=45.44720|longitude=-121.67779}}
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{{Elevation|3600 feet}}
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* Elevation: 3265 feet
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{{Driving time|1.75 hours}}
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{{Driving time|100 minutes}}
  
 
=== Hikes starting here ===
 
=== Hikes starting here ===
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* {{Hike ring|trailhead=Elk Cove Trailhead|hike=Elk Cove Hike|log=Elk Cove Hike/Log|previous=Elk Cove Trailhead|next=Old Elk Cove Trailhead}}
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* {{Hike ring|trailhead=Elk Cove Trailhead|hike=Elk Cove Hike|log=Elk Cove Hike/Log|previous=Elk Cove Trailhead|next=Elk Cove Trail-FR 2840-650 Junction}}
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* {{Hike ring|trailhead=Elk Cove Trailhead|hike=Elk Cove-Pinnacle Ridge Loop Hike|log=Elk Cove-Pinnacle Ridge Loop Hike/Log|previous=Elk Cove Trailhead|next=Elk Cove Trail-FR 2840-650 Junction}}
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=== Fees and Regulations ===
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* Northwest Forest Pass required. Pass must be acquired beforehand as they are not sold at the trailhead.
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=== Driving Directions ===
 
=== Driving Directions ===
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Follow Highway 35 from either Government Camp or Hood River. Exit Highway 35 and go a few miles to the tiny town of Parkdale, the terminus of the Mount Hood Railway. Turn south on Clear Creek Road, adjacent to the railroad and town park, and follow this exceptionally scenic drive through pear and apple orchards for 2.8 miles to Laurance Lake Road. Turn right, and immediately pass a picture-postcard view of [[Mount Hood]] rising over a sylvan pasture. Stay on this road for 4.2 twisting miles to Laurance Lake Campground. Turn left here on gravel Road 2840, turning right after one mile into a very large parking area. The Elk Cove Trail begins at the east end of the parking area, where a bridge crosses Pinnacle Creek.
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Drive I-84 east and take Exit 64 for Highway 35, White Salmon, and Government Camp.  
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After exiting, turn right on Button Bridge Road, and go 0.3 miles to a Stop sign at a four-way intersection.
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Continue straight here for Odell, Parkdale, and Mt. Hood, and drive 13.0 miles on Highway 35.
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Then turn right on Cooper Spur Road for Parkdale and Cooper Spur (the Mt. Hood Country Store is here), and go 1.8 miles to the intersection with Baseline Drive. Keep straight here to stay on Cooper Spur Road, and continue 2.8 miles to the junction with Evans Creek Drive.  
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Turn right, and drive 0.5 miles before making a left turn onto Laurance Lake Drive for Laurance Lake.
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Proceed 4.2 miles on this road, which becomes one-lane paved FR 2840 with stretches of gravel and, after passing the Clear Branch Dam, turn left at a fee kiosk (you don’t have to pay for your trailhead). <b>NOTE: The road crossing of the Eliot Branch is very rough at this time; high clearance recommended.</b>
  
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Hopefully, the Forest Service will eventually replace the 1.1 mile road trudge that makes up the first part of the Elk Cove Trail. And while we're dreaming up trail projects, an even better improvement would  be an extension of the Pinnacle Ridge Trail to begin at the Elk Cove Trailhead, creating a terrific opportunity for a 10-mile loop trip between the two trails that would be among the most scenic on the mountain.
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This keeps you on FR 2840: drive 1.1 miles and turn left into the parking area at the Elk Cove Trailhead
  
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The Elk Cove Trailhead is located near [[Laurance Lake]], and is the starting point for the Elk Cove Trail. There is no water or restroom here, though there are primitive campsites near the trailhead. Laurance Lake Campground has water and restrooms.
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=== Fees, Regulations, etc. ===
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* Self-issued wilderness permit; wilderness rules apply
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* Information kiosk at trailhead
  
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=== More Links ===
 
  
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== Page Contributors ==
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=== Page Contributors ===
 
* [[User:Splintercat|Splintercat (Tom Kloster)]] (primary)
 
* [[User:Splintercat|Splintercat (Tom Kloster)]] (primary)
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* [[User:retiredjerry]]
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* [[User:retiredjerry|retiredjerry]]

Latest revision as of 15:43, 12 September 2022

Trailhead kiosk, Elk Cove Trail (bobcat)
The former footbridge over Pinnacle Creek at the trailhead (Tom Kloster)

Contents

Hikes starting here

Driving Directions

Drive I-84 east and take Exit 64 for Highway 35, White Salmon, and Government Camp.

After exiting, turn right on Button Bridge Road, and go 0.3 miles to a Stop sign at a four-way intersection.

Continue straight here for Odell, Parkdale, and Mt. Hood, and drive 13.0 miles on Highway 35.

Then turn right on Cooper Spur Road for Parkdale and Cooper Spur (the Mt. Hood Country Store is here), and go 1.8 miles to the intersection with Baseline Drive. Keep straight here to stay on Cooper Spur Road, and continue 2.8 miles to the junction with Evans Creek Drive.

Turn right, and drive 0.5 miles before making a left turn onto Laurance Lake Drive for Laurance Lake.

Proceed 4.2 miles on this road, which becomes one-lane paved FR 2840 with stretches of gravel and, after passing the Clear Branch Dam, turn left at a fee kiosk (you don’t have to pay for your trailhead). NOTE: The road crossing of the Eliot Branch is very rough at this time; high clearance recommended.

This keeps you on FR 2840: drive 1.1 miles and turn left into the parking area at the Elk Cove Trailhead

Fees, Regulations, etc.

  • Self-issued wilderness permit; wilderness rules apply
  • Information kiosk at trailhead


Page Contributors

Retrieved from "https://www.oregonhikers.org/w/index.php?title=Elk_Cove_Trailhead&oldid=109486"
Oregon Hikers Field Guide is built as a collaborative effort by its user community. While we make every effort to fact-check, information found here should be considered anecdotal. You should cross-check against other references before planning a hike. Trail routing and conditions are subject to change. Please contact us if you notice errors on this page.

Hiking is a potentially risky activity, and the entire risk for users of this field guide is assumed by the user, and in no event shall Trailkeepers of Oregon be liable for any injury or damages suffered as a result of relying on content in this field guide. All content posted on the field guide becomes the property of Trailkeepers of Oregon, and may not be used without permission.