Revision as of 03:30, 19 January 2007

Elk Meadows in July

Western Pasqueflower blooms first, as soon as the snow melts

Mount Hood from Newton Creek Canyon

The cliffs of Lamberson Spur from the Timberline Trail

Short Hike to Elk Meadows:

• Trailhead: Hood River Meadows Trailhead
• Distance: 5.3 miles round-trip
• Elevation gain: 1,200 feet
• High Point: 5,280 feet
• Difficulty: Moderate
• Seasons: Summer and early Fall
• Family Friendly: Yes
• Backpackable: Yes - camping at Elk Meadows
• Crowded: Summer weekends

Longer Hike to Newton Creek Canyon:

• Trailhead: Hood River Meadows Trailhead
• Distance: 7.9 miles round-trip
• Elevation gain: 1,740 feet
• High Point: 5,760 feet
• Difficulty: More Difficult
• Seasons: Summer and early Fall
• Family Friendly: No
• Backpackable: Yes - follows the Timberline Trail
• Crowded: Summer weekends

Hike Description

The maze of trails in the Elk Meadows are offers so many hiking options that it’s hard to decide which to explore first. This hike describes two of the most popular routes. The shorter option ends at picturesque Elk Meadows, while the longer loop climbs to spectacular Newton Canyon. The trail is lined with wildflowers in early summer, and ripe huckleberries in late August.

From the trailhead, go Northeast on the Sahalie Falls Trail (no. 667C). The trail travels through forested flats for a short distance before passing an abandoned trail on the left, then reaching the marked junction with the Umbrella Falls Trail (no. 667), the first of many trail junctions on this hike. You’ll also notice blue nordic ski route markers along this section of trail. These ski trails are perpendicular to the Umbrella Falls Trail so if you just keep going straight you should be alright. Continue straight to another trail junction and L-shaped bridge over the rushing waters of Clark Creek that form the boundary of the Mount Hood Wilderness. Cross straight across the bridge, then continue across the valley floor, crossing two small creeks, then one larger stream on stepping stones. Reach a junction with the Newton Creek Trail (no. 646) on the left at the one mile mark. This will be your return route if you opt for the longer hike.

Continue straight a short distance to the silty torrent of Newton Creek. There is no bridge to help you here, though trail workers usually pile a few logs to form an impromptu bridge. Cross carefully - a hiking pole is recommended here. In the spring or after heavy rains this can be impassable. Sometimes the stream will be passable in the morning, but when you return in the afternoon when there's more snow melt it will be impassable. When you're stuck on the other side of the creek and you have to get back you may be tempted to make stupid decisions so be careful.

Clark and Newton Creeks are the twin glacial streams formed by the broad Newton Clark Glacier, which dominates the view of Mount Hood throughout the hike. Newton Creek, in particular, is one the most unruly of Mount Hood’s glacial streams, periodically sending huge floods of debris onto Highway 35, far below. The raging power of the stream is evident at several points on the hike, where the river channel is continually changing, tossing boulders and trees around like so many pebbles and matchsticks.

Locate the resumption of the trail on the far side of the creek, and begin climbing a series of switchbacks up the eastern wall of Newton Creek Canyon. The route first travels through lush forest, and a grove of especially large douglas fir, before reaching familiar forests of noble fir and beargrass as you near the ridge crest.

At the 2.0 mile mark, reach a four-way trail junction in a the broad, forested saddle. The Bluegrass Ridge Trail (no. 647) is another trip option, with the scenic summit of Elk Mountain just one mile south on this route. The Gnarl Ridge Trail (no. 652) heads left, and shortens the long loop described here by about a mile, if you want to bypass Elk Meadows. The main route continues straight, dropping gradually to yet another trail junction, this time with the Elk Meadows Perimeter Trail (no. 645A). Turn right here, and continue to descend toward the meadows, resisting the periodic use paths leading to the meadows: the best views are ahead, on the main route, and using these paths only perpetuates their impact on the meadows.

Cross a tiny creek, then the Bluegrass Tie (no. 647B) on the right before reaching a well-signed junction pointing to Gnarl Ridge Cutoff (no. 652A) at the 2.7 mile mark. Turn left, and almost immediately reach a well-worn spur trail to the left that crosses Cold Spring Creek, and wades through waist-deep drifts of lupine to the rustic Elk Meadows shelter. After soaking in the wildflowers and glorious view of Mount Hood across the sprawling meadows, backtrack across Cold Spring Creek, to the Gnarl Ridge Cutoff. Turn left, and cross the creek again before circling around the northern fringe of the meadows.

If you’re taking the shorter loop, watch for a junction with the Perimeter Trail, turn left, then follow the same route back to the trailhead. If you’re taking the longer route, continue uphill on the Gnarl Ridge Cutoff at occasionally steep grades to a junction with the Gnarl Ridge Trail, proper. Here, the route passes through a series of sunny alpine meadows before reaching yet another trail junction, this time with the venerable Timberline Trail (no. 600).

If you went right on the Timberline Trail, it would go up Gnarl Ridge/Lamberson Butte to great views all around in about a mile and 700' of elevation gain.

Turn left on the Timberline Trail and immediately begin to descend beneath the tall, fractured cliffs of Lamberson Spur to spectacular Newton Canyon at 5.0 miles. This makes a fine lunch stop, with Mount Hood dominating the view above rugged, rushing Newton Creek. The towering moraine that makes up the south shoulder of the mountain from this perspective is the largest on the mountain, and a monumental testimony to the scale of the Newton Clark Glacier in colder times.

The stream crossing here is also on seasonal log piles, if you’re lucky. Look for a point on the opposite bank where the vegetation line drops to near the stream level to find the resumption of the Timberline Trail. There are several campsites and a year-round drinking water stream here.

Continue on the Timberline Trail and follow the route through a couple of switchbacks to the crest of the forested moraine. Here, you will reach a junction with the Newton Creek Trail (no. 646). Turn left, and follow this path through an exceptionally scenic “ghost forest” of ancient snags along the crest of the moraine, before dropping back into forest. The route switchbacks twice before following Newton Creek downstream to the lower junction that you passed earlier. Turn right, and retrace your steps back to the trailhead.

Maps

Fees, Regulations, etc.

• Northwest Forest Pass required

Trip Reports

• Elk Meadows 6/22/06
• (Click here to add your own)

Relevant Conversations / Q&A

• (Click here to ask a question or start a conversation)

More Links

Page Contributors

• Splintercat (Tom Kloster) (primary)