Mt. Hood National Forest Elk Meadows Loop Hike Hike 29
Length: 6.2 miles round trip Elevation Change: 1200' gain Season: Summer thru Fall Difficulty: Moderate Permit: NW Forest Pass Required Features:
The Elk Meadows Hike is an enjoyable summer hike with outstanding views and floral displays.
The hike begins near the Mt Hood Meadows Sno Park area and travels level for nearly the first
mile. During this part of the hike you will cross several small streams. As you enter the
Mt Hood Wilderness, you will cross Clark Creek on a fine Forest Service provided bridge.
Then you come to the most difficult part of the hike which is crossing Newton Creek.
The water is fast and depending on the time of year or current weather conditions, the water can
vary greatly in depth. Use caution crossing. After reaching the north side of the
creek, the trail climbs vigorously for about a half mile through a series of 9 switchbacks.
At the top of the ridge, the trail intersects the trail to Bluegrass Ridge #647 and
Gnarl Ridge #652. Continue straight ahead, you will come to Elk Meadows.
When you get to Elk Meadows, you will have to turn left or right and follow the trail
around the meadows. For some reason I always go right. Now you will have outstanding
views of the meadow and of Mt Hood as you circle the meadow on this perimeter trail.
Half way around the meadow you come to the junction of your Trail #645 and Trail 645A,
which you need to follow to complete the loop around the meadow. However, just a few
feet past this junction you can take a small spur trail which goes into the very
center of the meadow. This short walk is worth its weight in gold regardless of the
season.
Upon return to Trail #645A, proceed to your left and follow the trail back to the
point where you arrived at Elk Meadows and retrace your steps back to the trail head
where you began.
