Kings Mountain and Elk Mountain loop

We parked at the Kings Mountain trailhead and headed up the trail, very soon we took a right towards Elk Mountain. The trail traverses above the highway slowly gaining elevation until a three-way intersection on a ridge, we went left up the ridge following the trail as it climbs steeply to the summit of Elk Mountain. At some points this trail almost becomes a scramble instead of a hike.

From the summit of Elk Mountain we had great views of Kings Mountain and the coast range to the south. Mount Hood was also visible.

From the summit we headed north on the trail, the trail was again very rough for a short distance as it descended 200 feet to the ridge that leads to Kings Mountain. But soon the trail started following an old logging road, and most of the way to Kings Mountain it was an easy hike. The trail became a bit exposed where it crossed over onto the NW side of the N ridge of Kings Mountain, and after the ridge crossing the trail was often covered with an icy covering of snow.

From the summit we descended south on the trail, it was steep but not as steep as the trail leading up to Elk Mountain.

  • Date:
    2005/02/25
    Round-trip distance:
    11 miles
    Elevation gain:
    2,615 feet
    Trip type:
    hike
    USGS quads:
    Woods Point, Jordan Creek
    In:
    Oregon Coast Range
    Car-to-car:
    5 hours 23 minutes
    • 56 minutes ascending from Kings Mountain trailhead to trail intersection on ridge to Elk Mountain
    • 1 hour 3 minutes ascending from trail intersection on ridge to Elk Mountain to Elk Mountain summit
    • 1 hour 45 minutes ascending from Elk Mountain summit to Kings Mountain summit
    • 50 minutes descending from Kings Mountain summit to Kings Mountain trailhead
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  • Kings Mountain from summit of Elk Mountain
    Kings Mountain from summit of Elk Mountain
  • SE side of Elk Mountain from the trail
    SE side of Elk Mountain from the trail

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