KING/ELK MOUNTAIN

WHERE:   From Portland take highway 26 east until highway 6 forks off to the south of 26.  Follow highway 6 until you see signs for the trailhead for Elk Mountain at a campground near the highway to the right between 10 and 15 miles from the fork.

THE TRAIL:  You can also drive another couple miles and start from King Mountain if you would like.  You can also loop around the crest of Elk Mountain (about 2800 feet above sea level) and King Mountain (about 3200 feet above the sea).  The trailhead is at approximately 400 feet elevation.  The trail to the top of either peak is about 3 very steep and rugged miles.  The trail that traverses between the two mountains consists of two very steep and dangerous segments separated by an old road.  This old road can be followed to Elk Creek if you start on the King Mountain side for a longer but easier hike.  Resist any temptation to run or hurry when on the steeps between Elk and King mountain:  The ground can give way in very steep areas so wear a good pair of shoes and use caution even though it is in the Coastal Mountains.  One jogger fell down 1000 feet and died this past December of 2002.  Despite the fact that the elevation does not exceed 4100 feet anywhere north of the Siskiyou/Klamath mountains, the Coastal Range is very rugged and steep.  The views from the top cover the northern coastal range from a very high point and give a glimpse of the Cascades to the distant east.  This trail makes for great introduction to steep vertical hiking.