Mount Ellinor

Hoodsport, Washington

4 Reviews

Summary Trail Guide Topo Map Reviews Photos GPS

DESCRIPTION FROM:

100 Classic Hikes Washington

by Craig Romano (The Mountaineers Books)

An Olympic classic; bag this peak for one of the most supreme views in the state. “From the top of Mount Ellinor, Puget Sound and Hood Canal are laid out like a map,” wrote Manning. Sit upon this jagged summit and peer deep into the heart of the Olympic wilderness or out across Lake Cushman and Puget Sound to the Cascades spanning the eastern horizon.

The hike is short but steep and tough. Yes, there is an upper trailhead that shortens this hike by more than three miles and knocks 800 feet of elevation off. But why start there? The whole idea is to go hiking, not get to the mountain the shortest way possible.

View Guide Topo Map

Trail Statistics and Information


Activity Type:	Hiking
Nearby City:	Hoodsport
Distance:	6.6
Elevation Gain:	3,270 feet
Trail Type:	Out-and-back
Season:	Best July through October
Local Contacts:	Olympic NF, Hood Canal District, Quilcene
Local Maps:	Olympic Mountains East No. 168; Custom Correct, Mount Skokomish–Lake Cushman
Driving Directions:	Directions to Mount Ellinor

Recent Trail Reviews

Jeff R.

Rating:

Date of Trip: 7/20/2009

This was an absolutely fantastic trip. It's only 1.6miles to the top, but lordy lordy, it's certainly a quick ascent. Coming down is hard on the knees and there were quite a few folks up there and it was a Monday. My recommendation is to plan for mid week hikes to avoid the crowds, schedule plenty of time (4+hrs) for the hike round trip, and make sure your camera battery is fully charged and that you have enough space to fill on the memory card...the view is worth the pain, well well well worth it.

Anthony G.

Rating:

Date of Trip: 5/24/2009

Difficult hike for this time of year as second two-thirds entirely snow-covered. Took my 14 year old son and dog and made it to the top in about 90 minutes from the upper lot. Need gators to protect from the snow if you go early in season (but we managed without). Great views from the top- worth every minute of hike up. Probably much easier (still difficult) when snow melts off.

Jamie H.

Rating:

Date of Trip: 8/22/2008

this trail was very challenging and i loved every minute of it. it was excellently made up of switchbacks and some nice steps. you can difenitely see why you would want to go all the way up too the top. i had some great views from mid ways up and wanted to stop and rest every few minutes because i started from the lower trail head which made it even more challenging! but it was a clear day and the veiws were so worth the pain of climbing!!! even though i was promised a veiw of mountain goats and got none on that hot day we went it was so worth it! i would so recommend that if you like to hike to take this one on a clear nice day! i was able to see Mt. Rainier, Mt. Adams, and Mt. St. Helens(the crater side which was an awesome site) so clear and got pics which i will post soon. also the is this little store in Union,Washington along the way and i would suggest to stop in and have some ice cream on the way back!

Eric S.

Rating:

Date of Trip: 9/9/2006

This could easily have been a 5 star trail (from what I've read) but on the day I went up it was overcast and there were no long-distance views. That, however, did not detract from the beauty in immediate environment nor the satisfaction with reaching the summit of a steep and challenging trail. I started from the lower trailhead and would actually recommend it to those who have time. It provided a less steep warm-up (fairly flat, in fact, for good chunks) through the forest which was totally and wonderfully silent on the day I went up.