Sign and port-a-potty at the trailhead (bobcat)

Sign on Highway 35 showing where to turn on the road to the Elk Meadows Trailhead (Jerry Adams)

• Weather forecast: NWS/NOAA
• Maps: Oregon Hikers Maps Google Maps
• Latitude, Longitude: 45.32240, -121.63359
• Elevation: 4450 feet
• Driving time from Portland: 90 minutes

Hikes starting here

• Elk Meadows Hike   (TH | <—   —> | LOG)
• Elk Mountain-Elk Meadows Loop Hike   (TH | <—   —> | LOG)
• Gnarl Ridge from Hood River Meadows Hike   (TH | <—   —> | LOG)
• Mount Hood Meadows Loop Hike   (TH | <—   —> | LOG)
• Umbrella Falls Loop Hike   (TH | <—   —> | LOG)

Fees, Facilities, etc.

• Northwest Forest Pass required. Pass must be acquired beforehand as they are not sold at the trailhead.
• Vault toilet, information kiosk, picnic table

Driving Directions

Drive Highway 26 east.

From the last traffic light in Sandy (past the ARCO station), it’s 30.8 miles east through Government Camp to the junction with Highway 35 for Hood River.

Bear right here and drive 7.8 miles to make a left turn and then another quick left for the Elk Meadows Trailhead.

Drive 0.3 miles and park on the right near the trailhead signs. The sign here states that this is the "Elk Meadows and Sahalie [sic] Falls Trailhead".

There is a vault toilet, information signs, and a picnic table at the trailhead but no water.

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Hood River Meadows can be located by continuing past the trailhead, then turning left onto an abandoned segment of the original Mount Hood Loop Highway. The meadows soon come into view from the side of the old road.

If you're coming from Hood River on Highway 35, turn right at the next road after the Teacup Lake Sno-Park. If you reach the main Mount Hood Meadows ski area road, you've gone one road too far: Turn around.

Page Contributors

• Splintercat (Tom Kloster) (primary)
• bobcat