Oregon · Hiking · Near Mount Hood Villages

Elk Cove Trail #631

Elk Cove Trail #631Photo: inkknife_2000 (7.5 million views +), CC BY-SA 2.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)
4.7 mi
round trip
4,848 ft
climb
5,465 ft
high point
Out and back
route
Jun–Sep
best months

Is Elk Cove Trail #631 open right now?

Alert in the area

The Forest Service lists 4 alerts for Hood River Ranger District.

As of · Source: USFS · Hood River Ranger District. Agencies don't list every closure — check before you go.

Elk Cove Trail #631 is an out-and-back hike in Oregon's Mount Hood Wilderness, within the Hood River Ranger District of Mt. Hood National Forest. The Forest Service manages the land, and the trail starts at about 5,464 feet, rising to a high point of 5,465 feet before descending back to the same level. That makes the total elevation gain and loss each about 4,848 feet, with the steepest stretch at about 20% grade around the 4-mile mark. The route is rated expert, and the round trip covers about 9.3 miles. Plan on roughly 5.5 hours for the hike. Summer is the most comfortable time to go. Typical averages from a nearby weather station at Government Camp show July and August highs around 70°F with only about four wet days a month, while winter brings highs in the mid-30s and rain on most days. Barrett Spur Trail #600D and Dollar Lake both lie within half a mile. Tilly Jane campground is about 2.3 miles away, and the East Fork Hood River offers paddling about 5.6 miles off.

Around this trail

Add any of these when you start a trip
  • Sleep close

    Elk Cove Camp

    Campground

    Campground · < 0.1 mi from the trail
  • If it rainsJmasterson, CC BY-SA 3.0 · Wikimedia Commons

    Western Antique Aeroplane & Automobile Museum

    Museum

    Museum · 20 mi from Mount Hood Villages

    Aviation and automobile museum in Oregon, United States

Places © OpenStreetMap contributors · Photos: Jmasterson, CC BY-SA 3.0 (commons)

More in Mount Hood Villages

Local outfitters

Not on Roamze yet. Their page has how to reach them.

  • Best time to go · Jun–Sep

    Best time to visit Elk Cove Trail #631

    Best months: June–September. Best months have typical highs of 55–85 °F, lows of 30 °F or warmer (32 °F where the station doesn't record snow), at most one snowy day and no more than 12 wet days.

    1. Jan

      37° / 26°

      20 wet

    2. Feb

      38° / 26°

      17 wet

    3. Mar

      41° / 28°

      20 wet

    4. Apr

      45° / 31°

      18 wet

    5. May

      54° / 36°

      15 wet

    6. Jun

      59° / 41°

      10 wet

    7. Jul

      69° / 48°

      4 wet

    8. Aug

      70° / 48°

      4 wet

    9. Sep

      64° / 45°

      8 wet

    10. Oct

      53° / 37°

      13 wet

    11. Nov

      42° / 30°

      18 wet

    12. Dec

      35° / 26°

      21 wet

    Typical high / low (°F) and days with rain or snow, 1991–2020. Measured at Government Camp, OR, 7.8 mi away at 3,980 ft. The station sits about 1,500 ft lower than this place, so expect it a little cooler here. This station doesn't record snowfall. Source: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020.

Keep exploring — more trails worth the drive

Dollar LakePhoto: inkknife_2000 (7.5 million views +), CC BY-SA 2.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)

Dollar Lake

Next door

0.40-mile out-and-back trail to Dollar Lake in Oregon with 219 ft gain.

Mazama Trail #625Photo: inkknife_2000 (7.5 million views +), CC BY-SA 2.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)

Mazama Trail #625

~3 min drive

3.65-mile out-and-back trail in Oregon with 537 ft gain.

Eliot West MorainePhoto: inkknife_2000 (7.5 million views +), CC BY-SA 2.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)

Eliot West Moraine

~3 min drive

1.31-mile out-and-back trail at Eliot West Moraine in Oregon with 1,415 ft of elevation gain.

Eliot GlacierPhoto: inkknife_2000 (7.5 million views +), CC BY-SA 2.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)

Eliot Glacier

~4 min drive

2.10-mile out-and-back trail in Oregon with 834 ft elevation gain.

Pinnacle RidgePhoto: inkknife_2000 (7.5 million views +), CC BY-SA 2.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)

Pinnacle Ridge

~3 min drive

2.23-mile out-and-back trail in Oregon with 786 ft elevation gain.

Paradise Park Trail #778Photo: U.S. Forest Service- Pacific Northwest Region, Public domain (via Wikimedia Commons)

Paradise Park Trail #778

~9 min drive

6.33-mile out-and-back trail in Oregon with 814 ft gain.

Mcneil Point Scramble TrailPhoto: inkknife_2000 (7.5 million views +), CC BY-SA 2.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)

Mcneil Point Scramble Trail

~3 min drive

0.34-mile out-and-back scramble with 626 ft elevation loss in Oregon.

Cooper Spur Trail #600BPhoto: inkknife_2000 (7.5 million views +), CC BY-SA 2.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)

Cooper Spur Trail #600B

~4 min drive

2.56-mile out-and-back trail in Oregon with 2,864 ft elevation gain

Top Spur Trail #785Photo: GRI SHA, CC BY-SA 2.0 (via Flickr)

Top Spur Trail #785

~7 min drive

0.46-mile out-and-back trail in Oregon with 83 ft gain.

Elk CovePhoto: inkknife_2000 (7.5 million views +), CC BY-SA 2.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)

Elk Cove

~3 min drive

4.80-mile out-and-back trail in Oregon with 1,090 ft elevation gain.

Map and trail data © OpenStreetMap contributors