Hike to Elk Mountain

Chilliwack, British Columbia

4.7/5
based on 3 reviews

Details

Distance

4.3 miles

Elevation Gain

2624.7 ft

Route Type

Out-and-Back

Description

Added by Emily Masse

This trail offers amazing views in a short day hike. Depending on the season you can experience blooming wildflowers or sparkling snow, with the aroma of pine in the forest. This is my favourite hike to watch the sun set over the local mountains. This hike is a must.

Elk Mountain is one of the not so hidden-hidden gems in Chilliwack, BC. Clocking in at around 4 hours return it is an easy day hike offering beautiful views of the Fraser Valley and surrounding mountains. Reaching around 1500m in only 3.5 km, this trail is steep, but beautiful forest and mountain views help take your mind off the incline.

There are some steep and slippery sections, so good shoes and a lot of water are helpful. Once you are above the treeline you are greeted with the first spectacular view. This is a perfect place to refuel and take a quick break. From here the trail returns to the forest and continues climbing up for another 15 minutes until you reach the Elk Mountain summit. This point offers panoramic views of the valley, Cultus Lake, Mount Baker and many other local mountains.

From here you can continue to Thurston Mountain. This second summit is only another 3.5 km and is well worth it.

If you love chasing sunsets like me, give yourself an hour and a half from the top parking lot or two and a half hours from the bottom parking lot before scheduled sunset.

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Features

Photography
Snowshoeing
Hiking
Dog Friendly
Easy Parking
Forest
Scenic

Hike to Elk Mountain Reviews

Feb 1, 2016. It felt like a black and white world up on Elk Mountain today!! The clouds didn't break to give us a view, but the snow covered trees were beautiful! Hiked about 15 minutes before we hit snow. We put on our snowshoes after about an hour because we were slipping so crampons would have worked too. Once we got out of the trees we definitely needed snowshoes as the fresh snow covered the trail pretty good. We enjoyed the snow covered trees and white beauty despite the clouds. 2 hours up, 40 minutes down. 2014 - Pretty steady incline the whole way up. Most of the hike is in the forest, beautiful! Come out to a view along the side of the mountain, walk along it and up a few steps to some big rocks. Relax and enjoy the view but then continue. on another 15 minutes. It will be so worth the spectacular view!! Meadows, mountains, flowers so beautiful! Probably about 2 hours up, 1 down. 2013 - Great hike, perfect if you don't have a lot of time but still want a good work out and great view.

This is such a great heart-pumping hike through beautiful woods, up to one of the best panoramic views of the chilliwack river valley. Once you get to the Elk summit, you may as well continue on to Mt Thurston peak for more great views. The trail between the two is an awesome ridge-line hike with great views on clear days. Definitely worth. the. hike.

This is the perfect description of the mountain! I live very close to the trail, so it's my favourite hike that I can do anytime! There's some flat spots at the top, perfect to set up some tents and sleep the night at the top, looking at the stars and city lights and sunset at night. This (in my opinion) is one of the best hikes to see other mountain , at the summit of elk mountain you can see the cascade mountain range and the coastal mountain range. A well worth hike!☺️🏔✅

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