AMBLEWAY Wildest hikes

Mount Hood Wilderness

Elk Meadows Perimeter #645A–Gnarl Ridge Cut Off Trail, 4 sights

15.8 mi · ▲ 2,988 ft · 6 hr 46 min

Elk Meadows Perimeter #645A–Gnarl Ridge Cut Off Trail, 4 sights is a 15.8-mile out-and-back in Mount Hood Wilderness near Parkdale, OR. It climbs 2,988 ft, with sections as steep as 18% grade, and is mostly dirt. It scores 76/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: genuinely wild.

Elevation

0 mi2,999 – 5,653 ft · steepest grade: 18%16.0 mi

Getting there

Trailhead: Unnamed 45.39725, -121.57154
Nearest town Parkdale, OR
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Directions

AMBLEWAYwww.ambleway.com

Elk Meadows Perimeter #645A–Gnarl Ridge Cut Off Trail, 4 sights

15.8 mi · ▲ 2,988 ft · 6 hr 46 min

Elevation 2,998–5,652 ft

Out & Back · Mount Hood Wilderness

Trailhead: 45.39725, -121.57154

Weather Sep 5: sunrise 6:34 AM · sunset 7:38 PM

Toilets at the trailhead · Parking lot at the trailhead

  1. Start at the trailhead, heading W.
  2. 350 ftBear right onto East Fork Trail #650, heading NE.
  3. 0.5 miContinue straight onto Tamanawas Falls Trail #650A, heading W.
  4. 0.8 miSharp right, heading NE.
  5. 0.3 miSharp left onto Elk Meadows Trail #645, heading NW.
  6. 5 miTurn right onto Elk Meadows Perimeter #645A, heading SW.
  7. 0.3 miBear right onto Gnarl Ridge Cut Off Trail, heading W.
  8. 0.6 miBear right onto Gnarl Ridge Trail #652, heading NW.
  9. 0.2 miReach Tamanawas Falls Trail #650A, then turn around and head back the way you came.
  10. 0.2 miBear left onto Gnarl Ridge Cut Off Trail, heading SE.
  11. 0.6 miBear left onto Elk Meadows Perimeter #645A, heading E.
  12. 0.3 miTurn left onto Elk Meadows Trail #645, heading SE.
  13. 5 miSharp right, heading E.
  14. 0.3 miSharp left onto Tamanawas Falls Trail #650A, heading SW.
  15. 0.8 miContinue straight onto East Fork Trail #650, heading E.
  16. 0.5 miBear left, heading S.
  17. 150 ftArrive back at the trailhead.

Each distance is the walk from the previous step. Tap a step for a map of its junction.

Trail map, photos and weather for this hike: www.ambleway.com/hikes/elk-meadows-perimeter-645a-out-back

Trail surface

100% dirt

Weather

Sunrise 6:34 AMSunset 7:38 PM

Good to know

  • Toilets at the trailhead
  • Parking lot at the trailhead

More from this trailhead

Hikes near Parkdale, Oregon