Beyond the Overlook
Olympic Peninsula · Hike guide

Mt. Ellinor from the Upper Trailhead: Worth the Detour

Mt. Ellinor sits outside the classic Olympic National Park sightseeing circuit, but it worked surprisingly well in our route. We used the upper trailhead and got a short, steep mountain hike with huge views.

Firsthand trip summer 2021 · Last reviewed September 2026 · How we review our guides

Mt. Ellinor from the Upper Trailhead: Worth the Detour

Our take: Add Mt. Ellinor if you want a substantial mountain hike and the logistics fit your route. Despite the elevation, we personally found it easier than Mt. Storm King.

Upper trailheadour starting point
Short + steepdo not judge by mileage
Aug. 3, 2021our hike date
Best forbig mountain views
Mountain ridges seen during our Olympic Peninsula trip

What we remember most

We remember a lot of elevation packed into the hike. It felt like a real mountain outing even though the upper trailhead shortens the route substantially. The broad views were the reason to do it.

Mt. Ellinor vs. Mt. Storm King

Storm King was our favorite and felt more adventurous because of the exposed upper section and ropes. Ellinor still involved serious climbing, but we personally found it easier. That is our experience, not an objective difficulty rating, so choose based on current trail conditions and your comfort on steep mountain terrain.

Because Ellinor is not in the same cluster of park attractions as Lake Crescent, Hoh or Rialto, we would not force it into every first Olympic trip. For hikers who enjoy a harder summit-style day, it is a great addition.

Keep planning Olympic: our 4-day itinerary, best hikes, Mt. Storm King, Rialto to Hole in the Wall, and Hoh vs. Quinault.