Sourgrass Mountain & Elk Camp Shelter via Alpine Trail

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Hike details:

Mileage: 9 miles round trip w/ 1,623 ft. elevation gain
Approximate hike time: 3 hours 54 minutes w/ an average pace of 2.3 mph
Difficulty: Moderate
Trail usage: High mountain bike traffic on weekends, low on weekdays
Highest elevation: 4,784 ft. Lowest elevation: 4,009 ft.
General location: 12.4 miles north of Westfir - Willamette National Forest
Accessible: Late June through mid-December
(Best time to go is early July for the best wildflower displays).
Permits required: N/A
Pit toilet at trailhead: No
Trail allows: Dogs, mountain bikes, dirt bikes, camping
Possible dangers: None
​***Something hikers should note is: during the summer and early fall months, this is an EXTREMELY popular mountain bike trail. The Alpine Trail is used as a mountain bike shuttle route for companies like Cog Wild Bicycle Tours and Trans Cascadia Excursions, so you will likely see large groups of riders cruising downhill at quick speeds. Generally speaking bikers should yield to hikers, but not in this case - as this trail is considered by area locals - primarily a mountain bike trail. So if you see/hear bikes, PLEASE step aside, it is easy to do so, and let them pass. These mountain bike groups are always really courteous and will let you know how many bikers are in the group so you know how many people to expect. 

Description:

The Alpine Trail is actually a total of 15.5 miles long from end to end and it has 5 official trailheads and many forest service road crossings where one could jump on the trail to hike a short section. This particular section is extremely beautiful and takes you through stunning old growth forests, through wildflower meadows with mountain views and up to the Elk Camp Shelter. 
This section doesn't start at one of the 5 official trailheads, but the directions to get here are pretty easy and straightforward (see below) and because this trail is used for mountain bike shuttles, the gravel roads are very well maintained, making this accessible for your average vehicle to get to. The start of the hike is across the road from the parking area (if you take the trail on the same side as you parked you will end up going downhill).

(this is what the trailhead parking area looks like)

The trail trends uphill with 4 switchbacks in the first half mile and then it gradually evens out and the incline is so gentle that you barely even notice that you're going uphill. Because this is such a popular mountain bike trail, the trail tread is smooth and very "cruisy". ​The forest is lovely with towering trees and an understory of rhododendron bushes that bloom in early July, lots of white Western bunchberry (also blooms in late June/early July), and bright purple larkspur flowers. You will also see lots of what most people know as oxalis (the leaves look like large clover) and this is also known as Sourgrass, hence why this area is called Sourgrass Mountain and Sourgrass Meadow. 

(Western bunchberry blooming in July)

After 1.5 miles the forest understory changes to a sea of beargrass. Beargrass only flowers once every 5-7 years depending on the area and that year's weather. In 2020 there was what is called a "super bloom" where the majority of the beargrass plants sync up and all bloom at the same time (generally only happens once every 30-35 years). Because most of the plants bloomed in 2020, you likely won't see much blooming beargrass along this trail again until 2025. Shortly after you start seeing the beargrass, the trail pops out into Sourgrass Meadow, which is a spectacular meadow with distance views of Hills Creek Reservoir. 

(larkspur blooming in July)

(beargrass superbloom, July 2020)

(Sourgrass Meadow with blooming beargrass, July 2020)

(Sourgrass Meadow with no blooming beargrass, July 2024)

After enjoying the meadow, you will see a bench which is a nice place to sit and rest, maybe enjoy a drink and a snack before continuing on. The trail trends downhill for 0.6 miles and you will see a trail split off to your right. This is called Kate's Cut-in and if you don't want to do a long hike and just go up to the meadow to see if the beargrass is blooming, you could start at Kate's Cut-in trailhead. 

(July 2020)

(July 2024)

(the trailhead for Kate's Cut-in)

After another 1.1 miles of beautiful undulating trail, you will come to a road (Forest Service Road 1824-142).This part is a little bit confusing, but you will not cross the road, instead go right and immediately you will see a spur road and a trail sign for the continuation of the Alpine Trail. From here the trail goes downhill a bit and the terrain changes significantly as you are now a bit more on the east side of the hill. You will pass by some beautiful alpine meadows as you hike the additional 0.4 miles to Elk Camp Shelter. 

(Forest Service Road 1824-142)

Elk Camp shelter is a sturdy 3-sided nestled among stately trees with a large fire pit in front of it. There are only a few small flat spots around the shelter where one could set up a tent, otherwise if you want to camp, you're probably best off sleeping inside the shelter. For day hikers, this is a wonderful spot to enjoy a lunch break. The Alpine Trail does continue on another 1.6 miles to where it begins at Forest Service Road 1912 Alpine Trailhead #5, so if you wanted to extend the mileage of this already fairly long hike, you could do so. Hike back the way you came and enjoy the views from the other side! 

This is an absolutely wonderful section of the Alpine Trail and a trail that everyone should check out, especially the first two weeks of July when the wildflowers are in full bloom! Even though this is a 9 mile round trip hike, it is rated as moderate due to the smoothness of the trail and the easy ups and downs making it feel more like a 6 mile hike. Keep in mind to be kind and courteous to the mountain bikers that are also enjoying the cruisiness of this trail (best to keep your dogs on leash for this one). 

(Elk Camp Shelter)

Directions:

From Westfir

• Drive on North Fork Road past the covered bridge for a total of 4.7 miles (this road eventually becomes NF-19). Turn left onto NF-1912 and stay on this steep and winding gravel road for a total of 6.5 miles. At a 4-way junction (Windy Pass), make a sharp right turn to stay on NF-1912 for another 1.2 miles. Find the trailhead parking on your right, it is not much but a large turn off on the side of the road but you will see the Alpine Trail signs on both sides of the road. (Total of 12.4 miles)

-This trail write-up was last updated July 2024-
*All pictures are taken by Franziska Weinheimer

*Disclaimer: The trail descriptions, mileage, GPS tracks and difficulty ratings depicted on this website are never 100% accurate. Always hike at your own risk, using your own knowledge, equipment and common sense. Franziska Weinheimer/Hike Oregon are not responsible if you or anyone in your party gets injured or lost while attempting one of these or any other hikes.