Mount Ellinor Sunset Hike Guide: Upper Trail, Summit Views & Tips (2026)
- 2 days ago
- 5 min read
Mount Ellinor is a short, brutally steep hike on the Olympic Peninsula that leads to some of the best summit views we have experienced in the Olympics. At only 3.8 miles round trip, the mileage looks fairly innocent on paper. The 2,400 feet of elevation gain tells the real story.
We will admit that steep summit hikes are generally not our favorite kind of hiking. We usually prefer alpine lakes, ridgelines, and trails where the scenery unfolds throughout the day rather than saving everything for the top. Mount Ellinor surprised us. The climb is tough, but the views start about 1 mile into the trail and the views from the summit are spectacular. Doing it at sunset with clouds moving through the mountains made the experience magical.
We hiked Mount Ellinor on a partly cloudy evening, starting around 5:30 p.m. The clouds made the hike a bit of a gamble, we knew there was a chance we could reach the summit and see absolutely nothing, but when it works these make the best nights.
Mount Ellinor Hike Quick Facts
Distance: 3.8 miles round trip from the Upper Trailhead
Elevation Gain: Approximately 2,400 feet
Difficulty: Hard
Location: Olympic Peninsula, Washington
Trail Type: Out and back
Dog Friendly: Technically yes, but we would not recommend it for most dogs
Best For: Summit views, a big workout, sunset photography
Wandering Washingtonian Rating: 83/100
To view our full rating list visit our Best in the PNW trail rating list
Upper Trail vs. Lower Trail
Mount Ellinor has both a Lower Trailhead and an Upper Trailhead, and for a summer hike we strongly prefer starting from the upper trailhead.
The lower route stretches the hike to roughly 6.3 miles round trip. In our opinion, the additional mileage would be brutal and not add much to the experience. Most of the reason to hike Mount Ellinor is the steep climb into the high country and the enormous views from the summit, so we would rather save our legs for that portion.
The tradeoff is getting to the Upper Trailhead. The access road is rough, and we would recommend a high-clearance 4x4 vehicle. With the right vehicle, however, we found the road very manageable.
There is a decent amount of parking near the upper trailhead, and one advantage of hiking later in the day is that the parking area begins to clear out as afternoon hikers head home.
The Climb: Steeper Than the Mileage Suggests
One of the deceptive things about Mount Ellinor is that the beginning does not feel nearly as difficult as what is coming.
The first mile gains roughly 1,000 feet, which is certainly uphill but still feels relatively manageable. It is easy to wonder whether the reputation for steepness has been exaggerated.
It has not.
The final roughly 0.7 miles gains close to 1,500 feet. This section is an absolute leg burner and changes the character of the hike completely. The trail becomes relentlessly steep as you climb toward the summit.
Despite the grade, we never found the route particularly scary. There is no major exposure, and nothing on the summer trail felt unsafe to us. The challenge is much more about your legs and lungs than technical terrain.
The Summit Views Are Worth the Climb
Mount Ellinor's summit is what made this hike memorable for us.
Once you reach the top, the landscape opens dramatically, with enormous views across the Olympic Mountains and toward the surrounding waterways including the Hood Canal and Lake Cushman.
We normally don't rank steep peak hikes among our absolute favorites, but we had a hard time leaving this one. The changing clouds probably helped.
We deliberately chose an evening with a mix of clouds and clear skies. That is definitely a higher-risk strategy for a summit hike, there is always the possibility that the mountain stays completely socked in but moving clouds can also create some incredible scenery when the views suddenly open at sunset.
That is exactly what happened for us. Breaks in the clouds combined with evening light made the summit feel much more dramatic than it probably would have on a completely blue-sky afternoon
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Mount Ellinor at Sunset
After our experience, we think Mount Ellinor is an excellent sunset hike for experienced hikers who are comfortable descending after dark.
We started hiking around 5:30 p.m. and reached the summit in approximately 1 hour and 40 minutes. We then spent far longer at the top than originally planned because the views kept improving.
The advantage is that the descent from the upper trailhead route is only around 1.6–1.9 miles, so once you finally pull yourself away from the summit, the hike back is relatively short.
The downside is that the forested portion of the trail is dark and quite rutted. A headlamp is absolutely essential. We would bring one for every person in the group rather than relying on a phone flashlight which is what we did.
If the forecast looks promising and you are comfortable hiking at night, we think sunset adds a lot to this particular hike.
Is Mount Ellinor Dog Friendly?
Dogs are allowed on the trail, but this is one of those situations where dog-friendly does not necessarily mean dog-recommended.
We chose to leave our dog at home for Mount Ellinor because of how steep the upper portion of the trail is.
If you do bring a dog, we would only recommend it for an athletic, sure-footed dog that is accustomed to steep mountain trails. We would also keep them securely leashed and make sure they are comfortable both climbing and descending steep terrain.
There are much easier dog-friendly hikes on the Olympic Peninsula if hiking with your dog is the priority.
Our Verdict on Mount Ellinor
Mount Ellinor surprised us.
We generally don't love hikes where most of the experience revolves around grinding up a steep slope to reach a summit. Given the choice, we will usually pick an alpine lake, meadow, or long scenic ridge instead.
But Mount Ellinor earns its steep climb.
The summit views are genuinely outstanding, the mileage is short enough that the suffering does not last forever, and hiking it in the evening added an atmosphere that made the entire experience more memorable.
If you don't mind a very steep 3.8-mile hike, this is one of the better effort-to-view ratios we have found on the Olympic Peninsula.
Our tip: Start from the Upper Trailhead if you have an appropriate vehicle, give yourself more summit time than you think you need, and consider a sunset hike when the forecast has enough clearing to give you a chance at sunset. And don't forget your headlamp!
Photo Journal of the Mount Ellinor Trail
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