Elk Head Trail

4.3 ( 3 )

Trail

0.6 mile 1.0 kilometer point to point
90% Runnable
Easy/Intermediate

Elevation

Ascent: 19' 6 m
Descent: -150' -46 m
High: 194' 59 m
Low: 51' 16 m

Grade

Avg Grade: 5% (3°)
Max Grade: 13% (7°)

Dogs

Leashed

Driving directions Take a virtual tour

Zoom in to see details

Map Key

To-Do's
Check-Ins

Trail shared by Dara Zimmerman

Weather

Getting forecast...

Current trail conditions

Unknown See History

Popular runs nearby

Patrick's Point Rim Trail.

Patrick's Point Loop

3.9 mi 6.2 km • Loop • 548 ft Ascent 167.15 m Ascent

Singletrack Westhaven-Moonstone, CA

Walking through a massive redwood on the way to the Tall Trees area.

Emerald Ridge - Redwood Creek Loop

5.3 mi 8.6 km • Point to Point • 860 ft Ascent 262.21 m Ascent

Singletrack Westhaven-Moonstone, CA

Lady Bird Johnson Grove on a lovely, misty day.

Lady Bird Johnson Grove Nature Trail

1.4 mi 2.3 km • Loop • 88 ft Ascent 26.73 m Ascent

Singletrack Westhaven-Moonstone, CA

Monkeying around on a fallen big boy has never been more fun.

James Irvine to Fern Canyon

11.9 mi 19.1 km • Loop • 1,610 ft Ascent 490.67 m Ascent

Singletrack Crescent City, CA

A herd of Roosevelt elk enjoying the day on the beach.

Friendship Ridge Loop Hike

8.0 mi 12.9 km • Loop • 1,168 ft Ascent 355.87 m Ascent

Singletrack Westhaven-Moonstone, CA

Navigate on-trail with our free app

iOS App Store

Android App Store

Run this trail?

Add details to help others plan their adventure.

“An easy trail with outstanding views of College Cove beach and the coast.”

— Dara Zimmerman

Features Birding · Views · Wildlife

Runner Notes

This trail can be popular in summer months, but it is wide enough to easily pass others on the trail.

Description

This is an easy and wide gravel path with scenic views and beach access that is well maintained. The trail leads to vistas at Elk Head and Megwil Point, and offers access to a beautiful beach with good surfing and tide pools set around picturesque tree-covered sea stacks.

Elk Head Trail and College Cove are part of Trinidad State Beach, managed by the California State Park system.

Flora & Fauna

iSitka spruce, thimbleberry, rhododendrons, ferns, skunk cabbage, tide pools, whale watching and a variety of birds.

Contacts

Land Manager: California State Parks - Trinidad State Beach

Rate This Trail

Rate Quality

Rate Difficulty

Share This Trail

Check-Ins

Sep 27, 2017

Trail Ratings

4.3 from 3 votes

#1

in Trinidad State Beach

#6255

Overall

4.3 from 3 votes

5 Star		33%
4 Star		67%
3 Star		0%
2 Star		0%
1 Star		0%

Rankings

#1

in Trinidad State Beach

#655

#6,255

36 Views Last Month

817 Since May 9, 2017

Easy/Intermediate

Easy/Intermediate

		50%
		50%
		0%
		0%
		0%
		0%

Add a Photo

Photos

The Elk Head Trail offers a phenomenal view of College Cove Beach and Trinidad Head.

The Elk Head Trail offers a phenomenal view of…

There's a lot of interesting rock on Megwil Point.

There's a lot of interesting rock on Megwil Point.

The staircase at Megwil Point leads to an awesome coastal vantage point right on the bluff.

The staircase at Megwil Point leads to an aweso…

Elk Head Connector Trail is just as beautiful as the other area trails.

Elk Head Connector Trail is just as beautiful a…

You can glimpse a view of Trinidad Head from the Elk Head Trail.

You can glimpse a view of Trinidad Head from th…

You're almost to the beach!

You're almost to the beach!

0 Comments

Trail Run Project is part of the REI Co-op family,
where a life outdoors is a life well lived.

Shop REI Running