From the trailhead and locked gate, the trail follows an old mining road up the east side of Elk Creek drainage. It climbs a few switchbacks past several old roads. Follow the cairns and arrows. Just after it leaves the woods and begins traversing a large talus slope, it turns off the road. Follow the trail sign to the right. It traverses the rest of the talus slope and enters open conifer forest. There it gently switchbacks up through the woods past an old mining cabin to a bench and the wilderness boundary. Above the trail begins a rolling traverse of the upper Elk Creek drainage. The trail stays close to timberline, crossing several small gullies and creeks. Eventually it winds around to a junction with the Woods Lake trail, under an unnamed peak at 13,123 feet. Woods Lake Trail (#406) leads south to Navajo Lake or north to Woods Lake.

Access: Take Silverpick Road (#622) 6.8 miles to junction with road #645. Go right at signed junction and follow road #645 for two miles, crossing Bear Creek along the way. 4WD and clearance recommended. The road is full of potholes and not maintained, as this section of road #645 is used as part of the Wilson Mesa Trail (#512). The Elk Creek trailhead is just before a locked gate. The Wilson Mesa Trail drops off to the right just beyond the trailhead at a signed junction.