[1] Elk Mountain is in the Northern California Coast Ranges.

[2] The mountain is to the north of the point where the east and west forks of Middle Creek converge.

[3] Elk Mountain is about 10 mi (16 km) north of Upper Lake, California.

[3] The Elk Mountain Road (National Forest Route M1) is a dirt road that is the main access route into the Mendocino National Forest.

The launch site is reached by a rough and steep dirt road about 1 mi (1.6 km) long.