Accessing Elkhead Pass Trail from Belford summit

[pnh25]

I am considering hiking the Belford/Oxford summits in a week or so. How/Where do I access the Elkhead Pass trail on the descent from the Belford summit instead of the usual switchback descent

[justiner]

At the trail between the two peaks, there is an offshoot trail, that takes you pretty much directly down to the pass.

[tdliles]

Easy to find. You can actually see the trail on google maps, going Southeast off the Belford summit. It then contours down and around to the Southwest to Elkhead. I MUCH preferred that route both up and down Belford (as far as my knees were concerned!).

[justiner]

Here's a map - you can see the trail from Elkhead Pass and the standard route up Belford will converge as you go N.

belford.jpg (82.32 KiB) Viewed 267 times

[AlexeyD]

In case more detail is desired: the above-mentioned offshoot trail is a few hundred feet from Belford's summit (in the direction of Oxford). It branches off at sort of shoulder, below which the Bel-Ox ridge becomes noticeably steeper. The junction isn't marked or signed, but as long as visibility is good, it'll be obvious (the trail to the pass is visible in almost its entirety).

[pnh25]

Thanks for the prompt replies! The map and descriptions are very helpful.