From deer park it is a nice trail. It has a couple steep sections, but none of the sections seem to be too long. There is a false summit from this side, so you have to keep going further up the trail and around the first peak. Follow the trail to its highest point, and then hike up off the trail (~250ft) to the summit. Elk Mountain didn't seem too far away, and could definitely be done in the same day, assuming an earlier start. Maiden Peak was 4.6 miles from the campground; even less starting at the trailhead.