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Trail details last updated 5/10/2016
My first hike up Silver Star started in fog, waking up to find Portland under a blanket of grey I couldn’t see the parking lot but having committed myself to a decent hike, I begrudgingly began to prep, hoping Dark Sky’s (my favorite weather app) promise of clearer skies would come true. Turns out the fog never did rise off of the city, but when you’re headed thousands of feet up, you very well may walk right out of the clouds! In several hikes up the mountain since then, I’ve encountered fierce winds, a completely snowed over summit and perfect days — to climb just 2,000′ for a 360-degree view is well worth many, many return trips.
Views are the draw of Silver Star, views and a departure from the normal Gorge hiking routine. Unlike most of the other hikes around Portland, Silver Star has the benefit of actually starting at elevation and ending at a decently high point without having to climb the whole way there, to call it a mountain almost feels right. Getting there however does not mean climbing all of a mountain with access roads scaling as much as 3,000′ of the nearly 4,300′ high peak allowing for a range of hiking, and driving, options.
For my first and almost all subsequent treks, I elected to go with the Grouse Vista Trailhead approach which is far less popular than the normal Northern trails but also makes for a notably longer hike starting off at an elevation of 2300′. This report talks about that route.
The notorious drive to the trailhead: Silver Star mountain is known as much for its roads as its summits; an adventure long before you hit the trail thanks to the miles and miles of dirt that leads up to it. From the descriptions online, you may have heard that a 4×4 or at least a decent AWD is practically needed to get to the hiking trails and that’s not far off for the usual trails that require scaling all the way up to 3,000′ before your feet touch the ground. Grouse Vista Trailhead which is accessed through the town of Washougal to the south of the mountain is an entirely different world however. While the drive up still means many miles of dirt road complete with overhanging trees, narrow bridge crossings and the sound of constantly kicking up rocks, it’s hardly an off-roading experience. Having a decent clearance Jeep makes it a quick and far less bumpy adventure than say a Civic but as long as you’re willing to get your car nice and dirty I’m sure most anything can make it up in summer (winter means snow, washouts and deep puddles). Why this is not the normal route up is beyond me.
The trailhead its self really isn’t much of anything, a widening in the road that allows for a dozen cars to park easily and a few more at turn offs around the bend, a newly placed trail sign and the remnants of an old trail info board with little more information than the Discovery Pass requirements. No restrooms, no water, no facilities of any sort are located at, on or near this side of the trail. Navigation Tip: Punching Grouse Vista Trailhead into your navigation will get you on the right roads. Just continue for a couple miles past where Google / Apple thinks the trailhead lies.
Onto the trail, or rather, up the trail: Even starting from the lower side (2,000′ climb vs the typical, north-side’s 1250′ gain, while the truly longer Starway trail clocks in at nearly 2800′), the climb up is still entirely moderate. Granted, you’ll be doubting my honest at the very start and again about 2/3rds in as you push up some legitimately steep slopes but averaged out, it’s not crazy and not long with plenty of flat and low-elevation stretches to recover over.
Before I cut completely to the epic, epic views up top, let’s talk about the trail to get there… One of the things I really enjoy about the Southern Silver Star hike is the diversity of the trail landscape to reach the top. You start out on a steep, dirt trail, completely covered in by dense trees above. In spring and winter, a small stream trickles right over the trail as you make your way up and up and up through this forest. After perhaps 15 minutes the uphill climb ends and you break out of the trees entirely onto a ridge that crosses right under the shadow of Pyramid Rock. Here you have a spectacular view out across much of Southern Washington and the possibility of wild flowers (or snakes) as you wander on for a few more minutes.
After staying to the left at the fork in the trail (the hard right will take you up to Pyramid Rock via a very overgrown trail), the trail returns into the forest for its next climbing section. In colder seasons the now more spaced apart trees tend to freeze up offering a spectacular, winter wonderland view while spring & early summer hikers will see all sorts of new plant life. After another steep dirt hill (Pyramid’s trail rejoins the main trail just above this stretch) to navigate before the trail once again emerges from the forest to cross over another open ridge (snow covered in winter, easy walking in summer).
Entering the trees for a third time, you’re almost done, one decent push and a little basic hiking left to reach the Indian Gardens turn off (stay straight). As you make your way over the rise, the Southern and Northern trails meet up, there’s usually a large rock pile marking the junction but when in doubt, head up hill (to the right). After hiking past a small campground on your left, the saddle between Silver Star’s two summit rocks comes into and it’s just a couple more minutes to reach the top yourself. Rocks, forests, boulders, dirt, it’s a hike with all sorts of views before you even reach the viewpoint.
What a summit it is! As I mentioned at the start, Silver Star’s draw is its high, unobstructed views up, down and all around the Pacific Northwest. On a clear day you will easily see Mount Hood to the South, Mount St. Helens, Mount Adams and Mount Rainier to the North / East and often far towards the Northern Cascades and far South beyond Mount Jefferson as well. On a few of my trips, I’ve summited above the clouds which creates an impressive “above it all” it all view but I’ve also summited in knee deep snow and howling winds and rain — the price of a 360 view is complete exposure to the elements, whatever they may be that day.
There are two near equal summit points on Silver Star separated by a couple hundred yard long saddle. To the right is the Southern summit which stands closer to Mount Hood and offers a more steep peak where people often take their summit photo (you can also scramble down the rocks behind the this peak). To the left is the larger summit plateau which has the remnants of an old Fire Tower and is the usual stop for lunch / long breaks though in summer it’s busy enough that you can expect both sides to be full of people. From the top of this side you’ll get a view of all three Northern peaks within one good frame.
The summits also offer a great view directly below to the Northern trails and rock formations around them. Silver Star’s open landscape and double summit makes for a fun place to take distance shots with friends and is completely worth exploring around if you have energy leftover after the hike up though the drive to shuttle the two trailheads is a little unreasonable.
Photos hardly do justice to the amazing summit experience you get from such a relatively tame hike. I’ve yet to camp it out but have plans to return for sunset and star viewing from the top because, why not. After taking in the summit (I always stop for lunch and a long view, if the weather allows), follow the same route down to your car and same drive out or continue the other way to explore more of the local forest.
Quick facts about the trail:
- Official Rating: Moderate
- My Rating: Treadmill Run
- Start point: Grouse Vista dirt parking lot
- Distance: 6 miles R/T
- Duration: 2.5-3.5 hours
- Climb: >2,000′
- Crowds: Moderate to light
- Recommended time: Mornings – Sunset
- Facilities: None at all (no water!)
- Parking: Small dirt lot
- Permits / fees: Discovery Pass Required (purchase in advance only)
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