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Difference between revisions of "Silver Star Mountain"

From Oregon Hikers Field Guide

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[[Category:360 Degree Summits]]
 
[[Category:360 Degree Summits]]
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[[Category:Columbia River Gorge]]
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[[Category:Exposed Summits]]
 
[[Category:Gifford Pinchot National Forest]]
 
[[Category:Gifford Pinchot National Forest]]
 
[[Category:Southwest Washington]]
 
[[Category:Southwest Washington]]
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[[Category:Columbia River Gorge]]
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[[Category:Volcanic Features]]
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[[Category:Geologic Features]]
 
[[Category:Viewpoints]]
 
[[Category:Viewpoints]]
 
[[Category:Wildflowers]]
 
[[Category:Wildflowers]]
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[[Category:Destinations]]
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[[Category:Former Lookouts]]
  
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[[Image:SilverStarSmall.JPG|thumb|400px|Silver Star summit]]
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[[Image:SilverStarSmall.JPG|thumb|400px|Silver Star summit ''(Jeff Statt)'']]
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[[Image:SilverStarSummit.jpg|thumb|250px|Hikers enjoying the view atop Silver Star Mt]]
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[[Image:SilverStarWildflowers.jpg|thumb|250px|July wildflowers ''(Adam Schneider)'']]
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[[Image:HoodFromSilverStar.jpg|thumb|250px|The Columbia River Gorge and Mount Hood from summit ''(Jeff Statt)'']]
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[[Image:SilverStarTrailNetwork.JPG|thumb|450px|USFS Silver Star trail complex]]
  
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* Hikes containing this destination
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* Hikes to this location:
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**[[Silver Star Hike via Grouse Vista Trail]] (approach from the South)
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** {{Hike ring|trailhead=Silver Star Trailhead|hike=Silver Star Mountain Hike|log=Silver Star Mountain Hike/Log|previous=Silver Star-Summit Trail Junction|next=Silver Star Mountain}}
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{{Maplinkinfo|latitude=45.74000|longitude=-122.23000}}
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** {{Hike ring|trailhead=Silver Star Trailhead|hike=Silver Star Mountain Loop Hike|log=Silver Star Mountain Hike/Log|previous=Silver Star-Summit Trail Junction|next=Silver Star Mountain}}
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* Elevation: 4390'
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** {{Hike ring|trailhead=Grouse Vista Trailhead|hike=Silver Star Mountain via Grouse Vista Hike|log=Silver Star Mountain via Grouse Vista Hike/Log|previous=Silver Star-Summit Trail Junction|next=Silver Star Mountain}}
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** {{Hike ring|trailhead=Bluff Mountain Trailhead|hike=Silver Star Mountain via Bluff Mountain Hike|log=Silver Star Mountain via Bluff Mountain Hike/Log|previous=Silver Star-Summit Trail Junction|next=Silver Star Mountain}}
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** {{Hike ring|trailhead=Starway Trailhead|hike=Silver Star Mountain via Starway Trail Hike|log=Silver Star Mountain via Starway Trail Hike/Log|previous=Silver Star-Summit Trail Junction|next=Silver Star Mountain}}
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** {{Hike ring|trailhead=Starway Trailhead|hike=Silver Star Mountain via Sturgeon Rock Loop Hike|log=Silver Star Mountain via Sturgeon Rock Loop Hike/Log|previous=Silver Star-Summit Trail Junction|next=Silver Star-Indian Pit Trail Junction}}
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{{maplinkinfo|latitude=45.74776|longitude=-122.23903}}
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{{Elevation|4390 feet}}
  
 
=== Description ===
 
=== Description ===
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Silver Star Mountain is a bald peak in Skamania County, not far from Vancouver with a captivating 360 view encompassing five Cascade volcanoes. This peak is the most prominent on the horizon looking East from Portland (omitting the aforementioned volcanoes). It is easy to spot looking North from I84 near Gresham to the East of Vancouver. It is snow-covered during the most of the winter months, and it’s brown summit stands out during the warm season.  
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Silver Star Mountain, commonly called just "Silver Star," is a bald, exposed peak in Skamania County in Southwest Washington not far from the eastern limits of Vancouver. It is one of the most prominent peeks on the northeastern horizon looking from Portland, and visible from places all over the [[Columbia River Gorge]]. Silver Star is a popular destination due to the amazing summer wildflower meadows on its slopes, as well as the fantastic 360 degree panoramic viewpoint from the top. On a clear day you can see five Cascade volcanoes: [[Mount Rainier|Rainier]], [[Mount Saint Helens|St Helens]], [[Mount Adams|Adams]], [[Mount Hood|Hood]] and [[Mount Jefferson|Jefferson]]. It is a former lookout site, as evidenced by a leftover foundation on the summit.
  
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Silver Star is named for the star shape it appears to have when looked at from the air. The arms of the star are made of nearby protuberances like [[Pyramid Rock]], [[Little Baldy Mountain|Little Baldy]] and [[Sturgeon Rock]].
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There are many approaches to climbing Silver Star. The three most popular options are: [[Silver Star Hike|Silver Star Trail #180]] from the north, the easiest of the three; [[Silver Star via Grouse Vista Hike|Blue Grouse Trail #180F]] from the south, the most varied but with the most elevation gain; and the [[Silver Star via Bluff Mountain Hike|Bluff Mountain Trail]] from the east, much longer but a lot quieter.
  
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The entire summit, as well as a good percentage of all the trails leading to it, are wide open. These hikes feature vast meadows, which make for a great destination for wildflowers in the springtime. These meadows are not the result of altitude and climate, but rather a devastating wildfire, called the Yacolt Burn, which tore through this area in 1902.   
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No matter which of the trails you select, you'll spend at least part of your journey surrounded by vast meadows on all sides, thanks to the devastating Yacolt Burn fire of 1902. Depending on the time of year, these meadows are filled with abundant wildflower blooms; many people say it's the best display anywhere near Portland.  June and July are typically the peak months.
  
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This is an extensive network of trails in this area that encompass this mountain, but the most popular approach is from the north using the [[Silver Star Trail 180]] (sometimes called the '''Stairway to the Stars''') as it is a short 2 ½ miles with 1000 foot of elevation gain.
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The Chinook Trail Association has been building a system of trails from Yacolt to [[Three Corner Rock]] with Silver Star Mountain as its crown jewel. This network is part of a large scale plan to connect existing trails all along SW Washington.
  
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The Chinook Trail Association has been building a system of trails from Yacolt to [[Three Corner Rock]] with Silver Star Mountain as its crown jewel.  This network is part of a large scale plan to connect existing trails all along SW Washington.
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Silver Star is a very popular destination among hiking clubs, but it gets passed over by many due to the perception of the difficulty in getting to one of the main trailheads. True, you must traverse miles of forest roads whose conditions are inconsistent from season to season. This author has made the trek on a half dozen occasions with nothing but a low clearance passenger car, and had few problems (had to navigate around some large pot holes in places!)
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Silver Star is a very popular destination among hiking clubs, but it gets passed over by many due to the perception of the difficulty in getting to one of the main trailheads. True, you must traverse miles forest roads whose conditions are inconsistent from season to season. This author has made the trek on a half dozen occasions with nothing but a low clearance passenger car, and had few problems (had to navigate around some large pot holes in places!)
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Other interesting tidbits:
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* A visit here might warrant a side trip to the Indian Pits, a former native American spirit quest site
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* There is another Silver Star Mountain in Northern Washington that's about double the height!
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=== Trip Reports ===
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* [http://portlandhikers.com/forums/thread/13596.aspx Silver Star Mountain 2/5/2007]
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* [http://portlandhikers.com/forums/thread/3072.aspx Silver Star Mountain Hike 7/23/06]
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* [http://portlandhikers.com/forums/post/1630.aspx Silver Star Mountain via Bluff Mountain Trail 6/24/06]
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* [http://portlandhikers.com/forums/thread/1012.aspx Silver Star Mountain via Ed's Trail 6/17/06]
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(Click [http://portlandhikers.com/forums/AddPost.aspx?ForumID=8 here] to add your own)
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=== Related Conversations / Q&A ===
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* [http://portlandhikers.com/forums/post/711.aspx Highpointing] (re: nearby Sturgeon Rock)
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* [http://portlandhikers.com/forums/post/6450.aspx Getting started geocaching] (re: caches on this and other Mts)
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* [http://portlandhikers.com/forums/thread/10757.aspx Sturgeon Rock identity problem solved!]
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* [http://portlandhikers.com/forums/post/608.aspx Secret Gorge hikes divulged] (brief mention)
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(Click [http://portlandhikers.com/forums/AddPost.aspx?ForumID=141 here] to ask a question or start a conversation)
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=== More Links ===
 
=== More Links ===
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* [http://nwhiker.com/GPNFHike50.html NWHiker.com: North loop hike #50]
 
* [http://nwhiker.com/GPNFHike50.html NWHiker.com: North loop hike #50]
 
* [http://nwhiker.com/GPNFHike51.html NWHiker.com: South loop hike #51]
 
* [http://nwhiker.com/GPNFHike51.html NWHiker.com: South loop hike #51]
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* [http://adamschneider.net/photos/2006-06-ssm Adam Schneider: wildflower photos]
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* [http://adamschneider.net/photos/2008-07-ssm/ Adam Schneider: wildflower photos]
 
* [http://www.cpcbsa.org/cpcbsa/council/districts/silver_star/silver_star_mtn.htm BSA's Silver Star page]
 
* [http://www.cpcbsa.org/cpcbsa/council/districts/silver_star/silver_star_mtn.htm BSA's Silver Star page]
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* [http://washingtonlookouts.weebly.com/silver-star-mountain.html Silver Star Mountain] on Ron Kemnow's Forest Fire Lookout Site
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=== Page Contributors ===
 
=== Page Contributors ===
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* [[user:jeffstatt]] (primary)
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* [[user:jeffstatt]] (creator)
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[[Image:SilverStarArea.jpg|800px]]

Revision as of 07:40, 18 July 2017

Silver Star summit (Jeff Statt)
July wildflowers (Adam Schneider)
The Columbia River Gorge and Mount Hood from summit (Jeff Statt)
USFS Silver Star trail complex

Description

Silver Star Mountain, commonly called just "Silver Star," is a bald, exposed peak in Skamania County in Southwest Washington not far from the eastern limits of Vancouver. It is one of the most prominent peeks on the northeastern horizon looking from Portland, and visible from places all over the Columbia River Gorge. Silver Star is a popular destination due to the amazing summer wildflower meadows on its slopes, as well as the fantastic 360 degree panoramic viewpoint from the top. On a clear day you can see five Cascade volcanoes: Rainier, St Helens, Adams, Hood and Jefferson. It is a former lookout site, as evidenced by a leftover foundation on the summit.

There are many approaches to climbing Silver Star. The three most popular options are: Silver Star Trail #180 from the north, the easiest of the three; Blue Grouse Trail #180F from the south, the most varied but with the most elevation gain; and the Bluff Mountain Trail from the east, much longer but a lot quieter.

No matter which of the trails you select, you'll spend at least part of your journey surrounded by vast meadows on all sides, thanks to the devastating Yacolt Burn fire of 1902. Depending on the time of year, these meadows are filled with abundant wildflower blooms; many people say it's the best display anywhere near Portland. June and July are typically the peak months.

The Chinook Trail Association has been building a system of trails from Yacolt to Three Corner Rock with Silver Star Mountain as its crown jewel. This network is part of a large scale plan to connect existing trails all along SW Washington.

Silver Star is a very popular destination among hiking clubs, but it gets passed over by many due to the perception of the difficulty in getting to one of the main trailheads. True, you must traverse miles of forest roads whose conditions are inconsistent from season to season. This author has made the trek on a half dozen occasions with nothing but a low clearance passenger car, and had few problems (had to navigate around some large pot holes in places!)

More Links


Page Contributors

SilverStarArea.jpg

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