Difference between revisions of "Silver Star-Pyramid Rock Loop Hike"
From Oregon Hikers Field Guide
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Turn right, and pass a campsite on the left (there’s a connector to the Bluff Mountain Trail from here) before leaving the sheltering noble fir forest and emerging into an open meadow of bear-grass, huckleberry, spiraea, lupine, and bistort. At a saddle, you’ll see the lower summit of [[Silver Star 2]] to your right and the rocky prominence of [[Silver Star Mountain]] to the left. The spectacular ridge that conveys the [[Silver Star Mountain via Bluff Mountain Hike|Bluff Mountain Trail]] past [[Little Baldy Mountain|Little Baldy]] stretches to the east. [[Mount Adams]] is on the eastern horizon, with [[Mount Rainier]] to the far left and [[Mount Hood]] to the far right. Once on the summit of [[Silver Star Mountain]] itself, which more than likely will have other occupants, you’ll note the concrete platform from the former lookout. Looking north, you can see up Silver Star’s north ridge and the route of [[Silver Star Mountain Loop Hike (via Ed’s Trail)|Ed’s Trail]]. [[Mount Saint Helens]] forms a spectacular backdrop. Far to the south, [[Mount Jefferson]] should be visible on any clear day. | Turn right, and pass a campsite on the left (there’s a connector to the Bluff Mountain Trail from here) before leaving the sheltering noble fir forest and emerging into an open meadow of bear-grass, huckleberry, spiraea, lupine, and bistort. At a saddle, you’ll see the lower summit of [[Silver Star 2]] to your right and the rocky prominence of [[Silver Star Mountain]] to the left. The spectacular ridge that conveys the [[Silver Star Mountain via Bluff Mountain Hike|Bluff Mountain Trail]] past [[Little Baldy Mountain|Little Baldy]] stretches to the east. [[Mount Adams]] is on the eastern horizon, with [[Mount Rainier]] to the far left and [[Mount Hood]] to the far right. Once on the summit of [[Silver Star Mountain]] itself, which more than likely will have other occupants, you’ll note the concrete platform from the former lookout. Looking north, you can see up Silver Star’s north ridge and the route of [[Silver Star Mountain Loop Hike (via Ed’s Trail)|Ed’s Trail]]. [[Mount Saint Helens]] forms a spectacular backdrop. Far to the south, [[Mount Jefferson]] should be visible on any clear day. | ||
| − | Return to the unmarked junction with the [[Silver Star-Grouse Vista Junction|Grouse Vista Trail]], and go left. The trail, also an old jeep road has a screen of noble fir on the right and encroaching slide alder on the left. After about 150 yards, you’ll see a path heading into the slide alder on the right. This is East Pyramid Rock Trail, which is user-maintained and can be very brushy in places even though the tread is usually obvious. Swish down through the bear-grass in an alder thicket, and make a sharp turn left. The trail drops in a thicket of silver fir, salmonberry, and huckleberry and becomes eroded and steep. From a bracken/bear-grass clearing, you can get a view to the [[Silver Star Indian Pits|Indian Pits]] area of Silver Star’s south ridge. Soon the trail hits a terrace and follows it through the bear-grass. The terraces above and below you, which cascade down the slope of the Hagen Creek bowl, were created by the Forest Service a few decades ago in an effort to replant slopes that had not been naturally recolonized with conifers after the Yacolt Burn. | + | Return to the unmarked junction with the [[Silver Star-Grouse Vista Trail Junction|Grouse Vista Trail]], and go left. The trail, also an old jeep road has a screen of noble fir on the right and encroaching slide alder on the left. After about 150 yards, you’ll see a path heading into the slide alder on the right. This is East Pyramid Rock Trail, which is user-maintained and can be very brushy in places even though the tread is usually obvious. Swish down through the bear-grass in an alder thicket, and make a sharp turn left. The trail drops in a thicket of silver fir, salmonberry, and huckleberry and becomes eroded and steep. From a bracken/bear-grass clearing, you can get a view to the [[Silver Star Indian Pits|Indian Pits]] area of Silver Star’s south ridge. Soon the trail hits a terrace and follows it through the bear-grass. The terraces above and below you, which cascade down the slope of the Hagen Creek bowl, were created by the Forest Service a few decades ago in an effort to replant slopes that had not been naturally recolonized with conifers after the Yacolt Burn. |
Mountain beavers burrow in these terraces, so watch your step as you can easily twist an ankle. Views open up as the terrace merges with an old jeep road used in the planting effort. Both [[Mount Hood]] and [[Mount Jefferson]] become visible as does a good portion of Silver Star’s south ridge (see the [[Silver Star South Ridge Hike]]). [[Pyramid Rock]] and its false cousin hove into view. You’ll find yourself below the bear-grass slopes of [[Pyramid Rock]] and the track descends before turning to rise to the saddle between [[Pyramid Rock]] and False Pyramid. | Mountain beavers burrow in these terraces, so watch your step as you can easily twist an ankle. Views open up as the terrace merges with an old jeep road used in the planting effort. Both [[Mount Hood]] and [[Mount Jefferson]] become visible as does a good portion of Silver Star’s south ridge (see the [[Silver Star South Ridge Hike]]). [[Pyramid Rock]] and its false cousin hove into view. You’ll find yourself below the bear-grass slopes of [[Pyramid Rock]] and the track descends before turning to rise to the saddle between [[Pyramid Rock]] and False Pyramid. | ||
Revision as of 21:33, 27 January 2021
- Start point: Grouse Vista Trailhead
- End point: Silver Star Mountain and Pyramid Rock
- Hike Type: "Wheel and axle" loop
- Distance: 7.2 miles
- Elevation gain: 2115 feet
- High point: 4,375 feet
- Difficulty: Moderate
- Seasons: Late spring into fall
- Family Friendly: No
- Backpackable: No
- Crowded: At the summit of Silver Star Mountain
Contents |
Hike Description
This little-hiked loop adds an option to the usual out and back excursion up to the summit of Silver Star Mountain, giving you views and perspectives from both sides of Silver Star’s southwest ridge and taking you away from the crowds on the descent. The “trail” on the east side of the ridge is a user-maintained track that takes you across terraces planted with noble firs several decades ago to the saddle between Pyramid Rock and the “False Pyramid,” the prominence inaccurately labeled as Pyramid Rock on topographical maps. It’s a short scramble up Pyramid Rock from the saddle. It’s best to wear long pants since the user trail can be quite brushy.
Cross the road from the parking pullout and begin hiking up the Grouse Vista Trail, like most of the trails on Silver Star an old jeep road. Also like most of these trails, the tread is often composed of loose rock. You’ll soon pass the Grouse Vista-Tarbell Trail Junction (your return point), and continue ascending in Douglas-fir/hemlock forest with an understory of vine maple, salal, fairy lantern, and sword fern. A small spring flows over the trail, and soon silver and noble firs enter the forest mix. Just before the trail levels, you’ll pass two impressive silver firs next to the tread. Hike along in a lush corridor of mountain ash, huckleberry, and thimbleberry where tiger lilies, paintbrush, lovage, and lupine bloom in summer. A view opens up to the the summit of Silver Star Mountain with its sub-peak Silver Star 2 just to the right. Sturgeon Rock stands out on the ridge above the deep Rock Creek drainage, which now has a few recent clearcuts where you can spot the tread of the Tarbell Trail. These open slopes were denuded by the vast and intense Yacolt Burn of 1902, and a few whitened snags from that fire still stand out. On the ridge above you, you can make out the crags of Pyramid Rock. Then you’ll hike through a shady copse of silver and noble fir before passing the Grouse Vista-Pyramid Rock Trail Junction, noting this as your return point at the end of the loop. (The junction is sometimes marked with a rock arrow on the tread or a small cairn.)
Looking back, you can now see back to Larch Mountain and the extended Rock Creek valley. The trail passes below a boulder slope and begins to rise gently. In summer, the yellow-blooming invasive smooth hawksbeard blankets these slopes. You’ll continue to get good views of Sturgeon Rock and Silver Star 2. Then the trail ducks into a corridor of Sitka alder before starting a steep rise on a rubbly track through silver and noble fir woods. Keep straight on the Silver Star Trail when you pass the unmarked Silver Star-Grouse Vista Trail Junction. After more steep trail hiking, finally make a level traverse through wildflowers with views to Larch Mountain and the Fourth Plains beyond. The trail then rises into woods again, reaching a four-way junction with the Indian Pits Trail #180E heading up to the right and the old Sturgeon Rock Trail dropping down to the left. Keeping straight, you’ll soon reach another junction with its signature, ever-growing rockpile/cairn.
Turn right, and pass a campsite on the left (there’s a connector to the Bluff Mountain Trail from here) before leaving the sheltering noble fir forest and emerging into an open meadow of bear-grass, huckleberry, spiraea, lupine, and bistort. At a saddle, you’ll see the lower summit of Silver Star 2 to your right and the rocky prominence of Silver Star Mountain to the left. The spectacular ridge that conveys the Bluff Mountain Trail past Little Baldy stretches to the east. Mount Adams is on the eastern horizon, with Mount Rainier to the far left and Mount Hood to the far right. Once on the summit of Silver Star Mountain itself, which more than likely will have other occupants, you’ll note the concrete platform from the former lookout. Looking north, you can see up Silver Star’s north ridge and the route of Ed’s Trail. Mount Saint Helens forms a spectacular backdrop. Far to the south, Mount Jefferson should be visible on any clear day.
Return to the unmarked junction with the Grouse Vista Trail, and go left. The trail, also an old jeep road has a screen of noble fir on the right and encroaching slide alder on the left. After about 150 yards, you’ll see a path heading into the slide alder on the right. This is East Pyramid Rock Trail, which is user-maintained and can be very brushy in places even though the tread is usually obvious. Swish down through the bear-grass in an alder thicket, and make a sharp turn left. The trail drops in a thicket of silver fir, salmonberry, and huckleberry and becomes eroded and steep. From a bracken/bear-grass clearing, you can get a view to the Indian Pits area of Silver Star’s south ridge. Soon the trail hits a terrace and follows it through the bear-grass. The terraces above and below you, which cascade down the slope of the Hagen Creek bowl, were created by the Forest Service a few decades ago in an effort to replant slopes that had not been naturally recolonized with conifers after the Yacolt Burn.
Mountain beavers burrow in these terraces, so watch your step as you can easily twist an ankle. Views open up as the terrace merges with an old jeep road used in the planting effort. Both Mount Hood and Mount Jefferson become visible as does a good portion of Silver Star’s south ridge (see the Silver Star South Ridge Hike). Pyramid Rock and its false cousin hove into view. You’ll find yourself below the bear-grass slopes of Pyramid Rock and the track descends before turning to rise to the saddle between Pyramid Rock and False Pyramid.
A track leads left up False Pyramid. Straight across from it, a faint trail heads through the bear-grass towards Pyramid Rock. When you get to the base of the rocks, turn left and then follow a scrambler’s route up, passing clumps of ocean spray, boxwood, and bright-blooming rock penstemon. You’ll pass a walled-in “cave” where you can huddle for the night should you have the desire. From the top of Pyramid Rock, you can see south past the face of the Oregon Columbia River Gorge to Mount Hood and Mount Jefferson. You’ll also get views to Larch Mountain and the Dole Valley. Across Silver Star’s south ridge, the crags of the Chimney Rocks stand out above Last Chance Creek.
Once you’ve dismounted from Pyramid Rock, you may as well include its false cousin in the outing, Follow the track up the slope of False Pyramid from the saddle. At the end of the track, a faint trail leads up across the scree and becomes a path through the bear-grass to the broad summit area. Views are similar here, but you can see farther east, where Three Corner Rock stands out. Return to the saddle, and turn left to hike a short distance through a copse of noble fir to rejoin the Grouse Vista Trail and return to your vehicle.
Maps
- Maps: Hike Finder
- Yacolt Burn State Forest Non-Motorized Trails (Washington DNR)
- Washington Department of Natural Resources: The Yacolt Burn State Forest Map
- Green Trails Maps: Bridal Veil, OR #428
- U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service: Mt. St. Helens National Volcanic Monument & Administrative Area
- U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service: Gifford Pinchot National Forest
- National Geographic Trails Illustrated Map: Mount St. Helens, Mount Adams
- National Geographic Trails Illustrated Map: Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area
Regulations or Restrictions, etc.
- Discover Pass required
- Vault toilet, information kiosk
Trip Reports
- Search Trip Reports for Silver Star-Pyramid Rock Loop Hike
Related Discussions / Q&A
- Search Trail Q&A for Silver Star-Pyramid Rock Loop Hike
Guidebooks that cover this hike
- none
More Links
- Trail #180F Pyramid Rock (USFS)
- Trails #180 & #180D Silver Star & Summit (USFS)
- Silver Star Mountain (Skamania) (Summit Post)
- Silver Star Mountain (Skamania County, Washington) (Wikipedia)
Contributors
- bobcat (creator)