Silver Star Mountain via Sturgeon Rock Loop Hike
From Oregon Hikers Field Guide
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[Category:Southwest Washington]]
- Start point: Grouse Vista Trailhead
- End point: Silver Star Mountain
- Trail Log: Trail Log
- Hike Type: Loop
- Distance: 8.5 miles RT
- Elevation gain: 20402,040 feet
- Difficulty: Moderate
- Seasons: Late Spring through early Autumn
- Family Friendly: No
- Backpackable: Yes (campsites are very limited)
- Crowded: Only on Grouse Vista trail
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Contents |
Hike Description
This hike begins and ends at the Grouse Vista Trailhead, and the first half is identical to Silver Star via Grouse Vista Hike - see for more thorough explanation of this half. Probably because of all the springs that Silver Star feeds, the rocks are loose everywhere, and you need to be prepared for some steep climbing - I did not count one switchback on the Grouse Vista trail, nor on the Sturgeon Rock trail - only the Tarbell trail had switchbacks. A few hundred yards after starting on the trail, you'll see a trail to your left with a piece of tape on a post, which will be your return route. For now, keep right and follow the Grouse Vista trail. Around a mile into the hike, you soon break into the open and get good views of Larch Mountain (WA), Sturgeon Rock, Pyramid Rock, and another pyramid-like rock that is a little taller than Pyramid Rock. I refer to this rock as "Pyramid Point". You'll soon come to a junction of the Grouse Vista Trail (which continues straight and downhill), or another trail (taking a hard right and heading uphill). You might want to take the side trail, which leads to the summit of Pyramid Rock, and also leads to a steep trail to the summit of Pyramid Point. From Pyramid Point, you get good views of Mount Hood, Larch Mountain, and Bluff Mountain, as well as a view of Silver Star. Back on the main trail, you'll get many views of Sturgeon Rock to your left, separated from you by a deep canyon. After a while, you'll come to a junction for Indian Pits to the right, Sturgeon Rock cutoff trail to your left, and straight ahead to the summit of Silver Star. For now, go straight. You'll soon come to another junction, this time to the right is the summit of Silver Star, and straight ahead is to the Silver Star via Bluff Mountain Hike. Just after this, you'll see a campsite, possibly the only campsite on the hike. Continue the last few hundred feet to the summit. The trail ends in the saddle of Silver Star. You can go to the south summit with great views of Mount Hood, Mount Jefferson, and Mount Adams, and then go the the true north summit, with views of Mount Saint Helens, Mount Rainier, and the lesser mountains below your, as well as the Bluff Mountain Trail. There are remnants of the old lookout here at Silver Star. Once you've had your views, head back down toward the junction with the Indian Pits, Grouse Vista, and Sturgeon Rock cutoff. Go right onto the unmarked Sturgeon Rock cutoff trail. The maps say it is 1.3 miles long and heads west, but the main path eventually heads south, and is more like 2 miles long. After a few hundred feet, you'll see a very narrow trail heading off to the right, marked "Sturgeon Rock Trail", which probably heads to the summit of Sturgeon Rock. For now, stay on the main trail, and hike down the steep and loose rock for a mile-and-a-half until you find a sign to your right that points to the west "Hidden Falls - 2", and right after there is a sign posted to a tree that points "Tarbell Trail." Take the much better graded Tarbell Trail. This is the only trail in the area that has definite switchbacks. It isn't nearly as rocky or sketchy, and it isn't nearly as steep. This trail has posts marking every half mile, and you'll hike it about 2.5-3 miles back to your car. You'll encounter many springs along the hike, but by far the best is Rock Creek, with its peaceful 15-foot-high Rock Creek Falls, with a very nice bridge that has been constructed. Hike the rest of the way down the trail, and when you come by a post with orange tape, you will immediately meet up with the Grouse Vista Trail. Hike the last few hundred feet back to your car.
Maps
Regulations or Restrictions, etc.
No permits required
Trip Reports
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Related Discussions / Q&A
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Guidebooks that cover this hike
- Title - 1st Edition, by Author
More Links
- See more information at NW Hiker
Contributors
- Fallsfreak (creator)