Pets allowed
Not Allowed
Elevation Gain
1,200.00 ft (365.76 m)
Trail type
There-and-back
Distance
5.70 mi (9.17 km)
Please respect the outdoors by practicing Leave No Trace. Learn more about how to apply the principles of Leave No Trace on your next outdoor adventure here.

Silver Star Mountain, at 4,390 feet, will give you a beautiful view on a clear day to Mount St. Helens, Mount Adams and Mount Hood. This hike in the southwestern Cascade Mountains will no doubt provide exceptional views all along the trail, as well as a rewarding 360-degree view after a not-too-strenuous hike. Recognizable from the summit, “Silver Star” became the name of the mountain thanks to the five distinct ridges that run out in the shape of a star from the top of this extinct volcano. The open views along (nearly) the entire trail route are due in part to a forest fire in 1902 that burned 238,000 acres and still ranks as the largest fire in Washington’s history.

Thanks to the mountain’s location, you don't have to pay a parking or hiking fee. On the other hand, due to the location, the trailhead requires careful navigation along back roads. Be sure to check your directions before searching out the trailhead along NF-4109. Those looking for a route variation or a more challenging adventure can consider the Bluff Mountain Trail approach.

Logistics + Planning

Preferable season(s)

Summer
Fall

Congestion

Moderate

Parking Pass

Washington Discovery Pass

Pros

Great view to multiple volcanic peaks.

Cons

Accessed via backroads.

Trailhead Elevation

3,200.00 ft (975.36 m)

Features

Backcountry camping
Big vistas
Old-growth forest
Wildflowers

Location

Nearby Adventures

Nearby Lodging + Camping

Southwest Washington/Mount St. Helens, Washington
Southwest Washington/Mount St. Helens, Washington

Comments

08/13/2016
The roads to the trail are not maintained, NF-4109 has large ruts and wash outs with the roads prior to it having large potholes. I would not advise attempting to make it to this hike with a car or a small SUV.
07/30/2016
What a beautiful hike! The road up has about two miles of large potholes and we barely made it up in my sedan. I would highly recommend taking a taller car. The google maps location on the instructions led us to the trailhead. About 0.5 mile into the hike, you can take Ed's Trail, which has a small sign on the left. This trail is much smaller and has a bit of scrambling, but is stunning. It meets up with the main trail close to the peak, which you can take back down. Lastly, a WA Discovery Pass was required in the parking lot, luckily no one ventured all the way up there to check.
11/28/2015
This was a wonderful adventure, but it was difficult to find. Use the Outdoor Project location to get the route. We tried to put 'Silver Star Mountain' in our phone to get the directions and it sent us an hour out of the way and too far south to get the trailhead.

When we did the hike, it was about an hour and a half until sunset, so we knew we had to hustle. However, once we reached the mountain there were 40-65 mph wind gusts. As we hiked and got around the rocks, the wind nearly took us off our feet...and off the mountain. When we reached the second opening and almost blew away, we decided to turn back. It was a good decision, especially because we got to see the sunset as we descended. We would love to go back on another clear day to see the mountains...but hopefully there won't be so much wind!
Have updates, photos, alerts, or just want to leave a comment?
Sign In and share them.