Hike Silver Star Mountain in Washington State

Hiking in the Great Northwest is one of my favorite activities. In fact, my roommate and I go for a hike every Friday. Last month, we went to Silver Star Mountain which is north of Vancouver, Washington.

Silver Star Mountain is rather secluded but it is well worth the drive! When you reach the top you will be greeted by views of Mt. St. Helens, Mt. Rainier, and Mt. Adams.

Silver Star reaches 4,364 ft. The trail is well maintained and consists of packed dirt and gravel. Overall, the grade is gradual with only a few short, steep sections.

There is a large parking lot at the trailhead. However, due to snow, we had to park far below the lot and walk.

Along the way, there are several trails that break off from the main one for people who like to explore. If you want to do some impromptu bouldering you can climb the rock outcroppings near the summit.

It took my roommate and I about an hour or so to reach the summit walking at a brisk pace. For comparison, when I took my Mom up to Silver Star, we hiked it in about 2 hours. The day I went up with my roommate, the sky had light clouds but was still sunny. For the time of year (early spring), it was actually pretty warm too. The sun reflecting off of the snow gave us both nice tans. We took a roundabout route which was nearly 5 miles long.

The scenery is rather breathtaking. You are treated to a 360-degree view of the area which includes (on a clear day) views of Mt. Hood, Mount Saint Helens, Mt. Adams, and sometimes even Mt. Rainier. In the summer, the fields are covered in wild flowers, berries, and bear grass.

According to the US Forest Service, after the 1902 Yacolt Fire the government placed a fire lookout tower at the summit of Silver Star Mountain. The fire swept the area clear and on some of the rockier areas the forest has refused to grow back.

There are a number of scenic rock formations including an arch formation. On clear days from the summit you can see Vancouver, Washington and Portland, Oregon.