Getting There
I took L-1200 out of Washougal to get there. It's 7 miles up a gravel road from the end of the pavement on Skamania Mines Road and it's 18 miles from Washougal. You can also reach the trailhead from the north via Yacolt.
The Hike
Holy molé! Difficult hike but spectacular views. Mts: Rainier, St Helens, Adams, Hood, Jefferson
Length: 6.3 miles round trip
Elevation Gain: 2,096 feet
Grade: 12.6%
Type: Out & Back
Duration: 4.5 hours
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Narrow path in the trees, shade
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Out in the sun, a bit rougher trail
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L to R: Mt St Helens, Mt Rainier, Mt Adams
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L to R: Mt Hood, a hiker on the ridge, a faint Mt Jefferson in the right corner
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Looking towards the west, vague outline of the Columbia River
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Haggard but still smiling
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Trail Review
It deserves the Difficult rating. :) I’d estimate that 75% is on a
decent incline and rough going (rocky path). You can pick some good
lines through some of the wider sections. The other 25% is more or less
flat or slightly declining. There’s a well marked right turn near the
summit. You go passed a campsite and up another rocky section to the
top. The payoff is delayed until the last turn. You can see Rainier, St
Helens, Adams, Hood, Jefferson, and even the Columbia.
Spectacular views!
Unfortunately the views from the trail include clear cuts, big swaths of
missing forest and the access roads."
My trail review on AllTrails:
https://www.alltrails.com/explore/trail/us/washington/silver-star-mountain-via-grouse-vista-trail
