Parking
Gravel parking at Silver Star Trailhead, at the end of Forest Road 4109. The Forest Service recommends high-clearance vehicles and does not recommend passenger cars; no parking capacity is listed.
Overview
About Silver Star Mountain – Ed’s Trail Loop
Why go
- A walk-through rock arch, wildflower meadows and a five-volcano summit view
- The old lookout foundation gives the summit a clear sense of place
Heads up
- Narrow exposed tread and a hands-on rocky scramble
- Forest Road 4109 is rough; high clearance is recommended
Beyond the arch, the tread gets steep and rough. Expect a short, overgrown stretch with loose footing on a steep slope, followed by a rock step that takes three points of contact to reach an overlook toward Adams and St. Helens. A slip here could be serious; avoid this route when wet or icy. After joining Silver Star Trail, follow it uphill to the rocky summit spur, then return to that junction and descend the old road grade. Give yourself time to stop: after snowmelt, wildflowers peak in June and July. At the summit, the old lookout foundation makes a good foreground against the five-volcano horizon.
Parkwolf’s verdictThe hard part and the payoffMap & elevation
The route
Loading the Columbia River Gorge map
Full mapElevation3,018–4,334 ft
Plan your hike
Before you go
Parking
Safety
8 active Columbia River Gorge alerts
- ClosureEagle Creek Fire area closureDo not enter Oneonta Gorge or the specified trail sections because hazards remain following the Eagle Creek Fire.Official details
- CautionAircraft and drone restrictions at developed recreation sitesAircraft and drone landings, drop-offs, and pickups are prohibited at six high-use developed recreation sites to protect visitor safety.Official details
The highest, rockiest slopes around here are a summer buffet for grizzly bears.
Columbia River Gorge Tour Guide
Your drive to Silver Star Mountain – Ed’s Trail Loop, narrated.
Parkwolf is a GPS audio tour guide for Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area. As you drive, it chimes in with what’s ahead: hidden gems, upcoming stops, history, geology, and wildlife, right through your car’s speakers.
- 217 audio storiesacross Columbia River Gorge’s roads, triggered by GPS as you drive
- Wildlife heatmapsfor Bald Eagle, Black Bear, American Pika, and 13 more
- Works offlinemaps, 111 trails, 78 places, and audio download before you lose signal
- CarPlay readysimple controls built for the drive
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Trail guide
Hiking Silver Star Mountain – Ed’s Trail Loop
The summit loopThis is a roughly 5-mile loop from the north Silver Star Trailhead, with a short out-and-back…
This is a roughly 5-mile loop from the north Silver Star Trailhead, with a short out-and-back spur to Silver Star’s summit. It climbs about 1,500 feet and takes most hikers around four hours. The route uses the old Silver Star road grade and Ed’s Trail 180A to reach the summit, then returns on Silver Star Trail 180. At the top, a former lookout foundation sits above views of Mounts Adams, St. Helens, Hood, Jefferson and Rainier when the air is clear.
Ed’s TrailFrom the gravel lot at the end of Forest Road 4109, follow a dirt path through young maples…
From the gravel lot at the end of Forest Road 4109, follow a dirt path through young maples onto the old road grade. After about a mile, stay right for Ed’s Trail. Its narrow tread follows a steep hillside, weaving past rocky outcrops, open meadows, false summits and a natural arch you walk beneath. This is the scenic side of the loop, but the edge stays close and several connected paths make a current map useful.
Access and fitThe Forest Service trailhead is at the end of Forest Road 4109.
The Forest Service trailhead is at the end of Forest Road 4109. The road is rough; the Forest Service recommends high clearance and does not recommend passenger cars. There is no fee or permit, and the site is day-use from sunrise to sunset. There is no potable water or restroom at the trailhead. Dogs are allowed on leash, but the exposed scrambling is a poor fit for many dogs. If you want the summit without Ed’s steep, rocky section, use Silver Star Trail for an out-and-back instead; it is less rugged but gives up the loop’s arch and ridge traverse.
Wildlife
Wildlife in Columbia River Gorge
267 sightingsBald EagleMost seen around 7 AMSighting map
51 sightingsBlack BearMost seen around 7 PMSighting map
136 sightingsAmerican PikaMost seen around 8 AMSighting map
16 sightingsWapitiMost seen around 7 AMSighting map
195 sightingsMule DeerMost seen around 7 AMSighting map
74 sightingsChinook SalmonMost seen around 6 PMSighting mapSighting maps show where each species has been reported across Columbia River Gorge. Wildlife moves, so no sighting is guaranteed.
