Silver Star

Silver Star via Ed's Trail

You really gotta want it to get here but wow what a view virtually the whole hike. This is not my first hike up Silver Star but I have always went up from Grouse Vista, an easy drive but way less scenic hike.

Let's start with the drive....the last 10 miles of this drive are pretty treacherous on a dry day. That said, if you go slow and easy in a four wheel drive you will make it no problem. It is a popular approach, so if you go on a weekend, as we did just follow the others!

The hike begins with brushy switchbacks and beautiful vine maples. Then the wildflowers explode around you (in July). When you break into the open you gain views of Mt St Helens to the North  and soon Mt Adams to the North-East. Eventually you merge with an old Jeep track. Ed's trail peels off about 20 yards along on the left. We took this trail and it wound its way up around the ridge giving great East and South-East views.

 The trail winds up through wildflower choked open meadows surprising with a great postcard view of Mt Hood framed in the snow clad bowl below Silver Star and Little Baldy.

The trail rises up to the jagged rocks at the top of the spine then wraps around North.

 Another surprise awaits in a spectacular natural arch, an arbor through which the trail runs. Traveling a bit further and past a sizeable cave, we were forced to turn back. The trail ascended a steep slope and was covered in snow. Our unpredictable pup would not make this a fun crossing. We decided to backtrack through the arch and take a small game trail up through the low huckleberry shrubs and join the Jeep track on the ridge.

This is a real gradual climb through several deep snow patches to the summit of Silver Star. Here we were able to see Mt Ranier, Mt St Helens, Mt Adams, The Goat Rocks, Mt Hood and Mt Jefferson! What a place for lunch...

Our return trip we stayed with the Jeep trail down the entire ridge. We were surrounded by large jutting outcroppings of rock, flowers of all colors and deep green distant meadows begging to be explored.

Bell Mountain

The Bell Mountain Trail 

This is a trail I have been meaning to do for some time. 

It originates at Moulton Falls Park, a place I have spent many summer days swimming in high school and over the years. The trail actually takes off about a mile down the Murphy Grade Trail. It winds up through the forest and opens to several clearings offering territorial views to Mt St Helens and Silver Star.

Foxglove and butterfly

Small bridges cross the streams and it is a very well maintained trail with all the beautiful flora and fauna we take for granted on the West side of the Cascades.

As this a 5 mile in and out our return trip took us through Moulton Falls Park where a very cold swim awaits the daring...

Metolious

Metolious River Trail

The Metolious River trail is a beautiful walk along a river as cold and clean as a river gets. The hike skirts the river going up one side and back down the other bank for most of the hike. There is a detour around some private property but mostly you are streamside. 

We did this walk with dogs and they loved it. at just around 6 miles, it taxed our new Austrailian Shepherd puppy.

We began our hike at the Lower Bridge Campground. A nice little shaded parking area is on the West side of the bridge. We hiked south along the river. on a gentle slope. The river moves fast and we hiked half a mile before we found a nice calm place for the dogs to cool down.

The river banks were teaming with Monarch butterflies one of which posed beautifully on a Tiger Lily.

The river is very popular with the fly fishermen as a catch and release must do destination. Consequently the ever grace-full casting fly fisherman can be found at almost every eddy and bend in the river. 

We hiked on to Wizard Falls Hatchery with its pools of fish large to small, the facility is a gift from the Civilian Conservation Corps. There is water to refill the canteen and restrooms here as well. The bridge here is where we crossed and headed back on the East side. There is a trail that continues to the headwaters here an in and back that adds about 6 miles to

the hike. 

Forget-Me-Nots (Myosotis Salvatica) a waterside plant.

Our return trip was equally enjoyable on the East bank, graced with plenty of sunshine, wildflowers and geese.