Silver Star Mountain via Ed's Trail and Indian Pits

Activity Notes

Silver Star may be awash in flowers or could be partially buried in snow one week before Father's Day. We can't know this when I'm scheduling the hike months earlier. But either way, if skies are clear we'll have views of volcanoes near and far, and as a bonus we'll get a little scramble (may need to use our hands) and walk through a rock arch. I've had every kind of weather on this hike, from rainy walks on snow to gorgeous days with volcano views flanked by flowers.

I'm trying something new this year, starting from the actual Ed's Trail trailhead, marked as Silver Star North on some apps. There is enough parking for about a dozen vehicles with Discover Passes visible. Carpooling is important, as is a 05:30 start from Gateway. Can your vehicle make it? I scouted the drive in March 2026 and had more trouble navigating the potholes on paved sections of the route than on the good gravel with high drainage bumps on Forest Road 4109. Higher clearance is critical, 4WD less so. Directions can be viewed at https://maps.app.goo.gl/dECb2PtQAnA9chmt5. 

As for the hike, it's like a dream compared to Grouse Vista's rocky trail. We gain vistas and wildflowers after a half mile of hiking and 400' of elevation gain. We'll hike the Ed's Trail loop clockwise, taking Ed's Trail and its scramble sections uphill and the old roadbed downhill. In between we will take spurs to the Indian Pits and finally to the Silver Star summit for lunch. Except for the spurs, we'll be hiking due south before lunch and due north after lunch. Our expected stats are 7.5 miles with 1,850' of gain.