Unusually hot weather started on Thursday. High in mid 90s this Sunday :(Ed's Trail - Silver Star trail loop. ~5 miles, 1200' gain. Ed's Trail part is longer, with a tiny bit steep section, a natural gate, rolling hills. Silver Star trail is shorter, also pretty. The two join on an ugly old road (no view, nor wind) close to a camp site 1/4 miles from the summit. Great view and flowers starting from the parking lot! At the summit, excellent 360° view: Columbia River, 5 glaciated peaks (St Helens, Rainier, Adams, Hood, Jefferson). A bold eagle soaring in front of us.
Come now for the flower bananza. Beargrass is in full bloom. Lots of paintbrush, penstemon, bistort, valerian, thimbleberry. Some iris, bleeding heart, tiger lily, glacier lily, avalanche lily, solomon's plume, phacelia, plectritis, phlox, columbine, mountain golden pea, wall flowers, desert parsley, inside out flower, queens cup. Gentian and lupine are still budding. Saw some violet-colored violet.9 people, 2 cars. Terry knows the way. This is the 2nd time I hike with Mary. She's slow, but she knows her flowers and eager to share!
Direction is not straightforward. High clearance vehicle is wise, even though the rough part is not too long. I'm copying from WTA: From Battleground
- Drive north on State Route 503 for 5.6 miles
- Turn right on onto Rock Creek Road
- Continue 9 miles to the Moulton Falls County Park (seems a very nice place to have a dip.)
- Just past the park, turn right on Sunset Falls Road
- Continue 7 miles to the Sunset Falls Campground
- Turn right into the campground
- Continue past the bathrooms on your left and cross the East Fork Lewis River on FS 41
- Go 3.5 miles and turn right on FR 4109, it is a sharp hairpin turn going down.
- Continue on FR 4109 (it is rugged road not suitable for low clearance cars).
- About a mile past turning off of FS 41, stay on 4109 at the intersection where Road 1100 veers off to the right.
- Continue approx. 3 miles to the trailhead.
