Grouse Vista Trailhead
From Oregon Hikers Field Guide
- Weather forecast: NWS/NOAA
- Maps: Oregon Hikers Maps Google Maps
- Latitude, Longitude: 45.72177, -122.26957
- Elevation: 2375 feet
- Driving time from Portland: 65 minutes
Contents |
Hikes starting here
- Larch Mountain via Grouse Vista Hike (TH | <— —> | LOG)
- Hidden Falls from Grouse Vista Hike (TH | <— —> | LOG)
- Silver Star Mountain via Grouse Vista Hike (TH | <— —> | LOG)
- Silver Star-Pyramid Rock Loop Hike (TH | <— —> | LOG)
- Silver Star Mountain via Sturgeon Rock Loop Hike (TH | <— —> | LOG)
- Silver Star-Chinook Trail Loop Hike (TH | <— —> | LOG)
Hikes including this trailhead
- Tarbell Loop Hike (TH | <— —> | LOG)
Fees / Regulations
- Discover Pass required ($10/day or $30 annually), but it's not available at the trailhead. Purchase a pass in advance locally, or — if you have cell phone service — by phone at 866-320-9933 (and then display the permit number on your car's dash for a ranger to verify).
- Vault toilet, information kiosk
- Share Tarbell Trail with mountain bikes
Notes
The Grouse Vista Trailhead, a.k.a. Grouse Creek Vista, is the most common starting point for those climbing Silver Star Mountain from the south. It has a few informal names like 'Silver Star South Trailhead', or 'Tarbell Trail South Trailhead'.
In 2023, the trailhead kiosk was moved to the same side of the road as the beginning of the trail for Silver Star Mountain.
If you want to go to the summit of Larch Mountain, take the trail on the south side of the pass (same side as the parking area). Both hikes can be done in a single day's outing.
Warning
Forest Service roads are not plowed, and conditions can change at any time, especially during the winter. It is wise to carry a shovel and saw in case of slides or blowdowns. Check current conditions before planning a hike.
Driving Directions
See the maps at the bottom of this page that correspond to some of the steps in these directions.
Take I-5 or I-205 to Route 14 in Washington. Take Route 14 east to Washougal. Turn left on 15th Street in Washougal (across from Steamboat Landing Park).
| Step | Cumulative Miles | Description |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 0 | Reset odometer at highway 14. Go through Washougal on 15th, which becomes 17th. |
| 2 | 0.6 | Go over the Washougal River Bridge. The road changes name to Washougal River Road and winds along side the Washougal River. |
| 2 | 6.7 | Turn left on Hughes Road marked "Bear Prairie Road" on the local road sign. The road winds uphill and through rural forests and farm land. |
| 3 | 8.3 | The road changes name to NE 392nd Ave (but the only way you'd know this is from your GPS or road signs). |
| 4 | 8.6 | The road changes name to NE 28th Street / NE Miller Road. |
| 5 | 9.8 | Turn right on Sky Road / NE 39th Street. |
| 6 | 9.9 | Turn left on NE 412th Ave / Skamania Mines Road. |
| 7 | 10.1 | Bear right at the Y in the road, still on Skamania Mines Road. |
| 8 | 11.3 | Cross the West Branch of the Washougal River, still on Skamania Mines Road, which becomes a dirt road. The road narrows and gains elevation steeply as it winds through the thick forest. |
| 9 | 12.6 | Turn left on Forest Road 1200 / Skamania Mines Road. There is no road sign, just a stop sign. |
| 10 | 12.7 | Bear left, continuing on Forest Road 1200. There is an illegible local road sign. The road becomes pretty rough, winding through thick forests and occasional clear cuts. |
| 11 | 18.5 | Arrive at the trailhead (parking on the left). |
There is an alternate western approach to the trailhead that's a little further from Portland and Vancouver, but the road is a little better:
Go North on I-5 from Vancouver, take exit 11, and take highway 502 5.8 miles to Battleground, or take highway 503 from Vancouver to Battleground.
| Step | Odometer Reading | Description |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 0.0 | Reset Odometer at intersection of highways 502 and 503. Go North on highway 503. |
| 2 | 5.6 | Turn right on Rock Creek Road. There's a sign saying "Lucia Falls, Moulton Falls". Rock Creek Road becomes Lucia Falls Road after a while. |
| 3 | 14.1 | Turn right on Sunset Falls Road. There's a sign saying "Sunset C. G.". |
| 4 | 16.1 | Turn right on Dole Valley Road which becomes L1000. |
| 5 | 21.2 | Turn left on L1200. Up to here the road is two lane paved. The last leg is one lane with coarse gravel, so drive carefully. Within the first mile there is a fork, stay going uphill to the right (the other road is L1210.) This is doable with a standard passenger car. |
| 6 | 26.7 | Grouse Vista Trailhead (parking on the right). |
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Page Contributors
- Jeffstatt (creator)