This hike has been on our bucket list for many years for a couple reasons:  One, it is the last major access point to the mountain that we have not hiked.  Two, it is legendary for its steep track and remote(ish) location.  Instead of hiking to the summit we fashioned a counter clockwise loop I had read about using the Starway Trail #175, Bluff Mountain Trail #172 and a old logging road cited on some maps as "Old Copper Creek Road" that drops down into the Cooper Creek Valley and intersects back close to the trailhead.  

We drove in on road 41 via Sunset Falls Campground.  Road 41 is currently being worked on and  is in much better shape than I have ever seen it and is easily drivable in any vehicle.  Once past the road 4109 junction,  road 41 is rougher but still drivable in any vehicle if you go slow.  Once we arrived at the gate we continued down the very narrow and rocky road to the small parking area at the bridge over Copper Creek. (I think most people park at the gate and walk the road as it is labeled as Starway Trail #175 on most maps.) We arrived at 5:15am and were the first vehicle there.

The trail crossed the sturdy bridge over Copper Creek, turned left on an old roadbed and in about 1/4 mile turned right and began climbing very steeply.  Over the next 2 miles the track went from very steep to insanely steep, often times just going straight up the fall line. There were a couple short flat (and very pretty) sections but mostly just an unrelenting climb.   At about 2.5 miles we summited Peak 3977, descended and then regained elevation to arrive at the Bluff Mountain Trail. Overall the condition of Starway was surprisingly good - always easy to follow and only a couple step-over downed trees. The wildflowers were beautiful and half of the bear grass was past prime but still plenty to call spectacular.  We did not see any wildlife but heard many pika as we traversed several talus slopes on this hike. 

 We turned left and headed east on the Bluff Mountain Trail toward Little Baldy and Bluff Mountain.  The Bluff Mt. trail is very overgrown in many parts and the tread is sloughing off along the cliffs of Bluff Mt. but is easy to follow.  It eventually becomes an old double track road that climbs and turns northerly until at mile 7.9 we turned left again and descended  Old Copper Creek Road. This is a brushy and sometimes rocky double track that drops and switchbacks down into the valley.  Along the way you pass two trails that go to old mine prospects but we saved those for another day.  

After rock hopping over Copper Creek, we regained the road for a flat one mile walk back to our truck.  When we arrived there was a sedan parked next to us with the owner off on some adventure.  During our entire trip we did not encounter a  single person which is a rarity these days.  (Using binoculars we did see people at the summit and some tents along the ridge above Ed's Trail).  

Mileage:  12.60

Elevation Gain:  3,832 ft

Blog version (disclaimers)

Quick-and-dirty version

Access: NF-2505 (Huffaker); NF-2506 (Bluff/Kraus)
Round Trip: 5.6 miles; 10.2 miles
Elevation Range: 1680′-3640′
Essential Gear: none
Dog-Friendly: yes

Route

Huffaker

1. From the end of the drivable NF-2505, continue on the road to the dead end on the summit ridge.
   [OPTIONAL]: Leave the spur road at 3000' and cross-country for 400' altitude to the upper roadway before continuing to the dead end.
2. The overlook atop the cliffs is on the south, past the dense trees.

Bluff Mountain/Kraus Ridge

1. From the gated Road 2506 (Dec. 1 - Apr. 1) at 1650′, walk to the fork west of the summit.
2. Turn onto NF-056 for the short ascent to the forested top through massive windfalls.
3. Return to the fork and continue to the end of Road 2506 for the south views.
4. Briefly go west cross-country down to Kraus Ridge Trail.
5. Hike the excellent trail for three miles until it joins NF-037 to head west.
6. Attain the northeast ridge before the road's end and reach the wooded summit in half a mile.

Highlights

• Expansive south views of Gifford Pinchot National Forest from the cliffs, plus Mount Adams, Mount Saint Helens, and a tiny bit of Riffe Lake

Lowlights

• There are no summit views on Bluff Mountain and Kraus Ridge High Point

Starting at the northern Silver Star TH (where you access Ed's Trail) we picked a route that summited Silver Star Mountain and Little Baldy Peak.  Our route was:  Ed's Trail TH > Ed's Trail #180A > Silver Star Trail #180, #180D > Silver Star Mountain summit > Silver Star Trail #180D, #180 >Bluff Mountain Trail #172 > Little Baldy Peak summit > Bluff Mountain Trail #172 > Silver Star Trail #180 > Ed's Trail TH. Stats: 11.00 miles with 3080 EG.

The 2.5 mile drive up road 4109 was the usual slow crawl with a couple especially rocky and deeply rutted sections. We had our Chevy Pickyup in 4X4 the whole way and made it fine but it was S.L.O. W. The Friends of 4109 had a brush out party on the same day to help keep the road passable.  Thank you Friends of 4109!!  There were 4 vehicles when we arrived, and 4 different vehicles when we returned to the TH after our hike.

Ed's Trail is in good condition with the normal scrambly sections and some brushy areas.  Love the view from the rock outcropping near the top above the scramble.  We passed two backpacking parties heading back toward the TH and one solo camper breaking camp ~ 1/4 mile from the summit.  At the summit we had a 5 summit view (St. Helens, Rainier, Adams, Hood, Jefferson) plus some very faint and hazy 3 Sisters.  

From the summit we headed back and turned east on the Bluff Mountain Trail.  The Bluff Mountain trail was wonderful...for about 1/4 mile.  After that the next 2.5 miles is rocky very overgrown for most of the way until you reach the scree field on the SW flank of Baldy. There was one tree across the trail near the Starway trail junction, that was easy to get over.  There is also one small spot where the trail is sliding out and the tread is about 6-9 inches wide but easy to hop over.

After the scree field we proceeded to the forested saddle between Baldy and Bluff Mt where we picked up the very faint and forgotten trail up the SE ridge of Baldy.  (The trail is still listed on the 2016 Fores Service Topo map so we were able to find it.) From here it was part bushwack and part scramble to the summit.  

After a short break we returned the way we came and followed the Silver Star trail back to our truck.  

Plus:  The SS summit was swarming with flies-a crazy fly hatch?   They covered the rock area to the right of the old lookout pad, but mainly kept to themselves.  No bear grass was blooming this year but overall the flowers were beautiful (some are around peak while others are past and still others are just coming on).  The trillium that were present earlier this season are gone but some avalanche lilies are still around.  Saw two bear poops but no bears.  

The Chinook Trail Association in conjunction with Washington Trails Association had a 3-day work party on the Bluff Mountain Trail. We did an amazing amount of work brushing and restoring tread on 0.6 miles of trail. Chinook Trail Association had a brushed and restored tread last year too, and there is more work to be done on brushing and tread. We worked on the eastern portion of the trail as it crosses beneath Bluff Mountain and up to the old jeep road. The trail from Little Baldy east to the Bluff Mountain Trailhead is in pretty good shape except for 0.12 mile where it is still very brushy. The trail from Little Baldy to Silver Star is brushy in several spots.

There is one snow bridge beneath Bluff Mountain that will melt out in a week. Be very careful crossing the snow bridge as it is about a 5 foot drop and the snow bridge will thin until it collapses with the coming warm weather.

Right now there is plenty of water along the trail beneath Bluff Mountain.

Trillium, Oregon Anemone, Avalanche and Glacier Lilies are blooming now. I didn't see any buds on the beargrass.

If you haven't hiked the Bluff Mountain Trail you are missing a gem of a trail. The WTA directions are not the best. The least potholed route is to use Google Maps and put this into Google Maps:

Start: Battle Ground Lake State Park, 18002 NE 249th St, Battle Ground, WA 98604
End: Starway Trailhead, NF-41, Yacolt, WA 98675

Once you reach the Starway Trailhead on your map, continue for 5 more miles uphill on the same road, FR-41, to a large parking area in a saddle. There are few to no signs on the roads.

This was a really neat hike due to the ridge views along the way! Recommending an early start both due to the slow drive the last 9 miles on FS41 to the trailhead as well as the exposed nature of the hike.  The drive was very slow with potholes and sections of exposed rock that made us wish for the potholes as our group navigated through in a Subaru and pick-up truck, higher clearance definitely recommended.

We parked at the large parking lot on the ridge and headed up the first couple of miles on the road, it was clear but rocky. About a mile in, we heard a vehicle approaching, but they seemed to changed their minds about trying to make it up as we heard them reverse back.  We wouldn't have wanted to navigate those miles before the hike turned into a true single track after about 2.5 miles - the ruts were quite deep in several sections.

A couple of backpackers that we met in our first couple of miles that were walking out let us know it was going to be brushy and overgrown all the way to Silver Star and that was definitely the case.  I would also describe this trail as having rolling hills along the way, you'll be ascending and descending consistently along the ridges.

From the single track, the trail was overgrown before it started to traverse the talus slopes.  It was still easily located, but again, rocky in sections and our pace reflected picking over the small rocks on the trail.  The forested section before the Little Baldy crossing was a welcome break from the heat and a smoother trail!  We stopped for lunch and turned around after about 5.5mi, likely just shy of the Starway Trail Junction - it was getting later in the day and we hadn't really intended to make it all the way to Silver Star. There was a nice set of rocks with built in seats to enjoy the view in a little bit of shade.

Only saw three people total on the trail all day!