Ed's Trail at Silver Star Mountain
Day Work Party
Thu Oct 9, 2025: 8:30 AM — 3:30 PM
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Region
Southwest — Vancouver Area
Features: Earn Northwest Forest Pass
Crew Leader: James Alexander
Overview
A WTA work party will just have worked the beginning section of the Silver Star trail -- this work party will hike further in to maintain the tread and drainage on the iconic Ed's Trail.
About the Area
There are two routes up the north side of Silver Star Mountain that in good conditions can be combined to form a sort of loop. Along the way, hikers will be delighted with a diverse array of wildflowers, a natural arch, volcanic views and fine hiking. Spring brings colorful wildflower displays, Fall colors are another popular attraction. The best months to hike are May through November.
What to Expect
We'll have fun, work hard and make a difference! No experience is necessary.
Project Description
This crew will be hiking in up to 2 miles on Ed's Trail to help restore the width of the tread and improve drainage. You will use digging tools to re-establish a suitable walking path. Be aware that Ed's Trail is sometimes on the side of the mountain and those who are afraid of heights may not love this work party.
Since the 4109 road to the trailhead was recently restored it is suitable for passenger vehicles.
Hiking Information
Our hike to the project site is expected to be up to 4 miles roundtrip with 1200ft of elevation gain.
Schedule
- 8:25 AM: Be ready to meet the crew, rain or shine
- 8:30 AM: Gather for a safety briefing, then hike to the project site
- Morning: Work at your own pace, and take breaks throughout the day
- 12:00 PM: Lunch on the trail
- Afternoon: Consider trying a new task before wrapping up the day's work
- 3:30 PM: Enjoy refreshments at the trailhead before going home!
For safety reasons, arriving late or leaving early is not allowed.
Planning Information
Get ready for a great day outside!
What it Takes to Do This Work Party
- No experience is necessary—just bring a great attitude for working with a team! WTA provides the training and tools you need
- Expect to be physically active at your own pace for up to 6 hours each day on uneven terrain
- Recommended for ages 10 and older; under 14 must be accompanied by an adult and a parental consent form must be signed for anyone under 18
What to Wear
Required:
- Sturdy closed-toe shoes
- Work gloves
- Eye protection (glasses, sunglasses, or safety glasses)
- Long pants
Recommended:
- Sturdy work or hiking boots
- Long sleeved shirt
A hard hat will be provided by WTA. Additionally, work gloves and eye protection will be provided by WTA if you do not have your own, but when possible we recommend bringing your own. For safety reasons, certain tasks may be assigned based on the safety level of your footwear. Volunteers who do not have long pants, or sturdy closed toes shoes, will not be able to participate in the work party.
What to Bring
- A cloth face covering and optional but recommended hand sanitizer
- Lunch and plenty of water
- Rain jacket and pants
- Extra warm clothing in case of wet or cold weather
- A pack to carry your personal gear
- A sense of fun and adventure for learning new skills and meeting great people!
Firearms and weapons are not allowed.
More Information
- Frequently Asked Questions
- WTA's Trail Work Guide introduces the type of work you may do
- Contact us at volunteer@wta.org or 206.625.1367
From the Hiking Guide
See what WTA's hiking guide and trip reports say about this area.
Partners
Directions
NOTE: The 4109 Road has been maintained and is now suitable for passenger vehicles again!
From Battle Ground: drive north on Highway 503 for 5.6 miles then turn right on Rock Creek Road. Drive 9 miles down this road to Moulton Falls. Continue past this parking area and a quarter mile beyond Moulton Falls, turn right on NE Sunset Falls Road. Continue for 2 miles, and then turn right across a bridge onto NE Dole Valley Road. Continue for 2.4 miles, and arrive at a fork in the road. Take the road branching to the left. This is a DNR logging road, also known as the L1100 Road. Drive it for for 6.6 miles. At a clearing with a small parking area to your left, there is an intersection with a road heading uphill to the right. This is Road 4109. Turn onto Road 4109 and drive 2.7 miles to the trailhead.
ALTERNATE ROUTE (when logging operations close the L1100 Road). Note that these use a longer section of Road 4109, which is extremely rough. 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. 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 a 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 2.7 miles to the trailhead.
Note: Please follow the written directions above instead of using a GPS device. This will ensure that you get to the correct meeting location for this work party. The location of the pinpoint below is only approximate.
Getting to WTA work parties can involve travel on rough, unpaved roads in areas without cellular service and without street addresses that can be accurately used by navigation devices. Unless specifically noted otherwise, routes can generally be traveled by all types of vehicles. Volunteers with limited experience driving on unpaved mountain roads may want to allow extra time, beyond what is recommended in the directions above, to get to the meeting location.
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