Starway Trail
Starway Trail (#175) is a steep, primitive route in Gifford Pinchot National Forest that serves as a rugged out-and-back approach to Silver Star Mountain. It’s mapped as a ground trail but in practice behaves like a route once you leave the roadbed—no consistently visible tread, intermittent navigation challenges, and sections where the trail is hard to distinguish from the landscape.
Most hikers start by descending from the trailhead to Copper Creek, then crossing the bridge and turning upstream. About 0.25 mile past the bridge, the route leaves the old roadbed and climbs on a cat road up the ridge side into thicker forest.
After the ridge crest, the route continues south for roughly 2 miles as a more route-like traverse, including a point at 3,977 feet and then dropping to a saddle before ascending to intersect Bluff Mountain Trail (#172) just east of Silver Star Mountain. Expect steep travel on the upper portions; plan for navigation effort rather than just following tread.
The last push to Silver Star Mountain involves another climb from the Bluff Mountain Trail junction area, then following the Silver Star Summit Trail (#180D) via an old rockier closed road network toward the summit vicinity. The hike culminates at the saddle/dual-summit area and includes a short side move to the “true” summit spur (with remnants of an old lookout tower).
On routefinding and tread visibility, treat Starway as something you navigate, not something you simply hike. The USFS guidance explicitly calls it difficult to find and follow once it leaves Copper Creek and recommends strong route-finding skills and cross-country confidence.
Timing and hazards: low elevations typically melt out by mid-May while higher ground typically opens by mid-July; snow can persist in spots on north-facing slopes. Be ready for downed trees, washouts, or landslides, and carry mosquito repellent; also note that backcountry creeks and streams may dry out, so plan water accordingly.
More information: Conditions, Visitor information, Visitor information