Starway #175

Starway goes straight up the mountain. The track is faint in places and the bench is extremely narrow. The views are transcendent, though. It's not for the faint of heart, but if you can find your way to the top with a full suspension bike, the rewards are spectacular. It's really better for hikers.

Following old road beds and cat trails in some areas, this 3.6 mile trail is best described as a primitive route. Carry a good map and expect some route-finding challenges.

From the trailhead, descend to Copper Creek where a bridge spans the stream. Cross the bridge and turn upstream. 0.25 mile past the bridge, the Starway Trail leaves the old roadbed and starts climbing along a cat road to the west. The trail follows the cat road steeply upward eventually reaching the ridge crest above where the road ends. The trail, better described as a route since no tread is visible, continues along the ridge southward for 2 miles, passing over a 3,977 foot point, dropping to a saddle, then ascending to intersect Bluff Mountain Trail #172 just east of Silver Star Mountain. A trail tread becomes intermittently visible near the south end of the ridge before the trail intersection.

This trail officially welcomes hikers and equestrians. For outdated policy, this trail does not yet officially allow mountain bike use, despite the fact that mountain bikers improve trail tread and de-brushing for other users.

Access Info

From Vancouver, Washington, take 503 north to Battleground. Continue north on 503 (NE Lewisville Hwy) for 5.6 miles. Turn right (east) onto NE 152 Ave./Rock Creek Road. Continue as the road curves south then east and becomes Lucia Falls Road. After 8.6 miles, turn right on Sunset Falls Road. Go 7.3 miles on Sunset Falls Road to Sunset Campground. Turn right and cross the East Fork Lewis River on Forest Road 41. Follow Forest Road 41. The trailhead is one mile east of the Forest Road 41 and Forest Road 4109 intersection.