Читать книгу Afoot and Afield: Portland/Vancouver. A Comprehensive Hiking Guide онлайн

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There is no trail sign visible from the trailhead, and several old roads and trails look equally promising. The proper route leaves from the west end of the parking area and goes about 25 yards to a trail sign identifying this as Silver Star Trail 180. If you don’t see this sign very soon after starting to hike, go back and try again. The Silver Star Trail switchbacks four times up a slope covered with brushy vine maple and then comes to a junction with a closed jeep road. Bear right (uphill) and walk about 150 yards to a large gravel turnaround in the road.

The scenery here, and for some time to come, is truly outstanding. The entire area is surrounded by huge sloping meadows that are carpeted with wildflowers in late June and early July. There are dozens of varieties, but the most common kinds are beargrass, lupine, wild carrot, paintbrush, iris, yarrow, valerian, tiger lily, and golden pea. Scattered about the open slopes are perky little noble fir trees, which look for all the world like Christmas trees, a popular use for this evergreen.