CogKnoSys

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Physical

Silver Star Mountain

Silver Star Mountain is a treeless ridge of old, uplifted volcanic rock in Washington's Gifford Pinchot National Forest, known for wildflowers and trails.

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The idea

Silver Star Mountain is a high, rocky ridge in Skamania County, Washington. It reaches an elevation of 4,364 feet (1,330 m), though other sources list it slightly higher. The mountain is about 12 miles (19 km) north of the western end of the Columbia River Gorge. Unlike the rest of the local backcountry, it has a ridge-like shape, with steep cliffs, slopes of loose rock called talus, and few trees.

Local legend calls it an extinct volcano, but it is not one. Instead, it is made of the uplifted debris and roots of a number of very old volcanic vents. Its rock dates from the late Eocene to the Oligocene epochs. Magma later pushed into this rock from below and cooled slowly into a large body of granodiorite, a speckled rock similar to granite. That intrusion also left small deposits of gold, copper and other minerals in the surrounding rock.

Repeated fires have eroded the soil on and around the mountain. Because of fires, wind and rocky subsoil, wildflowers grow at unusually low elevations here. There are more than 100 types of wildflowers and flowering shrubs, such as heather, star tulip and tiger lily.

Check yourself

Question 1 of 3

What is Silver Star Mountain actually made of?

Pick one. The first pick counts.

Composition

what it's made of

  • Eagle Creek formation — The oldest rock unit, made mostly of cream-colored volcanic tuff.
  • Skamania Andesites — The most widespread of the three rock units, laid down as thin lava flows.
  • Silver Star Granodiorite — A body of once-molten rock about 10 miles (16 km) long that cooled underground.
  • Talus slopes — Slopes of broken rock up to 1,200 feet (370 m) high that cover much of the granodiorite.
  • Wildflower meadows — Open, treeless meadows filled with wildflowers.

Connection

how it relates

Under Lower Columbia Mountains and Volcanoes

In place

  1. Gifford Pinchot National Foreststrength 90 of 100

    Silver Star Mountain lies in the southwestern corner of Gifford Pinchot National Forest.

  2. Columbia River Gorgestrength 70 of 100

    The mountain is about 12 miles (19 km) north of the gorge's western end.

  3. Lewis Riverstrength 50 of 100

    Water from the mountain area drains into the Lewis River's East Fork.

Related

  1. Igneous Rockstrength 60 of 100

    The mountain contains granodiorite, an igneous rock formed from cooled magma.

Change

how and why it evolves

Past
In September 1902, the Yacolt Burn wildfire swept through the region, killing 38 people. During the 1930s, the Civilian Conservation Corps planted trees to help the land recover. A fire lookout stood on the higher north peak from 1952 until it was removed by 1969.
Now
The area is lightly used for hiking, and on very clear days hikers on Ed's Trail can see Mount St. Helens, Mount Rainier, Mount Adams, Mount Hood and Mount Jefferson.
Next
As plants slowly return to the burned slopes, the balance between open meadows and forest on the mountain will likely keep shifting.

Knowledge you can walk. Read the idea, then step up, across or down.

Silver Star Mountain

Silver Star Mountain is a treeless ridge of old, uplifted volcanic rock in Washington's Gifford Pinchot National Forest, known for wildflowers and trails.

See it on the map

Learn, discuss, create, buy or invest

The idea

Silver Star Mountain is a high, rocky ridge in Skamania County, Washington. It reaches an elevation of 4,364 feet (1,330 m), though other sources list it slightly higher. The mountain is about 12 miles (19 km) north of the western end of the Columbia River Gorge. Unlike the rest of the local backcountry, it has a ridge-like shape, with steep cliffs, slopes of loose rock called talus, and few trees.

Local legend calls it an extinct volcano, but it is not one. Instead, it is made of the uplifted debris and roots of a number of very old volcanic vents. Its rock dates from the late Eocene to the Oligocene epochs. Magma later pushed into this rock from below and cooled slowly into a large body of granodiorite, a speckled rock similar to granite. That intrusion also left small deposits of gold, copper and other minerals in the surrounding rock.

Repeated fires have eroded the soil on and around the mountain. Because of fires, wind and rocky subsoil, wildflowers grow at unusually low elevations here. There are more than 100 types of wildflowers and flowering shrubs, such as heather, star tulip and tiger lily.

Check yourself

3 quick questions, instant feedback.