Yacolt Burn State Forest - Silver Shadow Trail

Silver Shadow Trail is a connector route through the Yacolt Burn State Forest, named for the fact that it sits in the shadow of Silver Star Mountain to the north. The Yacolt Burn, one of the largest fires in Washington history back in 1902, scorched this whole area. Over a century later, the forest has come back in a thick stand of Douglas fir and western red cedar with a carpet of salal, Oregon grape, and seasonal wildflowers. Foxglove lines the trail in early summer.

The trail itself starts from the Tarbell Trailhead. You walk 1.2 miles on the Tarbell Trail before reaching the signed junction for Silver Shadow. From there, the connector runs about 2.8 miles through gentle terrain with only 87 feet of elevation gain. You can turn it into a 5-mile loop by linking back with the Tarbell Trail, or combine it with the Appaloosa Trail for a longer day. Ambitious hikers have strung together 16-plus mile loops through this trail system.

You will need a Discover Pass for the trailhead parking. The drive in follows gravel forest roads for the last stretch, so give yourself a few extra minutes. The area sees very little traffic, which makes it a good pick when you want forest walking without the crowds.