Starvation Ridge Hike

Overview

NOTICE: As of July 2018, the Starvation Ridge Cutoff Trail #414B had been closed due to a dangerous slide. You will not be able to use this trail at the beginning and end of the hike; instead keep hiking to the Mount Defiance Trail, and make a left at the Mount Defiance-Starvation Ridge Trail Junction. The Starvation Ridge Trail is one of the most relentless hikes around: It climbs 3,800 feet in less than three miles. To make matters even more interesting, the climbing isn't consistent. The trail builders seemed determined to stay directly on top of the ridge, creating pleasant, level ridge-top sections and knee-breaking climbs where the ridge gets steeper. Much of the hike is in the Mark O. Hatfield Wilderness. At the beginning, you are rewarded by clifftop vistas from powerline pylon perches. Higher up, open talus slopes offer views to Mount Adams. You'll segue seamlessly with the Mitchell Point Trail and arrive at your destination - little Warren Lake with its several campsites. Begin hiking west next to the freeway on the Historic Columbia River Highway State Trail. Get views to the the twin microdioritic intrusions of Shellrock Mountain and Wind Mountain as well as Dog Mountain right across the river. Enter shady maple woods, and look down to see markers dedicating this restored section of the Historic Columbia River Highway. In spring, candy flower blooms profusely alongside the paved surface. When you reach the Historic Columbia River Highway-Starvation Ridge Cutoff Trail Junction, make a left. You'll be ascending 0.4 miles up this steep connector. A short set of switchbacks takes you to a traverse of a dangerous slide, the only truly sketchy section of this hike. Switchback up through a thimbleberry thicket and rise steeply. Then hike up from the nose of a ridge and a hanging meadow fringed by oak trees to the Starvation Ridge-Starvation Ridge Cutoff Trail Junction. Go left, and make two switchbacks through a steep oak meadow. A viewpoint here is partially blocked by encroaching brush. Six switchba

Trail Stats

Photos

Trail photo

No caption provided.

Trail photo

No caption provided.

Trail photo

No caption provided.

Trail photo

No caption provided.

Trail photo

No caption provided.

Trail photo

No caption provided.

Trail photo

No caption provided.

400px-StarvationRidgeOutAndBack

400px-StarvationRidgeOutAndBack

160px-StarvationRidge01JeffSmith

160px-StarvationRidge01JeffSmith

250px-Warren_Lake%2C_Mt

250px-Warren_Lake%2C_Mt

250px-Head_of_Starvation_Creek%2C_Starvation_Ridge_Trail

250px-Head_of_Starvation_Creek%2C_Starvation_Ridge_Trail

250px-Mt

250px-Mt

400px-Oaks_and_view%2C_Starvation_Ridge

400px-Oaks_and_view%2C_Starvation_Ridge

TKO put tools to trail here.png

TKO put tools to trail here.png

Tags