Sturgeon Rock

Dogs Leashed

Features Geological Significance · Views · Wildflowers

A Discovery Pass is needed to park for this trail.

To get to this trail, you'll need to take the Sturgeon 180C trail about halfway from either end to a small grassy clearing with evidence of a campsite and fire ring. This clearing is at the top of the ascent on Sturgeon 180C. Look for faint doubletrack in the grass on the north side of the clearing to find this trail.

After a short run through the woods, you'll see Sturgeon Rock before you.The trail requires fairly easy scrambling to get onto the rock. Look for the faint trail on the right/south side of the rock. It heads up and to the east and north. Once you've finished the scramble, the trail becomes much easier, as it will gently follow the ridge - but you'll face some exposure on the rock's cliffs.

First you'll start getting awesome views of Mount Hood and Silver Star until you reach the crest. Thereafter, you'll have amazing views of St. Helens and Rainier. Finally, you'll get views of Adams that are partially obstructed by Silver Star, but still pretty great. Enjoy seeing the crowds on Silver Star Summit from afar, wildflowers in early spring, and of course the cascade volcanoes.

The steep cliffs of Sturgeon Rock mean you'll have to backtrack to get back to the main trail, but there is a spur that you can take closer to the Silver Star Summit that is much easier to see coming down than going up.