After reading a lot about Starway, I thought that my friend and I were going to have to deal with a "disappearing trail," but I believe that it's been hiked enough that there is now a small trail that you don't have to rely on flagging or route-finding in order to get to the top.
The hardest thing was making sure we were on the right road to the trailhead. Make sure to have a good map and clear directions to the TH or else you might get a little turned around. The trailhead is not marked and has no parking except for a couple cars to pull off on the side of the road, but it's an old gravel road going downhill from NF 41 to an old bridge, has a couple of shot up, unmarked signs at the beginning.There was only one other vehicle, and the hike was very solitary. Only attempt with a high clearance vehicle!! We saw two tow trucks on the way out pulling a car that seemed to have rolled over (front was crumpled, airbags deployed). The potholes are more liker craters in the road.
The trail itself is in good condition, but very very steep as everyone suggests. We didn't go all the way to the junction with Bluff Mountain Trail, but climbed up the little rocky mound to the right of the trail up on the ridge. It wasn't a completely clear day (hazy clouds on the horizon), but we saw great 360 views of hills, Mt Hood, Adams, St Helens, and Rainier. No water on the trail except at the very beginning (Copper Creek - also a good place for a dip after your hike!). Wasn't too hot but I was still sweatin' buckets on the way up with long pants and a t-shirt. I was trying to guard against ticks but it really isn't that brushy at all.
The hike is challenging but worth it for the views at the top, especially with the bear grass making for dreamy ridge-top meadows backdropped by gorgeous views.
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