"Mount St. Helens National Volcanic Monument" Mount Saint Helens National Volcanic Monument by sunnywong

Mount St. Helens, located in southwestern Washington about 50 miles northeast of Portland, Oregon, is one of several lofty volcanic peaks that dominate the Cascade Range of the Pacific Northwest. The modern name, Mount St. Helens, was given to the volcanic peak in 1792 by Captain George Vancouver of the British Royal Navy, a seafarer and explorer. He named it in honor of a fellow countryman, Alleyne Fitzherbert, who held the title Baron St. Helens and who was at the time the British Ambassador to Spain.

Link to Mount St. Helens Official Web Site
Link to CVO Cascades Volcano Observatory Web Site

Explore Three Unique Areas of Mount St. Helens:

West Side - Interstate 5, Exit 49, proceed onto State Route 504 (The Toutle River Road) or the Spirit Lake Memorial Highway.
Visitor centers on State Highway 504 (Spirit Lake Memorial Highway) reveal tremendous views of Mount St. Helens, including the crater, lava dome, and blast zone. Mount St. Helens Visitor Center, Coldwater Ridge Visitor Center, and Johnston Ridge Observatory are open daily during the summer months. Interpretive talks, walks, and theater programs are offered at each site. Food service is available at Coldwater Ridge Visitor Center. Lodging, gas, and other services are located in nearby communities.


East Side – The best views of the volcano can be seen by taking Forest Road 25, driving south of the town of Randle. Forest Roads 25 and 99 provide access to the vast blown down forest and views of the legendary Spirit Lake, and are usually open from Memorial Day until snow blocks the roads. Cowlitz Valley Ranger Station is open to visitors daily during the summer season. On Forest Road 99 interpretive talks and walks bring the landscape to life for visitors and can be enjoyed at the numerous view points. Food services and gifts are available at Cascades Peaks Viewpoint. Lodging, gas, and other services are offered in nearby communities.

South Side - I-5 intersects Exit 21 Hwy-503 will do for the journey to Cougar. Closing in on Mount St Helens, it's a further eight miles to the mile-long Ape Cave, a tube-like lava cave channelled long ago by the rushing molten lava of an earlier eruption. Ranger-led afternoon tours point out all kinds of geological oddities you'd otherwise miss. It's much colder in the cave than outside, so bring extra clothing.
Forest Road 83 passes through lava flows and mudflows from earlier eruptions and provides access to the Climber's Bivouac. Pine Creek Information Station is open for visitor inquiries. State Highway 503 is open year round, while Forest Roads 83 and 90 are usually open from Memorial Day until snow blocks roads. Guided lantern walks are conducted daily at Ape Cave. Food, lodging, gas and other services are available in nearby communities.