Mt. Saint Helens - The Facts

Experience Mount St. Helens. While Mount St. Helens is a challenging and exciting destination for climbing, hiking, fishing and exploring, the growth of the new lava dome inside the crater of Mount St. Helens continues. As long as this eruption is in progress, episodic changes in activity and intensity may include explosive events that produce hazardous conditions within several miles of the volcano. The crater rim and flanks of the volcano above the 4800-foot level have been closed to an increased potential for steam explosions from the lava dome that could propel rocks and ash clouds. A number of hiking trails in the Mount St. Helens National Volcanic Monument have also been closed until notice from forest officials in contact with USGS and the University of Washington. Forest interpreters share the magic of the geological events surrounding the 1980 eruption through guided walks and talks.

Mount St. Helens Visitor Center.  Located 5 miles east of Castle Rock on the shores of Silver Lake, the Mount St. Helens Visitors Center - at 505 feet - introduces you to Mount St. Helens' history and to the powerful event of 1980. Walk the one-mile Silver Lake Wetlands Trail to discover how Silver Lake was formed by a previous eruption and how aquatic life continues to change. Enjoy views of Mount St. Helens and Silver Lake while identifying native plants, birds, and wildlife. Continue your hiking adventure into Seaquest State Park, which offers scenic camping, hiking and picnic areas.  [Top]

Coldwater Lake at Mount St. Helens. Situated within the National Volcanic Monument, Coldwater Lake Recreation Area is 45 miles east of Castle Rock in the heart of the blast zone at 2,523 feet. Experience the effect the May 1980 eruption had on the Coldwater Valley. Walk the 1/4-mile Lake Interpretive Trail for close-up views of this 20 year-old lake. Facilities include picnic tables, a fish cleaning station, a boat launch, and a discovery area. Check the Coldwater Ridge Visitor Center for fishing regulations.

Mount St. Helens - Johnston Ridge Observatory. In the heart of the blast zone, at 4,255 Feet, Johnston Ridge Observatory’s state-of-the-art interpretive displays portray the sequence of geologic events that transformed the landscape and opened up a new era in the science of monitoring an active volcano and forecasting eruptions. Read eyewitness accounts from eruption survivors and take a ½-mile walk on the Eruption Trail. Experience breathtaking views of the lava dome, crater, pumice plain, and the landslide deposit, or see a wide-screen theater presentation and interpretive exhibits.  [Top]

Mount Hood & Mt. Hood National Forest.  An outdoor utopia along the Columbia River, Mt. Hood is the tallest mountain in Oregon at 11,237 feet. A stratovolcano of lava flows and domes, Mt. Hood is popular with skiers, hikers, and climbers, and is the most climbed glaciated peak in North America. Crater Rock, a prominent rocky pinnacle below the summit, is the most recent lava dome. Mt. Hood National Forest - encompassing over a million acres - extends from the Columbia River Gorge across 60 miles of forested mountains, lakes and streams to Olallie Scenic Area. Mt. Hood National Forest is a playground for skiing, boarding, biking, hiking, camping, fishing, boating, and hunting. Fish in the countless streams, or enjoy the limitless views from Timberland Lodge atop Mt. Hood. Rewarding destinations include Lost Lake, Trillium Lake, Timothy Lake, Rock Creek Reservoir, the Old Oregon Trail, and the Mt. Hood Wilderness. Visit www.mthood.org, www.stayandplayhood.com or www.mthood.info.

Hiking Mt. Hood.  The dramatic drop from Mt. Hood’s forest to the Columbia River offers the highest concentration of waterfalls in the world, offering beautiful hikes through temperate rainforests to cascading rivers. For the energetic hiker, the Columbia Gorge Trail - which stretches 35 miles through the length of the Gorge - is one of the most spectacular long-distance trails in the country - ranging from the misty and mossy to the exposed and rocky. The trail includes the nation's most beautiful waterfalls, old-growth forest, sheer basalt cliffs, stunning narrow creek gorges and sublime views of the Columbia River. This multi-day trail when completed will extend from Portland to the Hood River. Enjoy a wonderful family hike up Tanner Creek past the beautiful Wahclella Falls.

From Mount Hood National Forest, you can access the Pacific Crest Trail, which leads all the way to Mexico. Heading out from Timberline Lodge, you can enjoy many wonderful hikes on Timberline Trail and Mirror Lake Trail, which has its trailhead on U.S. 26. Enjoy a 4-mile hike around Mirror Lake or a 6.4-mile round-trip hike to the top of nearby Tom, Dick and Harry Mountain. To avoid crowds, hike around the mountain to the Cloud Cap Campground, where you can hike above the tree line on the treeless east slopes or head through the trees and meadows on the mountain’s north sideIf you're interested in a strenuous mountain experience, Mount Hood offers excellent mountain- and rock-climbing opportunities. Timberline Mountain Guides (541-312-9242) leads summit climbs on Mount Hood, as well as snow, ice, and rock-climbing courses. Call the Mount Hood Information Center at (503) 622-7674.  [Top]

Mount Hood Ski Areas & Snow Parks. There are several ski resorts on the challenging, beautiful slopes of Mount Hood. Portland powderheads enjoy miles of downhill ski trails, marked cross-country ski trails and several all-terrain areas for snowboarding. You'll find numerous ski and snowboard rental shops in the town of Sandy, which is on the way from Portland to Mount Hood, and the Mt. Hood ski areas.

• Timberline Ski Area - The highest ski area on Mount Hood, Timberline Ski Area offers excellent skiing, cross-country and snowboarding, and has one slope that is open through summer. This is the site of the historic Timberline Lodge, which was built during the Depression by the WPA. Adult lift ticket prices range from $18 for night skiing to $37 for an all-day pass. Information: (503) 272-3311; Snow Report: (503) 222-2211.
• Mount Hood Meadows - The largest ski resort on Mt. Hood, Mount Hood Meadows features more than 2,000 skiable acres, 2,777 vertical feet, and a wide variety of terrain for skiing, XC, and snowboarding. The best cross-country skiing on Mount Hood is at the Nordic center at Mount Hood Meadows, which has groomed trails, and at Teacup Lake, which is along Ore. 35 near the turnoff for Mount Hood Meadows. Lift ticket prices range from $18 for night skiing to $41 for a weekend all-day pass. Call (503) 337-2222.
• Mt. Hood SkiBowl - The closest ski area to Portland, Mt. Hood SkiBowl offers 1,500 vertical feet of skiing and has more expert slopes than any other ski area on the mountain. SkiBowl is also one of the largest lighted ski areas in the country. Adult lift ticket prices range from $18 for midweek night skiing to $31 for a weekend all-day pass. Call (503) 272-3206.  [Top]