Mount St. Helens Experience
It's more than a day!
The 1980 eruption
At 8:32 a.m. on May 18, 1980, a 5.1 magnitude earthquake shook Mount St. Helens, triggering a massive explosion. The release of gases trapped inside the volcano sent 1,300 vertical feet of mountaintop rocketing outward to the north. Super-heated ash roared 60,000 feet into a cloudless blue sky. The cataclysmic blast – carrying winds that reached 670 miles per hour and temperatures of 800 degrees Fahrenheit – flattened 230 square miles of forest. Elk, deer and other wildlife were obliterated. Fifty-seven people were killed, including USGS scientist David Johnston. The largest landslide in recorded history swept through the Toutle River Valley, choking pristine rivers and lakes with mud, ash and shattered timber, eradicating trout and salmon.
After the eruption, only a moonscape remained. In 1982, the United States Congress established the 110,000-acre Mount St. Helens National Volcanic Monument to preserve a portion of the blast zone for scientists, educators and visitors. Thoughtful planning and the cooperative efforts of the U.S. Department of Agriculture, U.S. Forest Service, Weyerhaeuser and private and citizen organizations, have ensured that the history of the eruption will forever be accessible as a living laboratory.
Today, four world-class visitors centers await your arrival. Hiking, biking, climbing, and fishing opportunities in the area surrounding the volcano provide unforgettable views and exhilarating recreation.
Helicopter Tours
Fly to the crater rim by booking a helicopter tour at Hoffstadt Bluffs.