Mount St. Helens
National Volcanic Monument
At 8:32, May 18, 1980, Mt St. Helens erupted.
The eruption lasted 9 hours, but Mount St. Helens and the surrounding landscape were dramatically changed within moments. In 1982, the President and Congress created the 110,000-acre National Volcanic Monument for research, recreation, and education. Mount St. Helens National Volcanic Monument was the United States' first such monument managed by the United States Forest Service. Inside the Monument, the environment is left to respond naturally to the disturbance.
You can visit the U.S. Forest Service Website here.
Johnston Ridge Observatory
Located at the end of State Highway 504 and 52 miles east of Castle Rock, in the heart of the blast zone, the Center's state-of-the-art interpretive displays magically 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 amazing eyewitness accounts from eruption survivors. Take a .5 mile walk on the Eruption Trail and learn how the eruption shaped the surrounding landscape. Visitors can expect to see views of the lava dome, crater, pumice plain, and the landslide deposit. Services include a wide-screen theater presentation, interpretive exhibits, a staffed information desk and a Discover Your Northwest books sales area. There is a food vendor in the parking lot at Johnston Ridge. Read more about the center here.
Ape Cave
Ape Cave was discovered in 1947 by a logger named Lawrence Johnson. However, the cave was not explored until the early 1950’s when a scout troop, led by Harry Reese, lowered a team of scouts down a 17-foot overhang to the cave floor. Leaving footprints where no one ever had, these explorers were able to travel through a pristine lava tube full of fragile formations.
Ape Cave was named by the Scout Troop in honor of their sponsor, the St. Helens Apes. This local group was made up primarily of foresters. The sponsor’s name, St. Helens Apes, may have come from an old term used for foresters in the area, “brush apes,” or from the legend of Bigfoot.
Windy Ridge
A stunning viewpoint overlooking a vast pumice plain, Windy Ridge Viewpoint takes you to within 4 miles of an active volcano. Listen to an interpretive talk or venture up 361 steps to a viewpoint of the volcano and Spirit Lake. The Northwest Interpretive Association provides a mobile sales outlet here.
Viewpoint services include vehicle parking, interpretive signs, composting toilets, and an uncovered outdoor amphitheatre featuring live interpretive talks. There are no phones or running water at this site.
The road to Windy Ridge is usually plowed by the end of May and remains open through October. The road is closed by winter snowfall from November through May.
Forest Passes
Many of the attractions in the area can be enjoyed without cost, however, a forest pass is required for some of them. The revenue from these helps to fund a number of programs in the area including conservation and investment in facilities. To help you decide which pass is most suitable for you the U.S. Forest service has produced an online guide available here.