Harmony Trail #224 – Hike Into the Heart of a Volcanic Legacy
Location: Mount St. Helens National Volcanic Monument, Gifford Pinchot National Forest
Distance: 2 miles round-trip (1 mile one-way)
Elevation Change: 600–700 feet descent (and same back up)
Difficulty: Moderate (steep at the start)
Trail Type: Out-and-back
Open Season: Late spring through fall (snow-dependent)
Family-Friendly: Yes – for older children or those comfortable with a short, steep hike
Pets: Not allowed
Pass Required: $5 per vehicle or valid Recreation Pass
Trail Overview
Step into a living laboratory of renewal on Harmony Trail #224, a stunning descent through the blast zone of Mount St. Helens that leads to the shores of Spirit Lake—one of the most iconic and restricted areas in the monument.
Once home to the now-submerged Harmony Falls Lodge, the area was completely transformed by the 1980 eruption. Today, this steep but rewarding 1-mile trail (2 miles round-trip) offers the only legal public access to Spirit Lake’s shoreline. Along the way, you’ll pass through young alder stands and wildflowers thriving in the volcanic soil, with breathtaking views of the lake and Mount St. Helens rising above it.
The lake’s surface is still littered with floating logs—remnants of the massive debris flow triggered by the eruption. Standing at the water’s edge, you’ll experience the raw aftermath of a geologic event that reshaped the region.
About Harmony Trail
Named for a now-submerged waterfall (Harmony Falls), this steep, one-mile trail begins at Harmony Falls Viewpoint and ends on the shore of Spirit Lake. The semi-barren hillside you descend, and surrounding landscape was blanketed by old growth forests, pre-eruption. Huge trees were swept away or toppled by the lateral blast of the May 1980 eruption.
On May 18th, the north side of St. Helens collapsed, slamming into Spirit Lake. The resulting “tidal” wave surged 800 feet up the opposite shore, dragging toppled trees into the lake as the water returned. Those trees still float on the lake surface. The avalanche filled the base of the lake, raising the lake level 200 feet, and submerging Harmony Falls, and the site of rustic Harmony Falls Lodge.
Why Hike Harmony Trail
Family-Friendly: A great challenge for adventurous families with older kids; shorter in distance but steep.
Geological Immersion: Hike directly into the historic blast zone of Mount St. Helens.
Unique Access: Reach the only permitted spot where visitors can stand at Spirit Lake’s shoreline.
Photo-Worthy: Dramatic Lake and volcano views, wildflowers, and striking contrasts in the landscape.