Mountain Biking
Don’t pass up the chance to turn a crank on the shoulder of an active volcano! The Ape Canyon ride, which begins on the south side of Mount St. Helens, is one of the Northwest’s premier mountain biking treks, with varied landscapes and incredible vistas. World-class single-track also awaits at Siouxon Creek, Lewis River, South Coldwater, and Old Man Pass/Falls Creek.

Tour de Blast - Road Biking
Tour de Blast is the essential event for road bikers, attracting crowds in excess of 1,000 each year. The 82-mile route from Toutle to Johnston Ridge takes riders into the very heart of the blast zone. If you can’t make the annual June event, you can still enjoy the experience and the views by following the ride route from Toutle Lake School to Johnston Ridge Observatory. Total elevation gain is 6,240'

UPDATE:  Tour de Blast will be ending at the Science and Learning Center at Coldwater this year. Due to the landslide prior to the Johnston Ridge Observatory. 

STP Bicycle Classic
This 200-mile bicycle ride is the largest multi-day bicycle event in the Northwest, with up to 10,000 participants riding from Seattle to Portland in one or two days. The route takes you through the scenic valleys, forests, and farmlands of western Washington and Oregon.

Castle Rock Bike Skills Park
This is an awesome dirt track located in Castle Rock, WA. Jump lines, drops, skinnies, log-overs, and the Pacific Northwest's largest pump track.

Largest camp ground on the scenic Kalama River with year-round fishing. Full-service & family-friendly camping.
On-site, we have a general store with supplies including fishing and hunting licenses & a charming cafe that serves breakfast and lunch.

Climbing information - Permits

At 8,328 feet high (as measured by USGS in 2009), Mount St. Helens offers climbers a breathtaking view from the crater rim. Although it is not a technical climb, it is strenuous and hazardous due to ice, large boulders, loose pumice, fast-changing weather and volcanism. Climbers should be in very good physical condition, well equipped, informed about volcanic hazards, and have plenty of water and food.

The Mount St. Helens Institute has partnered with the Mount St. Helens National Volcanic Monument to help protect the volcano’s fragile features and to ensure climbers have a safe, low-impact experience on the volcano.

Before climbing Mount St. Helens, please read climbing rules, road and trail conditions, and other important information from the Mount St. Helens National Volcanic Monument. (please use the URL in the website field to get your permit and view rules and regulations)

Climbing permits are required year-round on Mount St. Helens. A Climbing Permit allows an individual or group (max size limit of 12) to be in or upon the area defined as the Mount St. Helens Closure Area #2 (PDF) during the 24 hour period designated by the permit. (please use the URL in the website field to get your permit and view rules and regulations)

To reduce crowding and protect natural features, the number of climbers per day on Mount St. Helens is subject to a quota from April 1 to October 31.

During the quota season, permits must be purchased online in advance. A permit may be printed up to 14 days before your reservation date. Once your permit has been printed, you cannot make changes. Outside the quota season, permits are free of charge and self-issued at the trailhead.

April 1 - May 14: 500 climbers/day. Must be purchased online in advance.

May 15 - October 31: 100 climbers/day. Must be purchased online in advance.

November 1 - March 31: Unlimited climbers. Permit is free and self-issue at the trailhead.

Climbing permits during the quota season cost $15 per person per day. A $6 reservation fee is charged per transaction.

Permits are one per Group, rather than one per individual.

The Permit Holder (the purchaser) of the climbing permit can make a reservation for up to 12 total climbing Group Members. The Permit Holder must be included in the climbing group.

The Permit Holder must provide the names of all Group Members at the time of purchase. While climbing Group Members' names can be adjusted after the purchase, the Permit Holder name cannot be changed nor refunded without cancelling the entire permit. All climbers in the Group must carry a government-issued photo ID that matches their name on the list of members on the purchased permit.

Every year millions of visitors use Recreation.gov to plan, reserve and share their experiences in national forests, national parks, and other public federal lands. Recreation.gov hosts more than 3,000 campgrounds nationwide, including 18 on the Gifford Pinchot National Forest.

Permits

Located in the small quaint town of Cougar, Washington, on the south side of Mt. St. Helens, a paradise for the outdoor enthusiasts, you will find Cougar RV Park & Campground. There are four popular lakes within 20 miles or less of the park for fishing and water sports. The Ape Caves, the third longest lava tube in the United States, is just a short 8 miles away in the Gifford Pinchot National Forest; as well as the Climbers Bivouac Trailhead. The forest also offers ample outdoor opportunities: OHV trails, horseback riding trails, hiking trails, mushroom and huckleberry picking, hunting, snowshoeing and snowmobiling are just a few of the many activities nearby that make this park a great “base camp” for all your outdoor adventures!

Tuesdays – 9 am to 2 pm
(May through October)Saturdays – 9 am to 2 pm
(April through October)
7th Avenue - Longview
(across from Cowlitz County Fairgrounds)