Admission is always FREE!
Plan a 60–90-minute visit to the Forest Learning Center at Mount St. Helens.
The Forest Learning Center showcases remarkable volcano and forestry exhibits (updated in 2020!), a new playground, picnic tables, a gift shop, wildlife viewing and rest area facilities. It is located inside the blast zone on the Spirit Lake Memorial Highway, 19 miles before Johnston Ridge Observatory.
Experience the story of Mount St. Helens and the recovery of forests, fish and wildlife following the eruption. Walk through the forest, hearing the sounds of the birds and animals on the mountain prior to May 18, 1980. Enter the “eruption chamber” to view an astounding video of what the forest looked like immediately after the eruption. Hear a first-hand report from a local newscaster who barely escaped. Breathtaking photographs and life-size models of loggers working in the blast zone bring the experience to life. The Forest Learning Center tells the story from nature’s perspective and gives a hands-on approach to learning in the Discovery Room where families can touch lava rocks, learn about the animals of the Pacific Northwest, and discover how trees grow.
Groups larger than 25 people are kindly asked to make reservations at least two weeks in advance by calling the Exhibit Reservation Message Number below. School field trip information is available on the website link.
The Forest Learning Center is a partnership of Weyerhaeuser, Washington State Department of Transportation and the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation.
Location: 33.5 miles from I-5, approximately a 40-minute drive east of Castle Rock, Washington.
Directions:
From Interstate 5 in Western Washington, take Exit 49 and continue east on Highway 504 to Milepost 33. The Forest Learning Center is located at 17000 Spirit Lake Highway, Toutle, WA. Please watch for wildlife on roadways.
Exhibits - Open Daily 10 am to 4 pm
Gift Shop - Open daily 10 am to 4 pm
Exhibit Reservation Message Number 360.414.3439
(Please leave a voicemail for groups larger than 25 people
calls will be returned within 1-2 business days during regular operating season)
Toutle, WA 98649
Mile Marker 33
Due to a landslide on May 14th - Johnston Ridge Observatory will be closed until the unforeseeable future.
Located at the end of State Highway 504 (52 miles east of Castle Rock), in the heart of the blast zone. The observatory hosts interpretive displays that tell the biological, geological, and human story of Mount St. Helens. Visitors to Johnston Ridge Observatory can enjoy multiple award-winning films, listen to ranger talks, observe the landscape, purchase souvenirs, set off on a hike, or get a light lunch from the food cart.
Check out the annual summer Music on the Mountain series held throughout summer at the Johnston Ridge Observatory outdoor amphitheater (in partnership with Mount St. Helens Institute).
5.22.2024: Johnston Ridge Observatory is unreachable due to a landslide that has blocked both lanes of traffic on State Route 504. Further updates on when the visitor center will open will be made available as soon as possible. Learn More. Contact Mt. St. Helens Ranger District for more information. 360-449-7800.
Toutle, WA 98649
Mile Marker 52
Mt St Helens Visitor Center is a world-class facility located on the western shore of Silver Lake. With its high ceilings and massive windows, the outdoors becomes a part of the architecture. Your senses will come alive as you enjoy the interactive exhibits, a step-in model of the volcano and theater programs that are offered twice an hour. Outside, a mile-long trail takes you into marshy plains surrounding Silver Lake where you can see waterfowl and a picture-perfect view of the mountain.
Make sure to take in one of the comprehensive presentations on the historical and cultural significance of the area. View exhibits showing the chronology of events leading up to the eruption and see the working seismograph. On your trip to Mount St. Helens, Silver Lake Visitor Center is the closest to I-5.
The Mount St. Helens Visitor Center opened its doors to the public a few years after the monumental eruption of Mount St. Helens. Functioning as a gateway to the mountain, over 30 miles away, our goal is to educate visitors on the historical significance of the landscape before and during the eruption. We also focus on the resulting impact on nearby ecosystems. Our vantage point offers a view of the Western slope of the mountain, visible from both our center and walking trail.
This unique building features expansive windows providing a glimpse of towering second-growth forest all around. A high archway and elaborately carved wooden columns contribute to the feeling of magnificence. Inside, visitors can enjoy a variety of interpretive displays that include comprehensive information on local history, geology, and re-growth and recovery of the land in the years immediately after the eruption.
Displays include:
Large, step-in model of the volcano
functioning seismograph and live feed of current Mount St. Helens volcano seismicity
Chronological timeline of events leading up to the volcanic blast on May 18, 1980
Theater program offered twice an hour; at :05 and :35 after.
Outdoors, visitors can explore Silver Lake along the 0.6 mile-long trail, including boardwalks over the wetland where a variety of aquatic plants and migratory waterfowl can be viewed at different times of the year.
Opening May 31st - 10 am to 5 pm - 7 days a week
Check out Washington State Parks Virtual Tours
https://waparks.org/virtual-tours/
Castle Rock, WA 98611
Mile Marker 5
The Science and Learning Center at Coldwater, located near Mt St Helens, is a hub for education and research focused on volcanic activity and ecological recovery. Established in collaboration with the US Forest Service and the Mt St Helens Institute (MSHI), the center sits within view of the volcano's dramatic crater, offering a unique vantage point for studying the aftermath of the 1980 eruption. Originally built as the Coldwater Ridge Visitor center, it was repurposed into the Science and Learning Center to support filed based learning and scientific inquiry. It hosts school programs, workshops and research initiatives, serving students, educators, and scientists alike. The center provides hands-on opportunities to explore geology, ecology and resilience of nature systems in one of the most studied volcanic landscapes in the world.2025 ScheduleHours: 10 am to 4 pm
Open Saturday May 17th for Anniversary weekend
Extended weekend for Memorial Day (Fri-Mon)
2025 Summer Hours: Open on weekends (Saturday & Sunday) 10 am to 4 pm until June 14th.
From June 14 through Labor Day, the visitor center will be open 7 days a week 10 am to 4 pm. Fee Free Days in 2025On the following dates, the Forest Service waives recreation fees at most day-use sites. Participation by concession-operated sites may vary.
Veterans Day: November 11, 2025
Martin Luther King, Jr. Day: January 20, 2025
National Get Outdoors Day: June 14, 2025
Juneteenth: June 19, 2025
National Public Lands Day: September 27, 2025
Toutle, WA 98649