Search Results (15)
ALERT: BEAVER BAY PARK and CAMPGROUND to REMAIN CLOSED for 2025 SEASON
More Information
- 63 individual camping sites
- Day use picnic area
- Swimming beach please note: for the safety of all swimmers, no personal floatation devices (including but not limited to: kayaks, paddleboards, inflatable watercraft, etc.) or use of oars or paddles are allowed within the swimming area
- Single-lane boat ramp
- Group camping facility has 15 campsites and a covered picnic shelter with a fireplace and sink.
- Restrooms, showers and water provided
- Recreational vehicle dump station, but no RV hook-ups at campsites
Cougar, WA 98616
ALERT: COUGAR PARK and CAMPGROUND BOAT RAMP CLOSED UNTIL FURTHER NOTICE
- Day use and camping
- Day use picnic area
- Swimming beach please note: for the safety of all swimmers, no personal floatation devices (including but not limited to: kayaks, paddleboards, inflatable watercraft, etc.)
or use of oars or paddles are allowed within the swimming area
- Water and restrooms provided
- Boat ramp
- 45 tent camping only sites
- Group camping facility with 15 tent camping only sites and a covered picnic shelter with fireplace and sink
- Swimming beach
- Restrooms, showers and water provided
- Open the Friday before Memorial Day until Labor Day
**The Cougar Park boat launch on Yale Reservoir is also currently closed due to low water.
Beginning 9 a.m. Saturday, August 24, the boat launch at Beaver Bay Park on Yale Reservoir will also close due to low water until further notice.
Cougar, WA 98616
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!
Cougar, WA 98616
Cresap Bay Campground Information
Open Friday before Memorial Day through September 30: 6 a.m. - 9 p.m.
•56 overnight campsites; make a campsite reservation
•Group camping facility with 15 campsites (group site has a covered shelter with a fireplace, sink and electricity)
•Day use and camping (see fees)
•Swimming beach
•Two-lane boat ramp
•Separate 23-slip marina available for first come, first served use by overnight guests at the campground
•Water, restrooms and showers provided
•Recreational vehicle dump station, but no RV hook-ups at campsites
•Entrance gate closes at 9 p.m.
Visitors entering day use sites via vehicles are required to pay applicable fees. Pass holders must check in with booth attendant (if staffed). Passes must be displayed in car window at all times. Fees are non-transferable.
Ariel, WA 98603
Welcome to the website for Eagle Cliff Store and Campground. We are situated approximately 20 miles outside of Cougar, Washington on National Forest Road 90. We are a full service off grid camping facility open to the public with 15 spacious campsites and 4 rustic cabins. Originally established in 1972 Eagle Cliff Store and Campground has been a favorite destination for locals and tourists alike.
Cougar WA. 98616
The hotel at the Lone Fir Resort is a comfortable and peaceful getaway from the rigors of daily life. Stay a night, a week or more! Enjoy the quaint setting and rustic nature of the numerous rooms and cabins. The area offers day trip activities such as hiking, biking, fishing, boating and much more! A drive to view the grandeur of Mount St. Helens is always a refreshing trip for visitors to the area. All rooms & cabins have a private bathroom, a coffee maker with coffee, a microwave and a small refrigerator for your added convenience. Several rooms feature full kitchens. The Resort also consists of restrooms with showers, a cafe, a gift shop, and a swimming pool.
Conveniently located near Mt St Helens, and this Cougar, WA hotel is conveniently located to local attractions.
* Yale Reservoir
* Swift Reservoir
* Lewis River Falls
Mount Saint Helens is a short drive away
* SR 503 side of Mt St Helens (Lewis River Road is SR 503)
* Lava Canyon
* Ape Caves
* Trail of Two Forests
* June Lake
* Sno-Park Marble Mountain
* Climbers Bivouac Trailhead
* Windy Ridge
Open Friday before Memorial Day through November 30: 6 a.m. - 9 p.m.
•93 individual campsites available by reservation between Friday before Memorial Day through September 30; make a reservation.
•Sites are available on first-come, first-serve basis between October 1 to November 30, and no camp hosts are in residence. During this time, camping is free and is available only in Section A (B and C loops are closed). Also during this time, only dry camping is offered and there is no garbage service. Please plan to bring your own water and pack out your own trash. Port-a-johns will be made available for our guest's comfort and sanitation.
•Day use and camping
•Shoreline dispersed camping on Swift Reservoir is managed from this park. Please see details.
•Picnic area with shelter
•Two-lane boat ramp
•Swimming beach
•No showers available
•Recreational vehicle dump station, but no RV hook-ups at campsites
•Entrance gate closes at 9 p.m.
•From the I-5 Woodland, Washington Exit #21, take Highway 503 East, approximately 50 miles to Swift Camp.
Cougar, WA 98616
Located at the Lone Fir Resort
Cougar, WA. 98616
• Waterbody: Yale Reservoir
• Facilities: Parking
• Boat Types: Motor, non-motor, kayak
• Notes: Historically open; check for low-water closures.
Step beneath the forest floor and discover one of the most unique adventures in the Mount St. Helens region. Ape Cave is a massive lava tube formed by ancient volcanic flows on the south side of Mount St. Helens, and at about 2.5 miles long, it is considered the third longest lava tube in North America. This unforgettable stop blends geology, adventure, and forest scenery into one of the area’s most memorable outdoor experiences.
The experience begins with a short paved path from the parking area to the cave entrance, where a stairway drops into a cool, dark underground world. From there, visitors can choose between two very different routes. The Lower Cave is the easier option, offering a relatively gentle out-and-back walk that is well suited for families and casual explorers. The Upper Cave is more challenging, with rocky footing, lava-formed obstacles, an 8-foot lava fall, and an exit ladder that brings you back to the surface for a forest hike to return to the main entrance.
Ape Cave is more than a hike. It is a chance to experience Mount St. Helens from the inside out. The cave stays around 42 degrees year-round, making it a refreshing summer adventure but one that requires preparation in every season. Visitors should bring warm layers and at least two reliable light sources per person, since there is no lighting inside the cave and cell phone flashlights are not considered adequate.
To help protect this fragile volcanic environment, visitors should avoid touching the cave walls or ceiling, and pets, smoking, camping, alcohol, and food or drinks other than water are not allowed inside. During the open season, timed entry reservations are required per vehicle, and parking also requires a Northwest Forest Pass, Interagency Pass, or day pass.
Whether you are looking for a family-friendly lava tube walk or a more adventurous underground scramble, Ape Cave offers a one-of-a-kind way to explore the volcanic story of Mount St. Helens. It is one of those places that feels equal parts trail, cave, and natural wonder.
Trail details: Ape Cave Trail #239, near Cougar, Washington. Main trailhead coordinates: 46.108645, -122.210387. The cave is reached via Forest Road 8303, roughly 9 miles east of Cougar.
Call to action: Add Ape Cave to your Mount St. Helens itinerary and experience one of the most unusual hikes in Washington, where volcanic history comes to life beneath your feet.
Current seasonal note: As of April 8, 2026, Ape Cave is in its winter closure period. The Forest Service page lists the site as seasonally closed from November 1 to May 17, while Recreation.gov currently says the 2026 summer season reopens on Friday, May 22 and requires timed tickets.
Lava Canyon is one of the most dramatic hikes on the south side of Mount St. Helens, where volcanic history, rushing water, and sheer rock walls come together in one unforgettable landscape. This striking canyon was shaped by lava flows and later scoured by the powerful forces unleashed during the 1980 eruption, leaving behind a rugged corridor of cliffs, waterfalls, and exposed canyon walls that feels both wild and otherworldly.
The experience begins at the Lava Canyon Interpretive Site, where the first section of trail offers an easy, paved, ADA-accessible walk into the canyon. This opening stretch is ideal for families, casual visitors, and anyone wanting a close-up look at the geology without committing to a strenuous hike. Along the way, interpretive signs help tell the story of how this landscape was formed, while viewpoints reveal the Muddy River cutting through basalt and ancient lava rock.
Beyond the paved section, Lava Canyon becomes more adventurous. The trail drops deeper into the canyon, with steeper grades, narrower tread, and dramatic views of waterfalls and churning water below. Under normal conditions, this area is known for its suspension bridge and thrilling canyon scenery, but the Forest Service currently notes that the suspension bridge is closed due to cable damage, so the old 1.4-mile upper loop is not possible right now. Visitors can still explore both sides of the river where open, but should expect to return the way they came rather than complete the full loop.
This is a trail that rewards respect and preparation. The Forest Service warns visitors to stay on the trail at all times, noting that going off trail is dangerous and that fatalities have occurred in the canyon area. Fast-moving water, steep drop-offs, and exposed sections make Lava Canyon a place to slow down, take in the views, and use caution every step of the way. Pets are allowed only on leash, and a Northwest Forest Pass, Digital Day Pass, or Interagency Pass is required for parking.
Whether you stop for the accessible interpretive walk or continue farther into the canyon for a more rugged experience, Lava Canyon offers one of the most visually powerful trail experiences in the Mount St. Helens region. It is a place where the mountain’s story is written into the stone, the water, and the shape of the land itself.
Trail details: Lava Canyon Trail #184, near Cougar, Washington. Trailhead coordinates: 46.1654, -122.0889.
Getting there: From I-5, take Exit 21 and head east on SR 503 toward Cougar. Continue through Cougar on Lewis River Road / Forest Road 90 past Swift Reservoir, then turn left onto Forest Road 83 and follow it to the Lava Canyon trailhead.
Call to action: Add Lava Canyon to your Mount St. Helens itinerary for a hike that combines volcanic geology, canyon drama, and some of the most memorable waterfall views on the mountain’s south side.
Current seasonal note: As of April 1, 2026, the Lava Canyon area is still under snow and Forest Road 83 is gated at Marble Mountain Sno-Park, so vehicle access to the trailhead remains closed for the season.
Ape Canyon is one of the most rewarding hikes on the south side of Mount St. Helens, offering a steady climb from deep forest into wide-open volcanic terrain with expansive views of Mount St. Helens, Mount Adams, and Mount Rainier. This out-and-back route is about 11 miles roundtrip with roughly 1,400 feet of elevation gain, making it a strong choice for hikers looking for a fuller day on the mountain without committing to a summit climb.
The trail begins near Lava Canyon and follows the edge of the Muddy River lahar zone before climbing through one of the remaining old-growth forest stands on Mount St. Helens. As you gain elevation, the dense forest gives way to open slopes, light-colored cinders, summer wildflowers, and increasingly dramatic volcanic views. Near the upper end of the hike, the landscape opens onto a broad plain and the route reaches the edge of the canyon itself before continuing toward the Loowit Trail.
What makes Ape Canyon especially memorable is the contrast. You begin in shaded evergreens and finish in a stark, beautiful volcanic landscape that feels almost otherworldly. It is one of those Mount St. Helens hikes that gives visitors a strong sense of both the mountain’s surviving forest and the raw terrain shaped by eruption and mudflow. The trail is also popular with mountain bikers, so hikers should stay aware and share the trail carefully.
For planning purposes, the trailhead sits near Cougar, Washington, at approximately 46.165526, -122.09105. Parking is limited, with space for about seven vehicles at the trailhead, and overflow parking may be available nearby at Lava Canyon or Lahar Viewpoint. A Digital Day Pass, Northwest Forest Pass, Interagency Pass, or the posted day-use fee is required. Potable water is not available at the trailhead.
Getting there: From Cougar, take Lewis River Road east as it becomes Forest Road 90, then turn left onto Forest Road 83 and continue about 8.4 miles to the Ape Canyon Trailhead near the end of the road. Forest Road 83 is paved, but the Forest Service notes that it can be rough, so drive with caution.
Call to action: Add Ape Canyon to your Visit Mt. St. Helens itinerary for a hike that delivers old-growth forest, volcanic scenery, and some of the most impressive south-side views in the monument.
The listed main season of use is June through October.
Loowit Trail is the signature long-distance route around Mount St. Helens, circling the volcano for about 30 miles through lava flows, pumice flats, timberline meadows, old-growth edges, and the raw terrain left behind by the 1980 eruption. It is one of the most dramatic hikes in the monument, but it is also one of the most demanding. The Forest Service describes it as a challenging route for experienced hikers and backpackers, with steep washes, lava boulder fields, occasional route-finding, and stream crossings along the way.
What makes Loowit so memorable is how much of Mount St. Helens’ story you experience in a single route. On the east side, the trail passes Windy Pass and the Pumice Plain with wide-open views of eruption-shaped terrain. On the north side, hikers enter the heart of the blast zone, where the landscape remains stark, exposed, and ever-changing. Farther west and south, the route moves through glacial canyons, flower-filled meadows, lava gardens, and subalpine forest with sweeping views toward Mount Adams, Mount Hood, Yale Reservoir, and the Lewis River Valley.
Because the Loowit Trail is not crossed by a road, there is no single main trailhead. Hikers reach it by feeder trails, and for south-side visitors the Forest Service recommends starting from either Ptarmigan Trail at Climbers Bivouac or June Lake Trailhead for the most straightforward access. Ptarmigan reaches the Loowit Trail in about 2 miles from Climbers Bivouac, while June Lake Trail provides the shortest connection on the south side.
This is a trail that rewards strong planning. The north 10-mile segment, from Windy Pass to the South Fork Toutle River, is a restricted area where camping and off-trail travel are not allowed and hikers are expected to complete that stretch in one day. In that same zone, pets, bikes, and fires are also prohibited. Outside that section, dispersed camping is allowed, but there are no formal designated campsites, so backpackers need to be prepared and practice Leave No Trace.
Trail details: Loowit Trail #216, Mount St. Helens National Volcanic Monument. There is no single trailhead for the full route. Popular south-side access points include Climbers Bivouac at 46.146695, -122.181703 and June Lake Trailhead at 46.137433, -122.155801. June Lake is day use only and does not allow overnight parking, while Climbers Bivouac offers direct access via Ptarmigan Trail.
Getting there: From Cougar, south-side access typically begins by heading east on Lewis River Road / Forest Road 90. For Climbers Bivouac, turn left onto Forest Road 83, continue to Forest Road 81, then follow Forest Spur Road 830 to the trailhead. For June Lake, continue east from Cougar and turn onto Forest Road 83, then follow the spur road to the June Lake parking area.
Call to action: Add Loowit Trail to your Visit Mt. St. Helens itinerary for a full-circle look at the mountain’s power, recovery, and unforgettable volcanic landscape. It is the hike for visitors who want to experience Mount St. Helens at its wildest and most complete.
Current seasonal note: The most recent official road update says Forest Road 83 was still gated at Marble Mountain Sno-Park on March 20, 2026, which blocks normal wheeled access to south-side trailheads such as June Lake and Climbers Bivouac. The Loowit Trail page also warns that some Forest Road 99 access areas and trails are closed Monday through Friday through October 31 because of the Spirit Lake Tunnel Outlet project, so east-side access should be checked carefully before a trip.