Trail of Two Forests Interpretive Site
This site serves as a trailhead to a ¼ mile long boardwalk trail that leads you over a 2,000-year-old lava flow from Mount St. Helens. Lava ran through the forest and around trees, which burst into flames. The lava solidified around the trunks and trunks rotted away, leaving tree wells, voids in which the impressions of the bark remain.
Interpretive signs along the route tell the story of this ancient event. Climb down a ladder and through a dark, tree well. Enjoy today’s forest of fir, hemlock, and brilliant, green moss growing on the old lava. The boardwalk is accessible and kid friendly. Picnic tables and a vault toilet are available.
To protect fragile geologic features and plant life, please stay on the boardwalk.
General Information
Day use only: open sunrise to sunset
Recreation Passes honored: Digital Day Pass, Northwest Forest Pass, and Interagency Recreation Passes.
Pets must be on leash at all times.
Day Use:
$5 per vehicle per day
$30 per annual
Day use fee payment options: Cash, Check, Scan & Pay or a valid Recreation Pass. *Suggestion: Download the recreation.gov app before your trip to have the ability to scan & pay digitally on-site.
Must be on leash.
Contact Name: Mount St. Helens National Volcanic Monument Administrative Headquarters
Contact Phone: (360) 449-7800
Address: 42218 N.E. Yale Bridge Rd. Amboy, WA 98601
Phone: (360) 449-7800
Hours: Monday, Wednesday, and Friday, 9am - 4:00pm. (Closed Daily: 12:00 - 1pm). Closed: Tuesday and Thursday (Closed on federal holidays)
Getting There
Latitude / Longitude
Latitude: 46.09935
Longitude: -122.21325
Directions
From Cougar, drive east on Forest Road 90 and turn left (north) onto Forest Road 83. Drive 2 miles and turn left onto Forest Road 8303. Continue for 0.5 mile to the trailhead on the left.
Facility and Amenity Information
Accessibility
This site has a flat parking area, and the toilet is wheelchair accessible. The trail is primarily a wooden boardwalk, mostly level with varying grade in some locations to get viewers up and over the rough and crumbling volcanic terrain.
Restrooms
Restrooms are available at this site.
Picnic Tables
Picnic tables are available at this site.
