Mount St. Helens National Volcanic Monument
 

Recreation

Experience Mount St Helens!

Mount St Helens AreaExplore the Mount St. Helens National Volcanic Monument's unique and exciting landscape! There are numerous sight seeing, interpretive, outdoor and backcountry experiences waiting for you!

Monument Recreational Information

We welcome you to come visit this astounding area and join us in our efforts to protect and discover!

Did you know the legislated Mount St Helens National Volcanic Monument is within the Gifford Pinchot National Forest?

Recreation Map

Map showing recreational areas. Map Information

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Recreation Conditions Report

 Area Name Status Area Conditions
  
Abraham Trail #216D Closed to Visitor 05/24/2012: Snow  Covered.
Ape Canyon Trail #234 Closed to Visitor 05/14/2012: Snow
Ape Cave Interpretive Site Closed to Visitor 05/14/2012: Ape Headquarters is closed for the season. Ape Cave is open see  Ape Cave Trail report for current conditions.
Ape Cave Trail #239 Open to Visitor 05/14/2012:  Ape Cave is open. Ape Headquarters is closed for the season. The cave's year round tempature is 42 degrees. Be prepared, carry the ten essentials and at least two sources of light. Visitors are strongly encouraged to carry snowshoes if planning to walk through the cave and hike back as snow depth at the end of the Upper Cave is considerably more then at the cave's entrance.
Blue Horse Trail #237 Open to Visitor 05/14/2012: Snow Covered
Blue Lake Trailhead Closed to Visitor 05/14/2012: Snow Covered.
Boundary #1Truman #207 to JohnstonRidgeObservatory Closed to Visitor 05/14/2012: snow covered. Trail closed east at Devils Elbow from JRO due to washouts.
Boundary#1Hummocks#229 to JohnstonRidgeObservatory Open to Visitor 05/14/2012: Open. Snow above 3000ft.
Butte Camp Trail #238A Open to Visitor 05/14/2012: Snow Covered
Castle Lake Viewpoint Observation Site Open to Visitor 05/14/2012: Open
Cinnamon Trail #204 Closed to Visitor 05/14/2012: Snow Covered
Climbers Bivouac Trailhead Closed to Visitor 05/14/2012: Forest Road 830 to Climbers Bivouac is Closed due to snow.
Coldwater Lake Picnic And Boating Site Open to Visitor Open
Coldwater Trail #230 Closed to Visitor 05/14/2012: Snow
East Side - Forest Roads 25 & 99 Closed to Visitor 05/24/2012: Forest Roads 25 and 99 are Closed for the season. 
Forest Road 8123 Closed to Visitor 05/14/2012: Snow
Forest Road 8303 Open to Visitor 05/14/2012: Open. Snow at higher elevations.
Forest Road 8322 Closed to Visitor 05/14/2012: Closed.
Fossil Trail #242 Closed to Visitor 05/14/2012: Snow Covered.
Hummock/Boundary Trailhead Open to Visitor 05/14/2012:Open
Hummocks Trail #229 Open to Visitor 05/14/2012:Open
Johnston Ridge Observatory Open to Visitor 05/14/2012: Open Daily through October.
June Lake Trail #216B Open to Visitor 05/14/2012: Snow Covered.  83 road open to Marble Mountian Sno Park.
Kalama Horse Camp Campground Closed to Visitor 05/14/2012: Will reopen Friday May 18.
Lakes Trail #211 Open to Visitor 05/14/2012: Open. Snow above 3000 ft. Access from State Route 504.
Lakes Trail #211 Coldwater Trail #230 to Boundary Closed to Visitor 05/24/2012: Snow
Lava Canyon Trail #184 Closed to Visitor 05/14/2012: Snow Covered
Loowit #216 June Lake #216B to Ape Canyon #234 Closed to Visitor 05/24/2012: Snow, Caution at gully crossings.
Loowit #216-Ptarmigan #216A to June Lake #216B Closed to Visitor 05/14/2012: Snow
Loowit #216-Sheep Canyon #240 to Butte Camp #238A Closed to Visitor 05/24/2012: Snow
Loowit Trail #216 Ape Canyon #234 to Windy Trail Closed to Visitor 05/24/2012: Snow
Loowit Trail #216 Windy #216E to Castle Ridge#216G Closed to Visitor 05/24/2012: Forest Roads 25 and 99 are Closed for the season.
Monitor Ridge Climbing Route Closed to Visitor Climbing Conditions
Mount Margaret Backcountry Closed to Visitor 05/24/2012: Forest Roads 25 and 99 are closed. Johnston Ridge Observatroy is open. Current Conditions
Pine Creek Boulder Interpretive Site Open to Visitor Great place for a picnic.
Pine Creek Information Center Closed to Visitor 05/14/2012: Open for the weekend May 19 and will open daily starting May 26.
Ptarmigan Trail #216A Closed to Visitor 05/14/2012: snow. Climbers Bivoauc is closed.
Sheep Canyon Trail #240 Closed to Visitor 05/14/2012: Snow
Smith Creek Trail #225 Closed to Visitor 05/14/2012: Closed
Smith Creek Trailhead (Road 8322) Closed to Visitor 05/14/2012: Closed
Sno-Park, Cougar Open to Visitor 05/14/2012:  Forest Road 83 is open. Forest Road 81 is closed by snow. Sno-Park can be busy on the weekends, please park in a manner that does not block turn around access.  Check Avalanche Forecast for activity above timberline.
Sno-Park, Marble Mountain Open to Visitor 05/14/2012: Patchy snow in parking area. Sno-Park is busy on weekends. Forest Road 83 is open to Sno-Park. Check Avalanche Forecast for activity above timberline.
South Coldwater Trail #230A Open to Visitor 05/14/2012: Open, snow at higher elevations.
South Coldwater Trailhead Closed to Visitor 05/14/2012: Open
South Side - SR 503, Forest Roads 83, 81 & 90 Open to Visitor 05/14/2012: FR  83 Road has been Plowed to Marble Mt. Sno Park. FR 81 is closed and gated at Cougar Sno*Park. 
The Worm Flows, Winter Climbing Route Open to Visitor Current Climbing Conditions: 04/27/2012: 30 inches of  snow at Marble Mt Sno-Park. 83 Road is open to sno-park. Check avalanche and weather conditions, for updates and current forecasts.
Toutle Trail #238 Open to Visitor 05/14/2012: snow
Trail Of Two Forests Interpretive Site Open to Visitor 05/14/2012: Open
West Side - State Highway 504 Open to Visitor 05/14/2012: Open
Whittier Ridge Trail #214 Closed to Visitor 05/14/2012: Snow

Spotlights

Ape Cave Trail #239

The above ground Ape Cave Trail #239 provides an easy return route, except during the winter season, to the main entrance and Apes’ Headquarters, after hiking the upper cave route. Today the cave is a popular visitor attraction, with many thousands of visitors annually.

Sno-Park, Cougar

The parking area has a 30 vehicle capacity. Access point for the Kalama Ski Trail.

Sno-Park, Marble Mountain

There are 49 miles of ski and snowshoe trails and 30 miles of snowmobile trails. The parking area has a 130 vehicle capacity. Marble Mountain Sno-Park is the winter access point for the Worm Flows Climbing Route.