Site: Smith Creek Picnic and Viewpoint Area

The Smith Creek Viewpoint offers a lovely view of Smith Creek and is a very pleasant place to have a picnic. Picnic tables available.

Current Conditions

6/20/2025: Due to a landslide on Forest Road 25, Randle and Forest Road 99 will be inaccessible via northbound travel from Cougar. See Active Alerts section right below for more information.

Active Alerts

Road Closure: Huffaker Bridge Repair on Forest Road 25

Forest Road 25 Remains Closed as Through-Route Due to Significant Slide

General Information

July - October

Day use only; no overnight camping allowed

Recreation Passes honored: Digital Day Pass, Northwest Forest Pass, and Interagency Recreation Passes.

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.

Pets allowed on leash.

Contact Name: Mount St. Helens National Volcanic Monument Headquarters

Contact Phone: 360-449-7800

Getting There

Latitude / Longitude

Latitude: 46.25275

Longitude: -122.11738

Elevation

4280

Directions

From Cougar WA take Lewis River Road east for 2.8 miles. The road then changes to Forest Road 90. Continue on Forest Road 90 for 16 miles and stay to the left on Forest Road 25, pass the Pine Creek Information Center. Drive Forest Road 25 for 25 miles to the junction of Forest Road 99. Turn left onto Forest Road 99 towards Windy Ridge. Drive approximately 13.5 miles to the Smith Creek Viewpoint.