Mt St Helens in
Custer (WA)

Simply stunning and humbling, this Mtn. is something to treasure. The north side shows best views of the blast crater from 1980! Only 90 minutes from our home, this Mtn. can be illusive. Plan your trip for clear weather days and call ahead to the visitors center to make sure that roads and facilities are open. Enjoy the journey. It's spectacular.

The mountain itself is stunning. Snow covered peaks with a lake at its base - how can you go wrong? Unless, of course, you want to see the volcano, which means you will be standing on its rim..... We started at climbers bivouac and walked 2 miles or so through the woods to the tree line. From here it's up and it's rocky - for a couple of miles it was walking over and in between boulders, debris from her fits over the millennia. After the boulders it was a little over a mile up a sandy slope covered in snow. The view from the rim was amazing - the Crater blew steam, it seemed, in welcoming us to the top as we stared across at a stunning Mt Ranier (I think). This was a tough climb, harder in the snow (thank God for micro spikes) but totally worth it. Bring your water, bring your sun screen and your sunglasses, good shoes, rain gear and remember layering is king. You'll want to be off the rim 12-1. You'll be gaining over 4k in elevation in about 4.5 miles. It's doable but it's hard - it's also awesome. Highly recommend.

A very beautiful place for a hike very beautiful sighting. It was a very hard hike. Make sure to take plenty of water food and a good flashlight. If you are going early in the morning because the woods are very very dark make sure to take the right equipment if you can buy sticks and depending on the season buy Snow spikes for your shoes. The hike took us eight hours and a half. We started around 6 AM. Get prepare for a challenge the Ash makes it harder and the snow/ice also. Have fun.

Lovely nature at its finest. The peak is amazing to view as you wind your way through the forest passing several reservoirs. The smell of the clean pine forest air is incredible. There are many places along the way to pull over for a breathtaking view. Definitely a great trip

Challenging climb to the top, but do-able boulder climb for most people who could, for example, get themselves up and over a pallet of bagged mulch.

Believe in mother nature and her power to give life and takemit away. Road is paved but lots of sink holes keep aware.

Beautiful area. The drive e has plenty of pillows to be able to take in the views. The day we went was good temperature and we were able to sot and enjoy a cup coffee on our tailgate with amazing views of Mt St Helens

Mt St Helen’s did not disappoint. We visited the south side which I haven’t been too since the mid 90’s 🙈 Johnston Ridge visitor center has been closed and will be for a while forcing us to head south and I am quite happy we did. We stop at the Lahar lookout, Lava Canyon trail, Ape Cave, Trail of Two Forests and dipped in Yale Lake on the way home.

So much more to see and explore. Its all so beautiful. Greatly enjoyed our recent visit. Camping was great, water was perfect, the lower falls were gorgeous. Lots of fishing spots.

We were able to drive to the lehar site. It's crazy to think that all the trees, bushes, and all the life are relatively new at 40 yrs old. Great experience and a must do.

Very interesting! Pretty drive to get to! Was a rainy and cloudy day, but the Visitors Center had wonderful views and tons of pictures and information.

I just love coming here!! 😊 It's more like 10 stars, in my opinion. Mount Saint Helens feels like you are on a different planet altogether! It has such a unique beauty to it that I have not found anywhere else. I also want to mention that every time I do come here, the roads along with the scenery are ever changing. I wonder if anyone else feels the same way? I find myself getting lost sometimes because of this. There is so much I have not yet seen here, as I don't get out this way as often as I'd like to. I did want to share the photos that I have taken so others can see how beautiful it truly is here. Please do keep this area in the excellent condition that you will find it in so that all who come here after you can enjoy the volcanic beauty that makes up Mount Saint Helens. 👍🏼

This is a great place for a hike — the trail is moderately easy and enjoyable. Along the way, you’ll pass beautiful wildflowers and walk through a scenic forest with tall, graceful trees. The air is incredibly fresh, making the hike even more refreshing. At the top, you’re rewarded with breathtaking views of snow-capped mountains and a serene lake. It’s the perfect spot to sit down, relax, and enjoy a peaceful picnic.

The visitors center was closed but the views were stunning! After taking pictures from the visitors center, we headed up to the Learning Center. The Learning Center has a gift shop with really nice things inside. The views by the Learning Center were breathtaking. There is also an area to see if you can see any elk. If you are visiting, definitely stop by here.

I remember when this mighty volcano blew! It was a few days before the end of my Jr year in high school and reports started coming in about sheltering inside because the wind and the forces of the blast were going to carry ash for hundreds of miles and in some areas, blocking out the sun. The beauty of this area was striking and breathtaking. It was hard to imagine it not looking the same way it did the last time I was in the area visiting family. The landscape was forever changed, and the Mount Saint Helen's Lodge that was buried under 150' of volcanic debris is gone, but the memories remain. Today, Mount Saint Helen's continues to threaten blowing its top, the domes inside the crater that have grown in size, and every so ofter spews hot gasses from one of its vents. They say not if, but when this Slumbering giant erupts again, it will have more force and greater magnitude. The loss after will be unimaginable, but if mother nature has taught us anything, it's that she's resilient! As always, leave no trace, leave it better than you found it, and enjoy 😉!

Love this mountain so much! I think the fact that it was exploded and the way it shaped now makes it that much cooler. I’ve explored tons of hikes here from the south side, north, west and east! Every hike has wowed me and some have even been my favorite. The fact that mountain has created the biggest ape caves we can explore makes it all the more impressive. I love all the damage from the volcano erupting and all the re-growth you get to see on hikes too.

Risa was very welcoming when you visit the center at mile marker 44. A great overall experience with lots of history and magnificent views. We will be back in the spring when it will be easier to hike and see the mountain. Drove up from Dallas Or and totally worth it!

Beautiful and awesome. The viewing points were located on all sides so you could see the magnificence and the power of this volcano. The drive around was a geological wonder. Markers to describe the area and activity during the latest and past eruptions. Worth the time.

Have summited this glorious volcano on two occasions using the winter route. It’s exhausting but extremely worth it. I brought more recommend that i really need but being safe was well worth it. The extra weight made the trek harder but again safety was worth it. Seeing the other mountains and Boland peek out of the clouds is awe inspiring.

On April 28, 2023, I hiked to the summit of Mt. St. Helens. I arrived at the Worm Flows trailhead parking lot the night before and slept in my car until 2AM. I wore three layers of clothes and Retrospec Snoe Shoes attached to my Adidas Terrex Hiking Shoes, and used Cascade Hiking Poles. I brought an ice axe with me, but did not need to use it at any point. The hike began by walking through the tree line for about an hour and a half with slight elevation increase. Once I cleared the tree line, the ascent and elevation got steeper. The sun began to rise as I was climbing the mountain, and I had a nice view of Mt. Adams to the East and the Columbia River Gorge to the South. I could even see Mt. Hood off into the distance. The ground was pretty solid and frozen on the ascent. I reached the summit around 6:30AM. The view of Mt. Rainier and Spirit Lake was incredible! The Mt. St. Helens caldera was breathtaking. It was very windy at the summit. I took about 15 minutes to absorb the view and eat a snack, then began the descent. Once the sun had risen, the snow began to melt and become softer. It made for some nice, safe glissading. I walked most of the way, but there was some occasional glissading. I made it back to the parking lot around 11AM. The whole trip took roughly 9 hours, and I took about 4 rests during the hike. In comparison, the ascent of Mt St Helens seemed a bit easier and less technical than Mt Hood. Overall, it was a fantastic experience and definitely a good, challenging hike.

We visited in April 2023 and were there as roadtrippers rather than hikers/climbers. Stayed overnight in Cougar and traveled as far as we could towards the Johnston Ridge Observatory until there was a gate across the road. It was a phenomenal drive with breathtaking views and several good viewpoints to stop at, albeit some parking spots at the vistas are still snow covered! The road was clear the whole way. There are seasonal closures of facilities out that way this time of year-some of the restrooms aren't open currently, and two were closed due to vandalism by the boat launch near where the road was gated for the season towards the Observatory. The Observatory is closed right now, hence the gated roadway. Highly recommended drive!!

The summit view is amazing and very unique. You can see the Crater and the lava dome. The hike started out with trail in the woods, asscent through Rock field, and the last stretch is screes and windy too. In early July (7/10), still a bit snow at the summit. No need for crampons but hiking poles are useful for balance.

One of a kind summit. Hiked it with two buddies last month and the views were spectacular. Incredible views of Washington/Oregon’s mountains and volcanoes. Highly recommend hiking poles and gloves! Lots of water too.

Went there on 15 May 2022 and the road that we had to go through was closed and still have a lot of snow. Please do some research before you go. I had a great experience at Mt. St. Helens. The views of the new growth after the eruption are really beautiful. The hike was peaceful and the staff was very friendly. I would definitely recommend this to anyone looking for a peaceful nature hike.

Mount Saint Helens will always be my favorite place in the entire world. There is so much to offer and it hasn’t been crowded since the early 2000’s. The drive to Cold Water Lake is one of the prettiest in the world, and there is tons of great stops along the way. The mountain has natural hot springs all over but some are restricted or private land. The hike around Cold Water Lake is beautiful as is scaling the mountain. There are a few great restaurants open seasonally and the views never disappoint. I also love going up in the winter and finding great sledding hills. The land is very well taken care of asides from a few knuckleheads. Mount Rainer may be taller but there is nothing better than Saint Helens!

Great summit, relatively accessible, with amazing views. Permit required, except in Winter, available through recreation.gov. Make sure you get one or the rangers will turn you around and/or ticket you. The boulder field is long, and time consuming but worth it. In the early season you can skirt them on the snow chutes with spikes and poles in the morning. Expect high winds and lots of dust. Bring goggles if you wear contacts, and don't forget the sunscreen!

One of the true wunder's of the world. The drive up us beautiful. Go on a none rainy day and bring your hiking shoes. You can spend weeks up around Mt. ST Helens trails. So much beauty to behold!! I spent 8 hours up at the top and walking around...just fabulous