Mount St. Helens National Volcanic Monument -

Attractions

South Side - State Highway SR 503, Forest Roads 83 & 90

[Last Updated: 20 January 2010]

REMEMBER: Be prepared for extreme winter weather conditions. At 3,000 ft elevation you can expect 12 inches of snow, and above 3,500 ft elevation expect 3 ft or more. Be prepared for winter conditions on the Gifford Pinchot National Forest.

Some roads on the Gifford Pinchot National Forest remain closed due to road damage.

Please check our current conditions reports or call the local Forest Service office for updates.

Mount St. Helens

Johnston Ridge Observatory is Closed for the Season. Expected to re-open May 16, 2010. State Route 504 is currently open to Coldwater Lake.
Attention Climbers: Forest Road 830 is closed to Climbers Bivouac.
Forest Road 81 is closed at the Cougar Sno-Park. Forest Road 83 is closed at the Marble Mountain Sno-Park. A Sno-Park Pass is required to park at Cougar and Marble Mountain Sno-Parks. Snow tires or traction devices recommended.
Forest Road 8303 to Ape Cave is closed at the Trail Of Two Forests. A Sno-Park Permit is now required to park at the Trail of Two Forest Trail Head.
Forest Roads 25 and 99 are closed for the season.

Apes' Headquarters

The Apes' Headquarters at Ape Cave, is open daily from mid-June daily through Labor Day (September 7), from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. After Labor Day, Saturdays and Sundays only through September 20.

Guided Cave Walks are offered daily during the summer visitor season (when Ape's Headquarters is open). Details are available at Ape's Headquarters

Lantern Rental: $5

Winter and after-hours visitors will need to bring your own light sources to explore the cave.

Hike the furthest reaches of a lava tube formed from an eruption of Mount St. Helens 2,000 years ago.

Location: Apes' Headquarters is located at Ape Cave on the south side of Mount St. Helens on Forest Road 8303, 3 miles north of the junction of Forest Roads 83/90.

Ape Cave Parking Lot

Ape Cave

Ape Cave is open year round. However, the Apes Headquarter's is closed between Labor Day (Sept 7th) and late June. The Apes' Headquarters at Ape Cave, will be open daily from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. The cave is cool (45 deg F all year) and wet during rainy days.

Mount St. Helens National Volcanic Monument Headquarters

Open Monday through Friday - 8:00 am - 5:00 pm
Purchase Northwest Forest Annual and Day Passes here.

Location: Monument Headquarters is located four miles north of Amboy on State Highway 503. Monument and Forest information is available here. Sno-Park permits may be purchased here and by local vendors. Maps, books, and videos are available through the Discover Your Northwest. For more information call (360) 449-7800.

Lahar Viewpoint

2009: Forest Road 83 is open.

See how the south side of Mount St. Helens was affected by the May 18, 1980, eruption and witness the resiliency of life in this mudflow-scoured landscape, 10.5 miles east of the junction of Forest Roads 83/90.

Lava Canyon

June 30, 2009: Lava Canyon Trail: Will be closed starting July 2, 2009 and will remain closed for several weeks while repairs are made to the trail.

Forest Road 83 is open to the Ape Canyon traihead.

The Lava Canyon Trail is signed as closed due to hazardous conditions on the trail. (the upper bridge has washed out and the river channel has changed locations)

Discover more about Mount St. Helens eruptive past. Stroll along a wheelchair accessible trail and explore a mudflow-scoured canyon with views of a waterfall plunging over an ancient lava flow. Opportunities exist for more challenging hiking experiences with rewarding views. Lava Canyon Recreation Area is 11 miles east of the junction of Forest Roads 83/90.