Gifford Pinchot National Forest

Current Conditions

Mount Margaret Backcountry

Content Last Updated: December 8, 2009

Road and Trail Access Information

Access to the Mount Margaret Backcountry is difficult due to winter road closures. Winter weather has arrived and hikers should be prepared for rapidly changing weather and conditions.

Johnston Ridge Observatory is closed for the season.

Trails in the Mount Margaret Backcountry are rugged, and infrequently maintained. Hikers can expect steep snow covered slopes, trees across the trails, uneven footing and small washouts.

Whittier Trail #214 is closed due to snow. The reroute at it's northern end was completed in 2009.

State Route 504 is open to Coldwater Lake. Forest Roads 25, 26 and 99 are closed.

Permit Information

A Mount Margaret Backcountry Permit is required for camping in the Mount Margaret Backcountry. In addition each group visiting the backcountry must possess a valid Northwest Forest Pass, available at sporting goods stores and Forest Service offices throughout the Northwest. These permits are required year round.

Permits are free and can be obtained from Mt. St. Helens National Volcanic Monument Headquarters and the Johnston Ridge Observatory in person or by mail. Some camps fill quickly, so, if possible, obtain permits well in advance of your trip.

Camping is allowed only in designated campgrounds. There are eight different campgrounds located in MMBC.

Maximum group size is four.

Pack stock and pets are not allowed in the Mount Margaret Backcountry.

Campfires are prohibited, plan to use a camp stove for cooking.

For additional information contact:
Mount St. Helens Monument Headquarters at 360-449-7800 or visit our web site at www.fs.fed.us/gpnf/mshnvm

Volcanic Activity

The more than three-years-long, lava-dome eruption of Mount St. Helens that began in autumn 2004 and paused in late January of this year appears to have ended. Therefore, we are lowering the Volcano-Alert Level from Advisory to NORMAL and the Aviation Color Code from Yellow to GREEN, to indicate that monitoring parameters have returned to background conditions. Since late January, five months have passed with no signs of renewed eruptive activity and earthquakes, volcanic gas emissions, and ground deformation have remained at pre-eruptive background levels. The rate of lava-dome growth had gradually declined throughout the eruption, which accounted for at least 93 million cubic meters (125 million cubic yards) of new lava.

Even with the end of lava dome growth, some hazards persist. The new lava dome remains hot in places-capable of producing small hot avalanches or minor explosions that could dust areas with ash up to tens of miles downwind. Rock fall from the crater walls can produce clouds of dust that rise above the crater rim, especially during dry, windy days, as has happened in the past. Also, heavy rainfall or rapid snowmelt can send small debris flows onto the Pumice Plain north of the crater. Please review Active Volcano Hazards and other Climbing Safety information (links at right).   Detailed information and FAQs about the ongoing eruption are available by visiting the USGS Cascades Volcano Observatory website.  

For the latest information on volcanic activity, please see:

USGS - Mount St. Helens Weekly Update

Although the eruption is generally quiet and does not pose a hazard to visitors in Mount Margaret Backcountry (MMBC), intermittent emissions of steam and ash are likely. Depending on winds, ash emissions may drift over you and may settle on the Mount Margaret Backcountry. Volcanic ash is not toxic, but may trouble people with breathing difficulties.

If you encounter ashfall:
* Remain calm.
* Cover your nose and mouth with a bandana or dust mask.
* Wait until ash settles before resuming travel.

US Forest Service
Gifford Pinchot National Forest - Vancouver, WA
Mount St. Helens National Volcanic Monument - Amboy, WA
Last Modified: Tuesday, 08 December 2009 at 10:39:50 EST