Mount St. Helens National Volcanic Monument
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Gifford Pinchot National Forest
Forest Headquarters Cowlitz Valley Mt. Adams Mount St. Helens National Volcanic Monument Monument Headquarters Johnston Ridge Observatory Mount St. Helens
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Climbing Mount St. Helens
Mount St. Helens Climbing Update
[Last Updated: 19 November 2009]
Winter Climbing Access: Winter snowfall and wind forms large, unstable cornices (snow overhangs) on the crater rim (please see our climbing page and scroll down to cornice photo). The crater rim is unstable and can be hazardous at any time.
Attention Climbers:
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We are currently recommending that climbers use the winter climbing route out of the Marble Mountain Sno-Park.
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Forest Road 830 to Climber's Bivouac is closed due to snow. Forest Roads 83 and 81 are open and with patchy snow. Chains or 4x4 are currently recommended.
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Climbing Permits are required above 4800 foot elevation on the volcano year round.
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Climbers and Snowmobiles are required to have a permit if traveling above 4800 ft.
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November 1 thru March 31- Permits are free of charge and self issue at the Climbing Registers. Permits for the 2010 climbing season, beginning April 1, 2010, go on sale February 2, 2010 and are sold online, in-advance on a first-come, first-served basis through the Mount St. Helens Institute.
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The Climber's Registers are located at the Lone Fir Resort, 16806 Lewis River Road, Cougar, WA. (360) 238-5210 and at the Marble Mountain Sno-Park.
Climbing Routes
(USFS Photo - Aerial view of the south side of Mount St. Helens and the Monitor Ridge Climbing Route-- June 2006.)
Monitor Ridge Climbing Route
The Monitor Ridge Climbing Route is the primary route used by climbers during summer. It is a nontechnical scramble, gaining 4,500 feet in 5 miles. Most climbers complete the round trip in 7 to 12 hours.
The route begins at Climber's Bivouac, located at the end of Forest Road 830, south of the volcano. At 3,700 feet elevation, Climber's Bivouac has the highest vehicle access on Mount St. Helens. Start on Ptarmigan Trail #216A which climbs 1,100 feet in 2 1/4 miles to timberline at 4,800 feet elevation. Toilets are located at Climber's Bivouac and near timberline.
Above timberline, the route generally follows Monitor Ridge, climbing steeply through blocky lava flows and loose pumice and ash. From timberline the route is marked with large wooden posts to about 7,000 feet elevation. The upper 1,300 feet of the route is unmarked and covered with loose, rock, pumice and ash.
On your descent, take care to stay on route, a minor detour may put you far off route at timberline.
US Forest Service
Gifford Pinchot National Forest - Vancouver, WA
Mount St. Helens National Volcanic Monument - Amboy, WA
Last Modified: Wednesday, 31 January 2007 at 14:29:36 EST