When you are in the Pacific Northwest, don’t miss the opportunity to watch and witness America’s active volcano Mount St. Helens rebuilding before your eyes. The highlight of the trip is Johnston Ridge Observatory. At the top of the road, you will be just five miles from the crater and on a clear day ash and steam clouds are clearly visible from the observation deck. The word ‘awesome’ best describes the view from the observatory.
Rent-A-Car Locations
SeattleAirport
Downtown Seattle
Near both Seattle Cruise Terminals
Description of Tour
Plan on leaving Seattle early in the morning, as this trip will take all day. The drive from Seattle to Castle Rock is about two hours. Stock up on food and gas before heading to Johnston Ridge Observatory, which takes about another hour. Spend time touring Johnston Ridge Observatory and then head back toward Interstate 5 stopping at as many unique sites as time allows. Once back in Castle Rock, head north back to Seattle. This trip will be an adventure you will not forget.
Driving Directions
Head South on Interstate 5 from Seattle.
Take Exit 49, Castle Rock.
Gas, food and lodging
Drive East on SR 504 to Johnston Ridge Observatory.
Johnston Ridge Observatory Mile post 52
Cost: $8 per person 16 and over. Children 15and under are free. Hours: 10 am to 6 pm– seasonally (may to November)– Call for exact dates
Phone: 360-274-2140
Time to visit: 1 to 2 hours
View Mount St. Helens from a visitor center that is located only five miles from the crater. Learn how the Landscape to the north of the volcano was reshaped by the eruption on May 18, 1980. The visitor center offers a 16-minute movie, geologic exhibits, eyewitness accounts of the eruption, and ranger led programs.
When finished at Johnston Ridge drive west.
Cost:
Hours:
Time to visit:
Coldwater Lake Recreation Area is located in the heart of the blast zone at an elevation of 2,523 feet. Experience the effect that the May 18th, 1980 eruption had on the ColdwaterValley. Walk the 1/4–mile Lake Interpretive Trail and enjoy close up views of this 20 year–old lake. Facilities include picnic tables, restrooms, and a fish cleaning station, a boat launch, and hands–on discovery areas.
Hummocks Trail Mile post 45
Cost: Free
Hours:
Time to visit: 1 to 2 hours
The trail is a 2.4-mile loop. There is no cost to go on this trail but you will need hiking boots or good supporting tennis shoes although hiking boots are recommended.
On the trail view hill sized chunks of shattered volcano, ponds and river carved canyon on the 1980 landslide deposit. Some areas still look like they did in 1980 while others are now reborn and support plants and wildlife.
Elk Rock Viewpoint Mile post 37
Cost:
Hours:
Time to visit:
The Elk Rock Viewpoint is an excellent view of Mount St. Helens, the debris avalanche, and the spillway draining ColdwaterLake. This viewpoint has great photo opportunities.
Forest Learning Center Mile post 33.5
Cost: Free
Hours: 10 am to 5 pm – seasonally (may to November) – Call for exact dates
Phone: 360-414-3439
Time to visit: 1 hour plus
The Forest Learning Center was formed in an alliance with Weyerhaeuser Company, Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation and the Washington State Department of Transportation. It offers free information on the eruption, the effect on the environment and Weyerhaeuser’s efforts to speed the recovery process. Enjoy the hands-on learning and multi-media presentations. The center also features a playground, picnic area, and an elk viewpoint.
Hoffstadt Bridge Mile post 30
Cost:
Hours:
Time to visit:
The HoffstadtBridge spans Hoffstadt Creek that is 370 feet (113 meters) below. This area is near the western limit of the zone affected by the 1980 blast. The viewpoint offers spectacular views and photo opportunities.
Hoffstadt Bluffs Mile post 27
Cost: Free
Hours:10 am to 5 pm
Time to visit:
The Hoffstadt Bluffs Visitor Center includes a gift shop, restaurant, viewing deck, displays, a glass-blowing studio and a memorial grove dedicated to victims of the eruption. The Memorial Grove at Hoffstadt Bluffs Visitor Center offers contemplative views of the Toutle River Valley mudflows and a peaceful hiatus to reflect on the momentous events of the May 18th, 1980 eruption. Take some time to honor those individuals who perished during the eruption of Mount St. Helens with a peaceful walk through this memorial planting. Helicopter tours provide spectacular views of the blast zone.
EcoPark Resort Mile post 24
Food, lodging, horseback ridding, and helicopter tours
Cost:
Hours:
Time to visit:
Eco Park Resort offers some great activities like horseback riding, helicopter tours, sight seeing, hiking on over 12.5 miles of trails, birding, wildlife viewing and just a short drive from the top of Mount St. Helens.
Sediment Retention Dam Mile post 21
Cost:
Hours:
Time to visit:
Construction of the sediment retention dam on the North Fork Toutle River began in the spring of 1987. This retention dam is designed to help stop the downstream movement of the sediment near where it begins on the debris avalanche. Visitors can take a short hike and walk atop the dam.
The Buried A-Frame Mile post 21
Cost:
Hours:
Time to visit:
The mudflow from the 1980 eruption filled a newly built A-frame house with 200 tons of silt, mud, water and ash. Now at the North Fork Survivors Gift Shop walk through the buried A-Frame's ground floor that is now below ground.
KidValley Mile post 19
Gas, food and camping
Cost:
Hours:
Time to visit:
Kid Valley has unique character and charm. It’s one of the original homesteads in the area and is home to the Kid Valley Store, and the best burgers in Volcano Country are found at 19 Mile House Restaurant where they also make fresh cobbler.
Toutle Mile post 11
Gas, food and camping
Cost:
Hours:
Time to visit:
Toutle is located along the Toutle River. The Toutle River area is known for its steelhead fishing and hunting but the main industry in Toutle is logging. There are many parks available along the Toutle River for swimming, picnicking and camping.
Cost:Free
Hours: 9 am to 7 pm
Time to visit:
The Seven Wonders Creation Museum at Mount St. Helens is a missionary facility dedicated to creation science studies at Mount St. Helens. The museum is owned and operated by Lloyd and Doris Anderson who also provide guided tours of the monument to creation science groups. The Seven Wonders Creation Museum also carries the largest number of Creation books and videos of any bookstore in the Northwest. Free creation information, museum displays and a super slide presentation makes the Seven Wonders Creation Museum a must-stop for any creationist or student of creation science.
Silver Lake Mile post
Cost:
Hours:
Time to visit:
Wide, paved trails loop through the meadows and shoreline wetlands, exploring the changing ecosystem and the different types of wildlife that live in each area.
Silver Lake Visitor Center Mile post 5
Cost: $3 per person
Hours: 9 am to 6 pm daily
Time to visit:
Silver Lake Visitor Center is a lodge-style facility offering wetland trails, exhibits, a movie, and a walk-through model of Mount St. Helens. An RV drop is available for your day trip up the mountain.
Seaquest State Park Mile post 5
Cost:
Hours: 8 am to dusk
Time to visit:
Seaquest State Park is a 475-acre, year-round camping park near Mount St. Helens. The beautifully forested park claims over a mile of the Silver Lake shoreline, a shallow wetland lake. Enjoy one mile of wetland trail and six miles of woodland trails for hiking and bicycling. See spectacular views of the wildlife and of Silver Lake and the surrounding area. There are also children's play areas and playing fields and great seasonal fishing, boating and swimming are available nearby.
Castle Rock Mile post 0
Gas, food and lodging
Cost:
Hours:
Time to visit:
Castle Rock is located between the Cowlitz River and I-5. Castle Rock is about 134 miles south of Seattle, Washington and 63 miles north of Portland, Oregon. Castle Rock is the northern most city in the Cowlitz County area and has a population of 2,150.
Castle Rock’s historic downtown features a wide variety of shops, antique stores, restaurants, and accommodations. Other activities include the Castle Rock Exhibit Hall and Visitor Information Center that displays carvings, photographs and exhibits relating to Mount St. Helens.
When finished continue driving west to get back on I5 and head north back to Seattle.
