US NorthWest 2017 Travel (7) - Mount St. Helens National Volcanic Monument

Changde Wu    2017-11-22

Mount St. Helens is an active volcano, and its latest eruption was May 8th, 1980. It is also the most destructive volcano eruption in US history. The eruption collapsed half of the cinder cone, and the flood caused by snow melting destroyed several villages, roads and bridges. The Mount St. Helens National Volcanic Monument was setup in 1992, administrated by National Forrest Service.

Visitors can comes to the Mount St. Helens from 3 different sites, i.e. Johnston Ridge Observatory, Lava Canyon and Windy Ridge respectively, with Johnston Ridge Observatory most popular. When we came in late June 2017, Windy Ridge was still closed. So, we only visited the other two. Since these locations are not connected, it will take several hours of drive from one place to another. So, please be conservative when you make a trip plan for Mount St. Helens.

P1 A scene on the road side on the way to Ape Cave, on North Rt. 90

P2 The netrance of Ape Cave from inside the cave

P3 Mount St. Helens viewed from SE direction

P4 Mount St. Helens along a stream from SE

P5 The head of a waterfall in Lava Canyon

P6 A waterfall in Lava Canyon

P7 Mount St. Helens and the river valley viewed from Spirit Lake Hwy

P8 Mount St. Helens

P9 Mount St. Helens viewed from Johnston Ridge Observatory

P10 Spirit Lake rea

P11 The forrest was destroyed forrest by volcano eruption; now wild flowers everywhere

P12 Mount St. Helens

P13 Mount St. Helens looked on the way leaving, Castle lake on the right

P14 Mount St. Helens looked on the way leaving once more time

US NorthWest 2017 Travel (6) - Columbia River Valley

US NorthWest 2017 Travel (8) - Mt. Rainier National Park