Mount St. Helens
The volcano that blew off its top in 1980, and the forest coming back to life around it.
Photo: Lyn Topinka · Public domain
Mount St. Helens guide: the 1980 eruption, Johnston Ridge and the west side, Windy Ridge and Spirit Lake, the Ape Cave lava tube, climbing permits, road closures and the best season.
What to expect
On May 18, 1980, an earthquake shook loose the north face of this volcano in Washington, setting off the largest landslide in recorded history and a sideways blast that flattened some 600 square kilometers of forest. The eruption killed 57 people and took about 400 meters off the top of the mountain, leaving a horseshoe-shaped crater open to the north.
Two years later, the area became a national volcanic monument, where scientists have watched life return to the blast zone ever since. On the west side, Johnston Ridge, named after the volcanologist David Johnston who died there, had the closest view of the crater, but a landslide in 2023 cut the highway to it, so check whether it has reopened.
On the east side, the road to Windy Ridge, open in summer, looks over Spirit Lake, still covered with a mat of floating logs from the blast. On the south side, Ape Cave is a lava tube more than 3 kilometers long that you can walk through with a lamp.
In summer, hikers with a permit can climb to the crater rim and look down at the lava dome inside.
Mount St. Helens: top things to do
- 1The crater seen from the east or west side
- 2Spirit Lake and its floating logs from Windy Ridge
- 3A walk through Ape Cave
- 4The climb to the crater rim with a permit
Best time to visit
July to September, when the high roads are free of snow.
Insider tips
- Check which roads are open before you go; closures change.
- Bring two light sources and warm clothes for Ape Cave; it stays cold all year.
- Book a climbing permit early; summer dates sell out.
Fees, passes and parking
- Federal park passes such as America the Beautiful are not valid here.
- Access depends on the side of the mountain: some areas need a recreation pass and the roads to the east and south sides close in winter. Check road status before you go.
Checked Oct 28, 2026. Official prices
Gas and fast charging nearby
2 gas stations within 20 km
- 17.5 km Cougar Store
- 17.6 km Lakeside Fuel
No fast (DC) chargers within 20 km; plan to arrive with enough range.
OpenStreetMap data, Oct 28, 2026.
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