Mount St. Helens
The volcano that blew its top in 1980, killing 57 people, with a huge crater and a recovering blast zone to see close up.
A slide closed the road to Johnston Ridge in 2023. Check its status before you drive.Checked November 2, 2026
The eruption flattened 230 square miles of forest in minutes. Johnston Ridge Observatory, named for a geologist who died, looks directly into the crater, when the road is open.
- Best Time
- June to October
- Time Needed
- 1–2 days
- Cost Level
- $$$$
- Open
- Year-round
- Getting There
- About 2.5 hours from Seattle or 1.5 from Portland.
What to See
1 of 3 are freeApe Cave
A two-mile lava tube; bring a light.
Coldwater Lake
A lake formed by the 1980 landslide.
Know Before You Go
- Spirit Lake Highway to Johnston Ridge was closed by a landslide; check first.
- Climbers need a permit.
Where to Stay
Stay in Castle Rock or Portland.
Where to Eat
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Go Next
Worth a DetourMount Rainier National Park
Washington
A glacier-covered volcano with wildflower meadows in late summer, a day trip from Seattle.
Full Guide
If You're NearbyPortland
Oregon
Food carts, Powell's City of Books and rose gardens, with the Columbia River Gorge an hour away.
Full Guide
Must-SeeLast checked 2026-11-01. Part of the Pacific Northwest list.