Mount St. Helens National Volcanic Monument

Gifford Pinchot
National Forest

Forest Headquarters
10600 N.E. 51st Circle
Vancouver, WA 98682
(360) 891-5000
TTY: (360) 891-5003

Cowlitz Valley
Ranger District
10024 US Hwy 12
PO Box 670
Randle, WA 98377
(360) 497-1100
TTY: (360) 497-1101

Mt. Adams
Ranger District
2455 Hwy 141
Trout Lake, WA 98650
(509) 395-3400
TTY: (360) 891-5003

Mount St. Helens
National Volcanic
Monument

Monument Headquarters
42218 N.E. Yale Bridge Rd.
Amboy, WA 98601
(360) 449-7800
TTY: (360) 891-5003

Coldwater Ridge Visitor Center
3029 Spirit Lake Highway
Castle Rock, WA 98611
(360) 274-2114

Johnston Ridge Observatory
3029 Spirit Lake Highway
Castle Rock, WA 98611
(360) 274-2140

Mount St. Helens
Visitor Center
3029 Spirit Lake Highway
Castle Rock, WA 98611
(360) 274-0962
(Operated by Washington State Parks and Recreation Commission)

Welcome

At 8:32 Sunday morning, May 18, 1980, Mount St. Helens erupted.

Shaken by an earthquake measuring 5.1 on the Richter scale, the north face of this tall symmetrical mountain collapsed in a massive rock debris avalanche. Nearly 230 square miles of forest was blown down or buried beneath volcanic deposits. At the same time a mushroom-shaped column of ash rose thousands of feet skyward and drifted downwind, turning day into night as dark, gray ash fell over eastern Washington and beyond. The eruption lasted 9 hours, but Mount St. Helens and the surrounding landscape were dramatically changed within moments.

In 1982, the President and Congress created the 110,000-acre National Volcanic Monument for research, recreation, and education. Inside the Monument, the environment is left to respond naturally to the disturbance.

Mount St. Helens Climbing Update

Updated: 31 October 2006 -- Beginning Wednesday, November 1, 2006, through March 31, 2007, those climbing Mount St Helens will need to self register at Jack’s Restaurant in Cougar, Washington, to obtain a climbing permit. Climbing permits are not limited during the winter season and no fee is charged from November 1 through March 31. See the Mount St. Helens Climbing pages for more information.

On the Monument Today

Updated Road Conditions - November 2006 Flood

Coldwater Ridge Visitor Center is Open Three Days per Week (Saturday, Sunday, Monday) with Winter Hours.

Mount St. Helens Climbing Shifts to Winter Permit Season

State Route 504 Road Conditions: Please be prepared for winter conditions when traveling to the Coldwater Ridge Visitor Center.

Mount St. Helens Update - The latest information including earthquakes, volcano advisories, visitor access information, hiking trails and camping.

Live VolcanoCam - Image of Mount St. Helens as viewed from the Johnston Ridge Observatory.

Teacher's Corner - For teachers, educators and students planning field trips to Mount St. Helens.

Weather Information

MSH Volcanic Activity Response Plan

General Visitor Information

Photo Image Link: USGS Photograph by Austin Post - Mount St. Helens erupting May 18, 1980.

May 18, 1980 eruption - USGS photograph by Austin Post.

About Mount St. Helens

Visit and Discover the Drama of an Active Volcano - A brief description of Mount St. Helens and the National Volcanic Monument.
25 Years of Change - Impacts of the 1980 eruption and landscape recovery revealed through repeat photographs
Life Returns FAQs: Information about plant and animal recovery following the 1980 eruption
Digital Library - Photographs and other information before and after the eruption.
Mount St. Helens Volcano Review - The Volcano Review is published annually during the summer and distributed throughout the Monument and surrounding local communities for folks visiting Mount St. Helens. We've reproduced the current issue on our web site, and have included downloads so you can read it offline as well.

Climb, Hike, Learn

Climbing Mount St. Helens - Mount St. Helens has reopened for climbing.
Mount Margaret Backcountry - Visitors to this rugged and spectacular portion of the Monument can see effects of the 1980 eruption of Mount St. Helens.
Mount St. Helens Teacher's Corner - The Teacher's Corner is for teachers, educators and students planning field trips to Mount St. Helens. You can now register online!
Hiking Trails - Explore hiking opportunities within the National Volcanic Monument.
Recreation Condition Reports - Current camping, hiking, roads and winter recreation information.
Purchase Mount St. Helen's books, videos, maps etc... -Educational and interpretive items available for sale from the Northwest Interpretive Association.

Photo Image Link: Coldwater Ridge Visitor Center Sign - December 2002.

Snow-covered Coldwater Ridge Visitor Center Sign - December 2002

Planning Your Visit

Camping in the Shadow of a Volcano- Mount St. Helens camping information.
Vicinity Map /Drive Times - Online and downloadable maps and Drive Time Chart to aid in planning your visit.
Monument Fees - Pass sales help maintain recreation facilities. Not all locations charge a fee.
Tips for Planning your Trip

Visitor Centers

Mount St. Helens Visitor Center at Silver Lake - Operated by Washington State Parks & Recreation.
Coldwater Ridge Visitor Center - This is the closest visitor center to Mount St. Helens that is open year round.
Johnston Ridge Observatory - Located five miles from Mount St. Helens, it offers the best crater views (open mid-May thru October).

Photo Image Link: May 1980 eruption.

May 1980 Eruption

Related Information

Photo Gallery - View before and after images of the volcano.
Mount St. Helens Institute - a private, not-for-profit organization dedicated to improving stewardship and appreciation of the dynamic natural environment surrounding the volcano.
Volunteering - Become a Volcano Volunteer at Mount St. Helens

Contact Us!

Phone Numbers - Important telephone numbers for Mount St. Helens National Volcanic Monument and the Gifford Pinchot National Forest
We Want To Hear From You! - Please tell us what you think about our web site, information, and/or services. Please include contact information, so we can reach you in case we have any questions.

Additional Information

Charles W. Bingham Forest Learning Center At Mount St. Helens - Open daily at 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., May through October. Closing times may vary in September and October. The Washington Department of Transportation, Weyerhaeuser Company and Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation are partners in this visitor center, rest area and viewpoint for elk herds in the valley below the center.
USDA Forest Service Pacific Northwest (PNW) Research Station Scientists arrived within weeks to assess disturbance effects and study initial and long-term ecological responses. Research has revealed how species and ecological processes respond to disturbance, and has contributed to planning for the recovery of other disturbed areas.
MtStHelens.net - Information about our area presented by local folks. Plus, access to a database of visitor resources and a variety of links to informative web sites.
MountStHelens.com - Mount St. Helens Information Resource Center, your one stop source for hiking, shopping, lodging, touring, dining, and viewing information. Follow the footprints to begin your Mount St. Helens adventure.
Pacific Seismograph Network - In addition to locating regional earthquakes, the Pacific Northwest Seismograph Network, in cooperation with the Cascades Volcano Observatory, is also responsible for monitoring seismic activity at volcanoes in the Pacific Northwest.
United States Geological Survey - Volcano information, especially Mount St. Helens.