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• Ape Cave Itineraries
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Field Trip Destinations

• South
• Ape Cave Area
• Lahar Viewpoint
• Lava Canyon
• Stratigraphy Viewpoint
• Trail Of Two Forests
• West
• Coldwater Lake Rec Area
• Coldwater Ridge Vis Ctr
• Hummocks Trail
• Johnston Ridge
• Mount St. Helens Vis Ctr

Finding Your Way

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• Eruption History
• Pre Eruption Activity
• Eruption: May 18, 1980
• Post Eruption Activity
• Life Returns...

Destinations   Destinations - South Side >> Lava Canyon   Lava Canyon   Lava Canyon suspension bridge. Forest Service photograph. Open mid-May to late-October Northwest Forest Pass required per vehicle Varying trail lengths and difficulties SAFETY WARNING - Off-trail travel here has been fatal.   Located at the end of Forest Road 83 (milepost 12), walk this trail to breath taking views of this canyon and the turbulent water that rushes through it. On May 18,1980, a mudflow scoured this valley free of topsoil and forest to reveal the treasure beneath; ancient basaltic andesite lava flows. Analyze the erosion rates of this lava and the volcanic material beneath it, and discover how many lava flows ran through this canyon. Note: Although much of the trail has been paved or board-walked, lower sections have not and call for careful footing. Fatal accidents have occurred in Lava Canyon when people got off the trail. Students must stay on the trail and remain with their adult chaperone at all times. Set clear expectations for student conduct along the trail.     Education Programs Available A one-half mile paved interpretive trail to waterfall viewpoint is wheel chair accessible, but very difficult. An additional 1-mile loop includes passage over a suspension bridge. There are forty to fifty foot vertical cliff faces along most of this trail segment! Station chaperones between each group of five students when hiking this trail and instruct the chaperones not to let any students pass them.   Services Available There is no water at this location. This is Pack-It-In/Pack-It-Out site. Composting Toilets (wheel chair accessible) A Northwest Forest Pass is required for each vehicle at this location. This location has a self-service fee collection station ($5.00 pass/vehicle is required). Picnic Area with six tables. There are no food services and no trash cans at this location. This is Pack-It-In/Pack-It-Out site. No public pay telephone at this location. The nearest public pay telephone is in Cougar, Washington, approximately 19 miles. Please be aware that cellular telephones do not function properly in most of the Monument and surrounding Gifford Pinchot National Forest. Parking for 30 cars and 2 buses.

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