Mount St. Helens National Volcanic Monument

Welcome

Mount St. Helens as viewed with the new high definition VolcanoCam. USDA Forest Service photograph from VolcanoCamHD by Dennis Lapcewich taken on Friday, July 27, 2007 at approximately 2:02 pm PDT. ( Click here to download/view a 127 kb full-size uncropped copy of this image.)

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

[Last Updated: 1 October 2008]

Fall / Winter Climbing Access: Snowfall and wind will form unstable cornices (snow overhangs) on the crater rim (please see climbing page and scroll down to cornice photo). Forest Road 81-830 to Climber's Bivouac is now open. Forest Road 83 (access to Lava Canyon) will reopen on Friday, October 3.

Permits are required above 4800 foot elevation on the volcano year round. During the Nov 1 to March 31 winter climbing season permits are available at no charge by self-registration at the Climber's Register. Climber's Register is located at the Lone Fir Resort, 16806 Lewis River Road, Cougar, WA. (360) 238-5210.

2009 Climbing Permit Sales will begin on February 1, 2009: Permits for the April 1 through October 31 climbing fee season are sold online, in-advance on a first-come, first-served basis through the Mount St. Helens Institute.

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

MSH Volcanic Activity Response Plan

On the Monument Today

Scheduled repair of Forest Roads 99 and 26 northeast of Mount St. Helens will begin October 10. Forest officials have announced closure of Forest Roads 99 and 26 northeast of Mount St. Helens to all uses (including foot and bicycle traffic) beginning Friday, October 10, 2008. [Last Updated: October 03, 2008]

Forest Road 99 (access to Windy Ridge) on NE side of Mount St. Helens is closed to motorized traffic at Bear Meadows Viewpoint due to winter road damage (open to foot traffic and bicycles only)

[Last Updated: July 23, 2008]

Johnston Ridge Observatory is Open 7-days/week thru the end of October

Current Visitor Center Hours

	Join us in our celebration of the Forest Centennial.
	Climbing Mount St. Helens

Join us for a Weekend Work Party

Help share the wonder and protect this special place. Become a Mount St. Helens Volunteer

Download our 2008 Visitor's Guide

Forest Road 83 will reopen to all traffic on Friday, October 3, 2008.

Forest Road 99 remains closed to motorized traffic due to road damage (foot traffic and bicycles only beyond closures)

Latest information on winter storm damage to Roads and Trails.

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

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

Weather Information

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 - Information and curriculum for teachers, educators and students planning field trips to Mount St. Helens. Registration is available online.
Mount St. Helens Institute 2008 Field Seminars and Guided Climbs
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.
Coldwater Ridge Visitor Center - CLOSED
Johnston Ridge Observatory - Located five miles from Mount St. Helens, it offers the best crater views (open mid-May thru October).

Exploring Mount St. Helens

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

Photo Image Link: May 1980 eruption.

May 1980 Eruption

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.