Looking for the best hiking in Mount Saint Helens? We've got you covered with the top trails, trips, hiking, backpacking, camping and more around Mount Saint Helens. The detailed guides, photos, and reviews are all submitted by the Outbound community.
Top Hiking Spots in and near Mount Saint Helens
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Cougar, Washington
Mount St. Helens Summit via Monitor Ridge
4.4
8.64 mi / 4652 ft gain
Monitor Ridge is the "easiest" of the routes one can take in order to claim that they have stood on top of the sleeping giant better known as Mount St. Helens. This route is heavily favored over Worm Flows as the starting elevation is not only an additional 1,000 feet higher but the overall asce...
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Cougar, Washington
June Lake
2.47 mi / 0 ft gain
June Lake, is a beautiful mountain lakelocated in Gifford Pinchot National Forest, Washington. The out-and-back trail starts at the June Lake Trailhead and parking area. This hike is family-friendly at just under 2.5 miles to June Lake. Dogs are permitted on the trail on their leash.This park...
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Cougar, Washington
Mount St. Helens Summit via Worm Flows
4.8
10.53 mi / 5725 ft gain
The Worm Flow Route, starting at Marble Mountain Sno Park, is the most direct winter route up to the summit. You'll start at around 2,700 feet and begin a steady walk along the trail for 2 miles. Although the trail is fairly well marked well above the snow, you'll want to pay attention to the arr...
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Cougar, Washington
June Lake Loop via Pine Martin Trail
5.0
5.93 mi / 1079 ft gain
In the winter you will need to start at Marble Mt. Snowpark and purchase a snow park permit. The hike starts here on the eastern side. Follow the Pine Ski Trail for about 1 mile along NF-83 Road. Then follow the June Lake Trailhead up to June Lake for about 1.5 miles. You will come to June Lake a...
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Cougar, Washington
Hike to Ape Canyon
9.6 mi / 1650 ft gain
Not to be confused with the ever so popular Ape Caves, the Ape Canyon is a moderately challenging hike that remains above ground, climbing a total of 1650 feet in elevation parallelto theMuddy River. Although originally designed as a hiking trail, this route has become increasingly popular wit...
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Cougar, Washington
Hike the Lava Canyon
3.0
6.5 mi
Starting at the Lava Canyon Trailhead, you will walk on a paved trail down a few switchbacks until you reach the river, where you can go right or left. Either way takes you to the suspension bridge, but Irecommend going right if you are following this guide. It will make more sense in a moment.A...
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Cougar, Washington
Explore the Ape Caves
4.0
As if erupting volcanoes weren't awesome enough, ancient lava flows also left behind these giant, hollow tubes as they cooled. Spend all day exploring deep underground in this 2.5 mile cave.To get there, head to the SOUTH side of Mount Saint Helens. You must pass through the town of Cougar to get...
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Toutle, Washington
Hike to the Summit of Coldwater Peak
12.2 mi / 2000 ft gain
While thousands of visitors come to witness the raw power and devastation left behind from Mount St Helens' famous 1980 eruption, few wander past the groomed paths surrounding the Johnston Ridge Observatory. It is beyond these paths where you come across the more commonly designed backcountry tra...
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Toutle, Washington
Hike to Coldwater Peak via Boundary Trail
5.0
14.8 mi / 2700 ft gain
The Boundary trail is amazing. It's 54 miles long and runs for the most part along a ridge in Gifford Pinchot National Forest. You can climb various peaks and viewpoints right off the trail, but this trip report is for climbing Coldwater Peak and hiking up to Harry's Ridge Viewpoint on the way. H...
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Toutle, Washington
Mount Margaret's Ridge Camp via Coldwater Trailhead
3.5
7.12 mi / 1634 ft gain
The hike is relatively easy. I'd say intermediate due to the incline at the beginning. Also intermediate due to it being an backpacking camp adventure.A friend of mine and I backpacked in to shoot the sunset and sunrise. We went a little early in the season so it was also to scout for future ad...
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Toutle, Washington
Hike the Hummocks Trail
2.4 mi / 0 ft gain
The trail has a number of ups and downs as you pass the many ponds and ash/rock/mud hills (hummocks) on your way towards the North Fork Toutle River. There is abundant wildlife in the area including birds, beaver and elk.This is also a great place to park and extend your day of hiking on the Boun...
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Toutle, Washington
Backpack to Snow Lake by Mt. Whittier
5.0
16 mi / 2700 ft gain
The Coldwater Lake Recreation Area has restrooms, telephones, and a picnic area. Make sure you have already acquired your permits for camping in the Mt. Margaret back country.Follow trail #211, which runs along the entire 4.5 mile length of Coldwater Lake. It is a beautiful and fairly flat hike w...
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Ariel, Washington
Fly Fish Merrill Lake
1 mi / 100 ft gain
Surrounded by old growth forest, Merrill Lake near Cougar, Washington is the perfect little gem to get in some late summer, mid-elevation mountain lake fishing. The morning and evening hatches are known state wide for the size of fish they attract. There are stories of Eagles even stealing trout ...
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Skamania County, Washington
Hike to Norway Pass
4.4 mi / 860 ft gain
Just 96 miles south of Seattle, and 50 miles northeast of Portland, Mt. St. Helens and its wild, rugged beauty awaits you.Starting at the Norway Pass Trailhead parking lot, walk a dusty and sometimes ashy trail through recovering forest, low brush, wildflowers and blown down, sun bleached logs. T...
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Skamania County, Washington
Lewis River Falls
4.3
6.35 mi / 1056 ft gain
This Lewis River hike starts at Lower Falls then follows the Lewis River Trail #31, detours up to Copper Creek, before returning back to the main trail for the magnificent Upper Falls. Enticing views of the crystalline water in the Lewis River will make you want to jump in..even in February!...
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Skamania County, Washington
McClellan Falls
1.0
0.7 mi / 200 ft gain
The trail begins at the parking for McClellan Overlook. Head out of the parking area and cross over the highway before heading onto a faint, unmarked trail. You may have to do a little routefinding, so it's best to download this map before heading out so you can make sure you stay on path.This...
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