Mount St. Helens National Volcanic Monument facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Mount St. Helens National Volcanic Monument |
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Mount St. Helens from the Johnston Ridge Observatory
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 Mount St. Helens National Volcanic Monument
Location in Washington (state)
Mount St. Helens National Volcanic Monument
Location in the United States
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| Location | Skamania / Cowlitz / Lewis counties, Washington, United States |
| Nearest city | Castle Rock, Washington |
| Area | 110,000 acres (450 km2) |
| Created | August 26, 1982 |
| Governing body | U.S. Forest Service |
| Website | Mount St. Helens National Volcanic Monument |
The Mount St. Helens National Volcanic Monument is a special protected area in Washington, United States. It was created after the huge 1980 eruption of Mount St. Helens. On August 27, 1982, U.S. President Ronald Reagan officially established this monument.
This monument covers about 110,000 acres (445 square kilometers). Its main goals are to support scientific research, offer fun recreation activities, and provide education. Inside the monument, nature is allowed to recover on its own after the eruption. This means scientists can study how plants and animals return to an area changed by a volcano.
When the monument was officially opened on May 18, 1983, officials said they were proud to save this unique natural event for future generations. Since then, many trails, viewpoints, and visitor areas have been built. These help more and more people visit each year. Since 1986, people have even been allowed to climb to the top of the volcano.
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Discover the Mount St. Helens Visitor Center
The Mount St. Helens Visitor Center at Silver Lake is a great place to start your visit. It's located about 30 miles (48 km) west of Mount St. Helens. This center opened in 1987 and is now run by the Washington State Park System.
Here, you can learn about the local culture and history. You'll also discover the natural story and geology of the volcano and its eruption. The exhibits show how the area's plants and animals are recovering. The center has a theater, a gift shop, and outdoor trails to explore.
Explore the Johnston Ridge Observatory
The Johnston Ridge Observatory is about 52 miles (84 km) east of Castle Rock, Washington. It sits close to the mountain, about four miles away. This observatory focuses on the volcano's past, including its geology. You can hear stories from people who saw the 1980 eruption. It also explains how scientists watch for volcanic activity.
The observatory offers two movies and ranger-led programs every hour. A paved trail, about half a mile long, gives amazing views. You can see the lava dome, the crater, and the wide plain of pumice rock. This observatory opened in 1993. It is located near where volcanologist David A. Johnston was camped on the morning of the 1980 eruption.
Learn at the Science and Learning Center
The Science and Learning Center at Coldwater is another important spot. It first opened in 1993 as the Coldwater Ridge Visitor Center. After closing for a few years, it reopened in May 2013. Now, it works as an educational facility and conference center. It partners with the Mount St. Helens Institute.
While many exhibits have been removed, you can still find a gift shop, a theater, and some signs. The Winds of Change Trail #232 starts from this center. It's a short, easy trail that teaches you about the area.
Roads to the South and East Sides
The southern and eastern parts of Mount St. Helens are reached by special U.S. Forest Service roads. These roads help visitors explore different areas of the monument.
Here are some of the main roads:
U.S. Forest Service Road 25 – This road connects from U.S. Route 12 to Road 90.
U.S. Forest Service Road 26 – This road goes from Road 99 to Norway Pass and then to Road 25.
U.S. Forest Service Road 81 – This road leads to Merrill Lake, Kalama Horse Camp, and Climber's Bivouac.
U.S. Forest Service Road 83 – This road takes you to Ape Cave, Ape Canyon, and Smith Creek.
U.S. Forest Service Road 90 – This road is an entrance to the monument from State Route 503.
U.S. Forest Service Road 99 – This road goes to Bear Meadows, Meta Lake, Miner's Car, and Windy Ridge.
Bear Meadows: A Viewpoint for History
Bear Meadows is a beautiful open area with great views northeast of Mount St. Helens. It's located on U.S. Forest Service Road 99. This spot is famous because Gary Rosenquist was camping here with friends on May 17–18, 1980. He took his well-known eruption photos from this very location.
His pictures show the eruption happening over time. As the volcano's side blast grew, he and his friends quickly left for safety. He kept taking photos as they drove away. A ridge just west of the meadow protected the area from the worst of the blast.
Windy Ridge: Closest Public View
Windy Ridge offers the closest view of the volcano that is open to the public. You can drive to Windy Ridge on U.S. Forest Service Road 99. It's only about 4 miles (6.4 km) northeast of the volcano's crater.
From here, you can look over Spirit Lake. You'll see the damage caused by the volcano. But you'll also see how quickly the land is recovering. Plants are growing back, and wildlife is returning to the area.
Ape Cave: Explore a Lava Tube
Ape Cave is a fascinating lava tube located south of Mount St. Helens. A lava tube is like a natural tunnel formed by flowing lava. This one is the longest continuous lava tube in the continental United States. It's also the third longest in North America, stretching about 2.5 miles (4,023 meters).
Ape Cave is a popular spot for hiking. It offers amazing views of the lahar region around Mount St. Helens. Lahars are destructive mudflows that happen after volcanic eruptions. Lava tubes are unusual in the Cascade Range because volcanoes there usually erupt with different types of lava.
A logger named Lawrence Johnson discovered the cave around 1951. He noticed a tree that looked odd and found it tilted into a collapsed part of the lava tube. Later, a local Boy Scout troop called the Mount St. Helens Apes explored the cave. The cave was named after them.
The Ape Cave Trail No. 239 runs inside the cave. It's a National Recreation Trail and gets about 170,000 visitors every year.
