Stop At: Mount St. Helens Visitor Center, Hwy. 504, milepost 5, Castle Rock, Washington 98611
The stop includes an approximate 3 hours driving time from pick up locations:
Large, step-in model of the volcano
Life-size mannequins
Functioning seismograph and live feed of current Mount St. Helens volcano seismicity
Chronological timeline of events leading up to the volcanic blast on May 18, 1980
Theater program offered twice an hour; at :05 and :35 after.
Outdoors, visitors can explore Silver Lake along the 0.6 mile-long trail, including boardwalks over the wetland where a variety of aquatic plants and migratory waterfowl can be viewed at different times of the year.
Duration: 4 hours
Stop At: Coldwater Lake, Coldwater Lake, Washington, USA
On your way to or from the Johnston Ridge Observatory take a side-trip to Coldwater Lake formed by an avalanche during the volcano’s eruption. The lake is just a short distance off the highway. You’ll find a parking area with paths to the lake; restroom, boat launch (electric motors only) and trails (don’t throw away that wrist-band!). You will need them as proof that you’ve paid to visit or hike the trails inside the Mount St Helens National Volcanic Monument. There are also hiking trails around Coldwater Lake
Coldwater Lake provides a tranquil ending to a long and scenic experience through a landscape that must be seen to believe.
Duration: 1 hour
Stop At: Johnston Ridge Observatory, State Route 504, Castle Rock, Washington
The Johnston Ridge Observatory is open seasonally and is located on Johnston Ridge in the center of the 1980 blast zone approximately 8 km (5 mi) north of the Mount St. Helens summit. The Ridge was named in honor of David Johnston, the USGS volcanologist who was on duty at the USGS Coldwater II observation point during the May 18, 1980 eruption. He was one of 57 people who lost their lives in the eruption. The Observatory building houses seismic, deformation, and other monitoring equipment that relays data to the USGS Cascades Volcano Observatory for analysis.
Duration: 1 hour
Stop At: Eruption Trail, From the 5 Freeway, take the 504, 52 miles east of Castle Rock to the Johnston Ridge Observatory., Mount St. Helens, Washington
After this stop , we will head back - 3 hours drive time to drop off locations
A barrier-free, paved hike of less than one mile from the Johnston Ridge Observatory. The trail includes interpretive kiosks and 360 views of Mount St. Helens and the surrounding blast zone.
Duration: 4 hours
Hotel pick-up is offered for this tour. Note: if you are booking within 24 hours of the tour/activity departure time, we cannot guarantee hotel pick-up. Once your purchase is complete, we will send you complete contact information (phone number, email address, etc.) for our local operator to organize pick-up arrangements.