Lava Canyon Trail #184 [Mount St Helens, Washington]

Trail:
Lava Canyon Trail #184
Distance:
0.6 mile for Suspension Bridge Loop
3.6 miles for Lower Canyon roundtrip
Elevation Gain:
200 ft for Suspension Bridge Loop
1200 ft for Lower Canyon
Access:
Lava Canyon Trailhead via Forest Road 83
Rating: 
Easy for Suspension Bridge Loop
Difficult for Lower Canyon
Agency: 
Mount St. Helens National Volcanic Monument, Gifford Pinchot National Forest
http://www.fs.usda.gov/mountsthelens

Trail Description: Lava Canyon Trail offers two great hikes, both worth the trip to visit. Starting from the trailhead, a barrier-free trail winds its way down to a view of the first waterfall on the trail, moving past interpretive signs along the way. For the Suspension Bridge loop, hike past the first bridge you see. Do not cross it. You will hike down the left-hand side of the canyon first. The next bridge is the suspension bridge, a cable bridge 125 ft above the canyon. From the bridge there are great views of waterfalls and epic vistas. To complete the loop, cross it and hike up the other side of the canyon. The first bridge will return you to the barrier-free trail and back to the parking lot. For the Lower Canyon trail, continue past the suspension bridge down-canyon. Warning, this section of trail is narrow and slippery and right next to the canyon cliff. If you have a discomfort with heights or balance, do not attempt this trail. There is a cable grab-line to help you avoid slipping and dying. Once past the sketchy narrow trail of death, there is a ladder climb down to continue on the trail, and the spur trail #184B to a geologic feature called "the Ship" with views of more waterfalls. The trail ends at the Smith Creek trailhead at the end of Forest Road 8322. From here, you can turn around and hike back up, or if you plan ahead, you can shuttle cars from Smith Creek trailhead to Lava Canyon Trailhead.

Natural History: The coolest part of the Lava Canyon trail is the geologic outcropping you will see (and I guess the waterfalls too). During the 1980 eruption of Mount St. Helens, a lahar tore through lava canyon, ripping out trees and exposing andesitic columnar jointing from eruptions 1900 years ago. These andesitic deposits sit on top of the Ohanapecosh Formation, a rock layer 20-40 million years old found throughout southwest Washington. The Muddy River has carved through the canyon, eroding the underlying and less resistant Ohanapecosh, leaving the more resistant andesite cliffs to overhang the canyon.

Directions: From 1-5, take exit 21 (Woodland). Follow SR 503 south toward Cougar, WA. Continue straight onto SR 503 SPUR to Cougar, WA. Past Cougar, the 503 turns into Forest Road 90. Past milepost 3, turn left onto Forest Road 83 (you will see signs for Ape Cave/Lava Canyon). Continue straight on FR 83 for ~20 minutes. The road dead ends at the Lava Canyon Trailhead.

*Lava Canyon is VERY busy on summer weekends. Weekday hiking is recommended!

Muddy River from Lava Canyon Trail

Andesite Columns over Ohanapecosh Formation

Suspension Bridge