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

Cape Disappointment State Park [Washington]

Awakens the hymn of the fog horns on forest nights..

Cape Disappointment, floating irony.

Photo of the Month: Sunrise over Mt. Adams

Mt Margaret Backcountry [Mt. St. Helens, Washington]

Trail: Boundary Trail #1

Distance: 11 miles roundtrip

Elevation Gain: 2,188 ft

Access: Norway Pass Trailhead on Forest Road 26

Rating: Difficult

Agency: Mt. St. Helens National Volcanic Monument, Gifford Pinchot N.F.

http://www.fs.usda.gov/mountsthelens/

Trail Description:

The Boundary Trail #1 is a historic trail connecting Mt. Adams and Mt. St. Helens across rugged parts of the Gifford Pinchot National Forest. One portion of this trail winds through the Mt. Margaret Backcountry within the Blast Zone of the 1980 eruption of Mt. St. Helens. Passing through the blown-down forest, the trail has little vegetation cover and is largely exposed to the elements. Large shrubs and young coniferous trees line the trail at times, but most of the hike is lined with small bushes of huckleberry, salmonberry and wildflower fields of indian paintbrush, lupine, fireweed, pearly everlasting, mariposa lily and more. Fine dust and ash make up the trail floor, making it difficult to keep oneself clean on a hot summer day. This combined with an elevation gain of about 500 ft/mile make this hike more challenging than others within the Monument. From the ridge are excellent views of Mt. Rainier, Mt. Adams and Mt. St. Helens, with views of Mt. Hood in the distance. Water can be found on the trail via a pump at the trailhead, and springs north of Bear Camp, the only designated camp site before the summit of Mt. Margaret. Be sure to bring at least a few liters of water for this hot and steep hike.

Route:

From Norway Pass Trailhead, follow the Boundary Trail straight ahead toward Norway Pass.

At 1.2 miles, continue right at the junction of the Independence Ridge Trail #227A.

At 2.2 miles, continue right at the junction of the Independence Pass Trail #227.

At 3.1 miles, continue left at the junction of the Lakes Trail #211.

At 4.9 miles, continue left at the junction of the Whittier Ridge Trail #214.

Continue for 0.6 miles to the summit of Mt. Margaret.

Directions:

From the North: Take I-5 to exit 68. Follow SR 12 to Randle, then follow signs for Mt. St. Helen's and turn right for FR 25. Continue on FR 25 until the junction of FR 99, turn right on FR 99. Just before Meta Lake viewpoint, turn onto FR 26. Norway Pass trailhead is 1 mile up the road on the left.

From the South: Take I-5 to exit 21 (Woodland exit).

Turn right onto SR 503 toward Cougar. SR 503 turns into FR 90 four miles east of Cougar. Continue on FR 90 for 15 miles until it turns into FR 25. Continue on FR 25 for 25 miles, turn left onto FR 99. Just before Meta Lake viewpoint, turn onto FR 26. Norway Pass trailhead is 1 mile up the road on the left.

View from Mt. Margaret to Mt. St. Helens

Photo of the Month: Wildflowers of Mt St Helens

This American Life

Driving a Chevy pickup

in the mountains, listening

to This American Life.

Its raining.

Ape Canyon Trail [Mt St Helens, Washington]

After a wet winter thats extended into mid-July here in the mountains, it had been hard to find open trails around many Cascade peaks throughout the Northwest. Spending another summer as a ranger on Mt. St. Helens gives me the excuse to hike to access trail conditions for visitors. Today's adventure brought my hiking partner Sarah and I to the Ape Canyon trail on the south side of Mt. St. Helens.

My second time on the trail proved as good as the first. Ape Canyon trailhead is located at the end of Forest Road 83 in the Mount St. Helens National Volcanic Monument. The parking lot is unmarked, but is on the left just before the sign for Lava Canyon trailhead. The trail is 5.5 miles up the flank of the mountain. It starts out on an old, forested lava dome and snakes its way through noble firs and hemlocks on the side of the Muddy River, where a lahar swept through the forest during the 1980 eruption, creating a barren moonscape. It ascends the south flank through old growth forest at a steady grade, occasionally switch-backing. The trail emerges through tree-line after about 5 miles, and another .5 mile to the junction of the Loowit trail terminates Ape Canyon trail with a fantastic view of Mt. St. Helens...if its a nice day.

The trail gains 1300ft in elevation and is a moderate hike. Ape Canyon trail is also popular among mountain bikers, so be aware, especially if it is a nice day! This is a nice forested trail to gain access to the mountain, and ample opportunities to see wildlife and a dramatic volcanic landscapes created by Loowit's eruption in 1980. Though we had few options of decent trails to hike with so many of our roads closed, Ape Canyon is worth it, regardless of weather, as you will always feel like you are much smaller than the mountain barreling upwards beside you.

Overview:

Ape Canyon Trail

Mt. St. Helens National Volcanic Monument

Forest Road 83

5.5 miles, one-way uphill

Moderate Hike