Pets allowed
Allowed
Elevation Gain
4,500.00 ft (1,371.60 m)
Trail type
There-and-back
Distance
9.00 mi (14.48 km)
Please respect the outdoors by practicing Leave No Trace. Learn more about how to apply the principles of Leave No Trace on your next outdoor adventure here.

On May 18, 1980, Mount St. Helens erupted with a force equivalent to 1,600 World War II atomic bombs. The crater it left in its wake is up to 2 miles wide and 2,100 feet deep. If you want to access the crater’s rim and view the result of the geological event between April 1 and October 31, you must purchase a climbing permit online and in advance from the Mount St. Helens Institute. The number of available permits fluctuates with the season. The access road from Cougar to the Climber’s Bivouac has the highest vehicle access on Mount St. Helens, and at 3,700 feet, weather can keep the road impassable. It is best to check the Mount St. Helens Institute website before your trip. The winter route to the summit leaves from the nearby Marble Mountain Sno-Park and follows the Worm Flows Route.

When it comes to gear to help you with your climb up Monitor Ridge, gaiters help manage the volcanic ash and trekking poles to help with the loose footing. The round-trip climb is approximately 9 miles and involves more than 4,500 feet of elevation gain, so plan on seven hours for fast-paced climbers and up to 12 hours if you prefer a more leisurely pace. If you expect to be on the latter end of that range, renting a room at the Lone Fir Resort or camping at the Climber’s Bivouac can help you get an early start.

No matter how long it takes you to reach the crater, the 360-degree view at the summit is well worth the effort. Looking north over the breached wall of the crater offers a spectacular view of Mount Rainer, while Mount Adams can be seen to the west and Mount Hood and Mount Jefferson to the south. Overall, Mount St. Helens is a climb you don’t want to pass up, and peering across the 2-mile wide crater provides the unique experience of making you feel like an ant on a massive anthill.

Logistics + Planning

Preferable season(s)

Summer
Fall

Congestion

Low

Parking Pass

Washington Discovery Pass

Pros

360-degree view. Volcanic crater. Limited number of hikers.

Cons

Obtaining a permit. Limited vehicle access beyond the July to October window.

Trailhead Elevation

3,800.00 ft (1,158.24 m)

Features

Big vistas

Location

Nearby Adventures

Mount St. Helens National Volcanic Monument
Mount St. Helens National Volcanic Monument

Nearby Lodging + Camping

Southwest Washington/Mount St. Helens, Washington
Mt. Adams/Indian Heaven Wilderness/Goat Rocks, Washington

Comments

10/02/2009
It is possible to climb well into October the weather can definitely be variable.
08/30/2008
This hike might be worth doing multiple times over multiple years as the dome changes fairly frequently.
10/09/2007
A grueling yet rewarding hike over multiple types of terrain including large boulders and scree. Well worth the effort!
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