A Scenic Road Trip Into the Shadow of Mount St. Helens

Story & photos by Jennifer Coleman

What does a volcano look like decades after an eruption? We set out along Wind River Highway to find out. Just over an hour from Stevenson, the southeast side of Mount St. Helens offers a fascinating glimpse into the mountain's fiery history, where lava flows, deep canyons, and hidden caves reveal a landscape shaped by the forces that created it.

This day we were looking for lava - specifically, the Lava Canyon Trail at Mount St. Helens National Volcanic Monument. Just 63 miles from the Columbia River Gorge, Mount St. Helens is super accessible to explore her southeast side. This area was largely spared from the massive 1980 eruption, but the landscape still holds her story. The Lahar Viewpoint on the way to the Lava Canyon is a remarkable sight and worth a quick pull over to stand in the majesty of an active volcano.

Lava Canyon Trail is very accessible and broken into three sections. The first is paved and gently heads down to a boardwalk to view the Muddy River as it makes its way through the old lava flows. The next section includes some uneven and rocky terrain along with a bridge up and over the tight gorge of lava rock that has been worn smooth by water rushing over its surface. The last section is somewhat uneven as it takes you over old lava flow and along an edge to peer down the canyon. There is a suspension bridge at the end of this section that is closed for repair; but from the trail there are many places to safely view the waterfalls as they rush through the canyon.

There are two cool places you should plan to stop at if you make your way up to Lava Canyon. Ape Cave Interpretive Site, which is the 3rd longest lava tube in North America, is just off the road and worth a quick visit. Adventure seekers can get a permit to enter the cave, or you can just walk up to the cave entrance and feel the cold air emanating from its depths as you stand on moss covered rocks at the end of the stairway. Another must-see location is the Trail of Two Forests, located just a bit further down the road from Ape Cave. This accessible boardwalk is a ¼ mile loop and leads you over a 2,000 year old lava flow that left tree wells formed by hot lava as it burned through the forest.