6.8 hr
Overview
A network of trails on the gentle southwest slopes of Mount Saint Helens can be hiked early in the season, a good time to visit the lakes in the area, observe visiting waterfowl, and to admire the big trees, mostly ancient Douglas-firs and noble firs, the latter reaching their greatest proportions in this area. These trails are more used by horses than by hikers, and some were created for cross-country skiers, but early or late in the season it is likely you will not meet a soul other than mushroom pickers in the fall. The entire slope sweeping south from the mountain is layered with pyroclastic material, lahars, and debris flows that exuded from the mountain’s volatile slopes. Most of the area has never been logged, and you can judge the vintage of the volcanic deposits by the age of the forest established upon them. The Kalama River runs pristinely here, and cuts through 100 feet of volcaniclastic material, offering a shady, peaceful stretch on the final leg of the hike.
Trail Stats
22.4 km
437 m
1020 m
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Photos
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