7.3 hr
Overview
One of the premier day-hiking loops on Mount Saint Helens , this hike was a much shorter excursion before the devastating rainstorms and floods of February 1996. Forest Road 8123 was washed out and suddenly the hike could only be accessed from Blue Lake . The latter has also had its problems, with frequent washouts on the access road, including the 2006 inundation which turned the road into a canyon. Nevertheless, the trail still offers access to alpine vistas, spectacular old growth - especially noble firs, and the edge of the 1980 blast zone at the South Fork Toutle River. Late summer and fall are the best times for this hike: Earlier in the summer, biting flies are a major issue.
Trail Stats
19.5 km
907 m
1433 m
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Photos
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Trail photo
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Trail photo
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Trail photo
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Trail photo
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