Facility · Washington ·
Managed by the USDA Forest Service
Mount St. Helens National Volcanic Monument (National Volcanic Monument) · Open Access
This 1980 mudflow area offers an outstanding view of Mount St. Helen’s (non-crater) south side. The v-notch on the mountain once held Shoestring Glacier, which was liquified along with the surrounding mountain snow from the heat of the eruption. Water mixed with rock and ash, creating a giant lahar (destructive mudflow originating on a volcano) which swept down St. Helens at 100 miles per hour. It raced through the forest and across this location, shearing off most trees and debarking others as far as 30 feet up. A variety of trees, plants and wildlife now inhabit this once-barren mudflow.
Accessible Adventures Video
From Woodland, WA take State Route 503, becoming Forest Road 90, east to the well-signed junction with Forest Road 83. Lahar is 10.5 miles east of the junction of Forest Roads 83 and 90.
46.15924, -122.09580 · 46°9'33.3"N 122°5'44.9"W
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| High °F | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| Low °F | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| Precip in | 26.3 | 18.3 | 19.0 | 12.8 | 7.2 | 5.3 | 1.4 | 2.5 | 6.3 | 15.8 | 25.5 | 26.1 |
1991–2020 averages from the nearest NOAA station, 2.7 mi away — not measured at the facility itself, and elevation can make a real difference over that distance.
Recreation.gov last updated this record on 2026-02-25.
Facility information and photographs from Recreation.gov (RIDB). SpotOpened is not affiliated with Recreation.gov or any federal agency.
Comments