Mount St. Helens Visitor Center

The Mount St. Helens Visitor Center will remain closed beyond May 5, 2020, due to social distancing regulations.
Check all alerts and status in the following web site:
https://parks.state.wa.us/AlertCenter.aspx

Historical place, great views, and beautiful outdoor areas: Mount St. Helens Visitor Center.

Mount St. Helens Visitor Center, located at the 5-mile marker on State Route 504 is a great place for learning about the impact of the volcanic eruption that occurred at Mount St. Helens on May 18, 1980. Kids and adults of all ages can enjoy the great quality of the exhibition as well as the natural surrounded areas with spectacular views of the volcano. 

We had this place in our bucket list for a long time! I don’t know why we waited for so long. My son loves historical and cultural places (and volcanos) and we all enjoy walking in Nature, and this center has it all!

The trip

That day we were planning to go to the Forest Learning Center and the Johnston Ridge Observatory as well, but when we arrived at the first one it was closed, so we decided to come back and just stay at the Mount St. Helens Visitor Center. So it’s so important to check the days and hours when these sites are opened before going there. But it’s a great road trip idea to visit all of them on the same day and stopping from time to time to enjoy the views of St. Helens (we are planning to do this in Spring).

On the way to this place (we traveled from Portland) you can find several gas stations and grocery stores but I always travel with snacks and lunches ready in case we find a nice place for a picnic.

The roads were good that day (we went in Fall) but always check the weather and alerts related to road conditions.

Mount St. Helens Visitor: activities

The first activity we did that day was visiting the exhibits and learning about volcanoes and the history of the eruption. It’s really well designed and all the displays and information very interesting. Secondly, we watched a short and touching movie in the theater. Last, our hike took place, exploring Silver Lake, wetland, and surrounding areas. It’s a short but beautiful hike where you can learn about the formation of the lake and the animals and plants living there. Additionally, on a clear day, the views of St. Helens are amazing!

And don’t forget to visit the gift shop before leaving!

I hope you enjoy this place as much as we did it and in case you are looking for a similar type of experience and activities, please consider visiting: Champoeg State Heritage Area or Tillamook Forest Center.

Main features/Amenities

• Great quality exhibition: Interpretive displays with the history of the area (before and after the eruption) and the geology, several volcano models (including a big step-in one!!), functioning seismograph and more.
• Theater program offered twice an hour.
• An adorable gift shop (yes, we bought some gifts for us :D)
• A 0.6 mile-long trail with great views of Mount St. Helens.
• Picnic areas with tables.
• Parking (including places for RVs).
• Restrooms (very important if you go with kids or after a long road trip).

Important information

• Location: 3029 Spirit Lake Highway. Castle Rock, WA 98611.
• Check hours and days before going on its web page: https://parks.state.wa.us/245/Mount-St-Helens
• Admission (always verify this information on its web site since it could be updated):
  • Ages 6 and younger Free.
  • 7 to 17 $2.50.
  • 18 and older $5.
  • Family: $15 (two adults plus accompanying children)