USDA Forest Service
 

Gifford Pinchot National Forest
 
Gifford Pinchot
National Forest

Forest Headquarters
10600 N.E. 51st Circle
Vancouver, WA 98682
(360) 891-5000
TTY: (360) 891-5003

Cowlitz Valley
Ranger District
10024 US Hwy 12
PO Box 670
Randle, WA 98377
(360) 497-1100
TTY: (360) 497-1101

Mt. Adams
Ranger District
2455 Hwy 141
Trout Lake, WA 98650
(509) 395-3400
TTY: (360) 891-5003

Mount St. Helens
National Volcanic
Monument

Monument Headquarters
42218 N.E. Yale Bridge Rd.
Amboy, WA 98601
(360) 449-7800
TTY: (360) 891-5003

Johnston Ridge Observatory
24000 Spirit Lake Highway
P.O. Box 326
Toutle, WA 98649
(360) 274-2140

Mount St. Helens
Visitor Center
at Silver Lake
3029 Spirit Lake Highway
Castle Rock, WA 98611
(Operated by Washington State Parks and Recreation Commission)

TTY: Phone for the Deaf



Current Conditions

Special Conditions & Recreation Information

Mount St. Helens Conditions | Gifford Pinchot National Forest Information | Mount St. Helens Visitor Centers
Climbing Mount St. Helens | Mount St. Helens Camping | Mount St. Helens Area Closures | Ash fall
 

Mount St. Helens Special Conditions Volcanic Activity

Current Volcano Status

The USGS/Cascades Volcano Observatory, in Vancouver, Washington and the University of Washington Pacific Northwest Seismograph Network continue to monitor the situation closely and will issue additional updates and changes in alert level as warranted. 

Latest USGS Mount St. Helens Advisory

Additional Information

A telephone recording that covers the current status of

Mount St. Helens volcanic activity can be heard by calling:  

(360) 891-5180

     

For other Mount St. Helens information, contact the

Mount St. Helens National Volcanic Monument Headquarters: (360) 449-7800

Other Information

Monument Visitor Centers and Recreational Facilities 

November 09, 2008:

Winter Travel Safety Information.

  • Coldwater is closed permanently.

Apes' Headquarters and lantern rentals is now closed for the season . 

 

Pine Creek Information Station -- Closed permanently

Cascade Peaks: Closed. Winter Road Damage Limits Access to Windy Ridge on the East Side of the Mount St. Helens National Volcanic Monument.

October 07, 2008: Lava Canyon Trail #184: Partially open, between the trailhead and the suspension bridge. Stay on the North side of Muddy River.  No travel permitted beyond the suspension bridge.  Hazardous conditions on the trail. The upper bridge has washed out and the river channel has changed locations.

Windy Ridge Viewpoint -- Winter Road Damage Limits Access to Windy Ridge on the East Side of the Mount St. Helens National Volcanic Monument. (July 23, 2008)

October 10, 2008:  Scheduled repair of Forest Roads 99 and 26 northeast of Mount St. Helens will begin October 10.  Forest officials have announced closure of Forest Roads 99 and 26 northeast of Mount St. Helens to all uses (including foot and bicycle traffic) beginning Friday, October 10, 2008. Click here for a copy of the National Fores Road Systems Roads and Special Areas Closure (Adobe Acrobat PDF format - 251 kb)

Visitors Should be Prepared for Wind-Blown Ash or a Potential Ash Fall 

[Last Updated: June 25, 2008]

In rare instances, forest visitors near the volcano may encounter a potential volcanic ash plume or ashfall. Volcanic ash (fragmented rock dust) can be mobilized by crater rockfall, high winds, or, in rare instances, by small steam explosions in the crater.  In the event of a volcanic ashfall, stay tuned to local media for up to date reports on the status of the volcano.

Volcanic ash (fragmented rock dust) is non-toxic but, if breathed-in, can cause physical damage to your lungs and airways.  In the event of ashfall, remain calm, try not to breathe ash, cover your nose and mouth with a cloth or napkin.  If possible, seek shelter in a building or vehicle and remain inside until the ashfall passes. If you are in a vehicle roll up your window, and do not start the vehicle as volcanic ash could damage your engine.  Typical ash clouds dissipate within 20 to 30 minutes.  Once the ash clears, drive slowly and carefully because volcanic ash can be kicked-up like road dust and can limit visibility.  When wet, use extra caution as ashfall deposits on roadways can be slippery.

Climbing Mount St Helens

  • February 1, 2008: Forest Service officials have announced the relocation of the Mount St. Helens Climber’s Register to the Lone Fir Resort. The Lone Fir Resort is located in the town of Cougar, Washington five miles east of the former register location. 
  • Mount St. Helens climbing permit reservations for 2008 climbing season begin February 1 at 12:01 am.
  • Mount St. Helens climbing permits are sold on the Internet on a first-come, first-served basis by the Mount St. Helens Institute , a non-profit partner of the Gifford Pinchot National Forest.

Area Closures

Updated April 14, 2008

There are no special closures related to volcanic activity in affect at this time.

 

Mount St. Helens Closure Area Map

  Area 1 -- Crater is closed to all entry except for scientists with a permit.  Area includes crater floor, inside walls to the rim, and NE and NW flanks of the volcano.

  Area 2 -- All travel above 4800 foot elevation (treeline) on the volcano requires a Climbing Permit.  For details please see Permit System web page.

  Area 3 -- Area is open only on developed trails.  Snowmobiles, camping, pets, and stock are not permitted.  Off-trail travel requires Administrative Closure Permit issued by Monument Headquarters.

Goat Marsh Research Natural Area (SW of mtn) -- Goat Marsh RNA is closed to motorized use, camping and stock use.

Closure Area Map (8.5" x 11" size, 250 KB, .pdf)

   


Designated Non-Motorized Corridor on Winter Climbing Route

The area around the Monitor Ridge and Worm Flows Climbing Routes is closed to snowmobile use to provide for the safety of climbers and other non-motorized winter recreationists.

Non-motorized corridor is defined by the western flanks of MonitorRidge, the south crater rim, the eastern flanks of the Worm Flows and the 4800 foot elevation line except where timberline is above 4800 feet.  Where timberline is above 4800 feet, snowmobiles may cross the non-motorized corridor immediately above timberline.

Non-Motorized Closure Area Map

(8.5" x 11" size, 202 KB, .jpg)

 

There are no other special closures at this time.


Roads 

     

There are no road closures due to volcanic activity at this time.

Trails*

There are no trail closures due to volcanic activity at this time.


*Volcanic Hazards: We recommend that hikers in the Spirit Lake Basin on the north side of the volcano, who observe a large steam or ash emission or hear a rumbling noise upstream (sound of a mudflow or debris flow) be aware of potential hazards from debris flows and mudflows. If you are in a gully or stream draining the north side of the volcano and observe a large volcanic event please act decisively and move to high ground as soon as possible.
Gifford Pinchot National Forest Information

Camping Notices

  Forest visitors near the volcano need to be prepared for a potential ash fall.

Fire Restrictions and Information

  • July 14, 2008 (1000 hrs): - All Roads, Trails, Campgrounds east of Forest Road 23 north of Trout Lake, Wash., are closed due to wildland fire activity.  Access is temporarily to the Cold Springs/South Climb Trailhead on Mt. Adams until further notice.

Forest Facilities

Forest Roads

  • January 09, 2009 - 10 a.m.: Foest Road 90 is Open, the slide has been cleared near the power canal bridge. Road 90 is open to the jct. with the Curley Creek Road.  Washington State DOT crews are assessing SR 503 east of Cougar, Wash., for possible failure.  SR 503 is open at this time.
  • January 07, 2009 - 10 a.m.: Forest Road 25 is closed south of the jct. with Forest Road 76. Snow and downed trees are covering the road.
  • December 18, 2008: All Forest roads are impassible or not advised for travel, with the exception of those plowed to winter sports sites.

Forest Trails

  • Forest Storm Damage Information: The November 2006 flood damage and the subsequent windstorm on December 14-15, 2006 will affect Forest visitor's ability to access some popular sites in the Forest this year. As upcoming spring and summer weather brings visitors to the Forest, officials are emphasizing that road and trail damage and repairs will affect some travel routes.

Visitors should exercise additional caution this year when venturing out on roads and trails.

  • July 1, 2008: Forest visitors near the volcano need to be prepared for a potential ash fall.
  • October 07, 2008:  Lava Canyon Trail #184: Partially open, between the trailhead and the suspension bridge. Stay on the North side of Muddy River.  No travel permitted beyond the suspension bridge.  Hazardous conditions on the trail. The upper bridge has washed out and the river channel has changed locations.

Forest Campgrounds

Forest Winter Sno-Parks

  • January 09, 2009:  All Cowlitz Valley Ranger District Sno-Parks are closed until they can be evaluated for public safety, due to slides and flooding. More information on Sno-Parks.
  • December 08, 2008: Sno-Parks will beging operating for the season, when snow is present. Please check the Sno-Park current conditions page for more information.

Hunting Information

  • December 08, 2008: - No Special Conditions at this time. 

US Forest Service
Gifford Pinchot National Forest - Vancouver, WA
Mount St. Helens National Volcanic Monument - Amboy, WA
Last Modified: Friday, 09 January 2009 at 16:05:05 EST
USDA logo which links to the department's national site. Forest Service logo which links to the agency's national site.