Activities

Mount St Helens and Vicinity

The eruption of Mount St. Helens caused the largest landslide in recorded history, sweeping through the Toutle River Valley and removing 1,306 feet from the top of the volcano. Four world-class visitor centers tell the story of the mountain and the people living in the region surrounding it. Located along Spirit Lake Highway (WA 504), the centers are nothing short of unforgettable and extraordinary. The awesome views from each of the centers speak for themselves, bringing you face to face with a monumental natural event.

Each visitor center tells a part of the tale, like a captivating book with four chapters: the mountain as it was before the blast at Hoffstadt Bluffs Visitor Center; first-hand accounts from survivors who experienced the explosion at Johnston Ridge Observatory; the recovery of the mountain and the region at the Forest Learning Center; and its present state at the Silver Lake Visitor Center. Each center offers an unparalleled experience that brings visitors face-to-face with one of the most memorable natural phenomena of our era.