スカマニア郡のおすすめウォーキング＆ハイキングルート

Pioneer Point is one of the most visited viewpoints in Cape Horn, offering scenic views of the Columbia River as well as Oregon, on the other side of the river.

A refreshing viewpoint over the Lewis River, which also produces some dramatic waterfalls farther downstream.

The South Fork Toutle River is a reliable water source along the Loowit Trail. There are also spots to pitch your tent at the south side of the river. A rope will help you to climb over the loose rock down and up the river bank.

On your way up to the summit of Mount Saint Helens, this is the last spot that has at least some shade. So take a short break, before you head out into the sun. This is also the boundary of the restricted area. You can hike up to this point without a permit, but to continue, you have to obtain a permit at https://www.recreation.gov/.

This is where the Ptarmigan Trail meets with the Loowit Trail and Monitor Ridge. If you plan to summit Mount Saint Helens, you continue along the rough Monitor Ridge. Keep in mind that you need a permit to do so. The Loowit Trail, however, circumfences Mount Saint Helens and leads you to the blast zone. It is 30 miles long, so it can be a great multi-day adventure. There is no permit needed to complete the Loowit Trail.

Climbers Bivouac is the main trailhead to summit majestic Mount Saint Helens. If you just hike to the base of the volcano, you can do so without a permit. But if you – like most people – want to climb this active volcano, you need to obtain a permit at https://www.recreation.gov/ in advance. There are great camping options at the trailhead. Arrive early, since it fills quickly with hikers who plan to summit the next day. The trailhead is equipped with two pit toilets.

While the PCT stays at lower elevation, you can decide for a more challenging alternate that will lead you over Table Mountain.

Most people will know the name of Mount St. Helens due to the massive eruption that happened in May 1980. In that event, the top of the mountain was blasted away by the pressure that was released instantly and the north side collapsed with a gigantic landslide. Today, the volcano is still mildly active. You can see steam coming out of the crater and timelapse videos show the evolution of new cones over the years. A steep trail will lead you to the rim with some difficult terrain, the true summit is another 0.4 miles to the west. For summiting Mount St. Helens, you need to obtain a permit year round.