Mount St. Helens National Volcanic Monument is a U.S. National Monument that includes the area around Mount St. Helens in Cowlitz and Skamania Counties , Washington . It was established on August 27, 1982, by U.S. President Ronald Reagan , following the 1980 eruption . The 110,000 acre (445 km) National Volcanic Monument was set aside for research, recreation, and education. Inside the monument, the environment is left to respond naturally to the disturbance. It was the third national monument to be managed by the U.S. Forest Service and is part of the Gifford Pinchot National Forest .
25-542: At dedication ceremonies on May 18, 1983, Max Peterson, head of the USFS, said, "we can take pride in having preserved the unique episode of natural history for future generations." Since then, many trails, viewpoints, information stations, campgrounds, and picnic areas have been established to accommodate the increasing number of visitors each year. Due to the eruption, the state recognizes the month of May as "Volcano Awareness Month" and events are held at Mount St. Helens, or within
50-547: A 30-year permit from the U.S. Forest service, the upgrades are projected to cost $ 35 million. As of 2023, the beginning phases of the project has raised 20% of its projected $ 10 million, including a $ 900,000 donation from a foundation run by the Cowlitz Indian Tribe . After the South Coldwater Slide in 2023, the center was outfitted with exhibits and other facilities as a temporary alternative to
75-425: A car. The eruption's lateral blast narrowly missed the site as it was deflected by a ridge just west of the meadow. In an interview with KIRO-TV in 1990, a friend called that ridge "the line of death." Windy Ridge is the closest view point accessible to the general public. Beginning in summer 1983, visitors have been able to drive to Windy Ridge, on U.S. Forest Service Road 99, only 4 miles (6.4 km) northeast of
100-715: A combination of weather, elevation, and issues with the terrain, the highway and access to the observatory would be closed until 2026. The USFS and the United States Geological Survey (USGS) disclosed that the site is without electricity and that the observatory may not open until spring 2027. The Coldwater Ridge Visitor Center in the Coldwater Lake area opened in 1993, operated by the Forest Service, but closed in November 2007 due to
125-511: A lack of funding. The grounds were reopened in 2011 for limited use, providing educational programs and events to the public. The center reopened as the Science and Learning Center at Coldwater (SLC) in May 2013, operating as an educational facility and conference center in cooperation with the nonprofit Mount St. Helens Institute. It was open to the public on weekends from 10am to 6pm, though many of
150-444: A theater, a gift shop and outdoor trails. By the end of 1989, the center had hosted more than 1.5 million visitors and in 2007, approximately 300,000 guests were recorded. The 16,000 square feet (1,500 m) space underwent its first upgrade in 2024, which included artworks, displays, and exhibits expanding on the history and connection of the Cowlitz Indian Tribe to the mountain and surrounding lands. The Johnston Ridge Observatory
175-414: Is 52 miles (84 km) east of Castle Rock, Washington , at the end of Washington State Route 504 , four miles from the mountain. Open daily mid-May through October, exhibits focus on the geologic history of the volcano, eyewitness accounts of the explosion, and the science of monitoring volcanic activity. Two movies and ranger-led programs are available every hour. A half-mile paved trail provides views of
200-699: Is a stub . You can help Misplaced Pages by expanding it . Cowlitz Indian Tribe The Cowlitz Indian Tribe is a federally recognized tribe of Cowlitz people . They are a tribe of Southwestern Coast Salish and Sahaptan indigenous people of the Pacific Northwest located in Washington . Other Cowlitz people are enrolled in the Confederated Tribes of the Chehalis Reservation , Confederated Tribes and Bands of
225-474: Is an alpine meadow and viewpoint northeast of Mt. St. Helens. It is located on U.S. Forest Service Road 99. Gary Rosenquist camped here with friends on May 17–18, 1980. He started taking his famous eruption photographs from this location. The sequence of eruption photos provide a time-lapse view of the developing eruption . As the lateral blast developed, he and his friends abandoned their campsite fearing for their lives. He continued taking photos as they escaped in
250-619: Is one of the most popular back-country destinations on the Forest and Monument. In early June 2023, access to Windy Ridge from the south was prohibited for an indeterminate time due to a landslide on Forest Service Road 25. The natural hazard coincides with the 2023 South Coldwater Slide in the prior month that prevented access to the Johnston Ridge Observatory . In 2024, a portion of the Windy Ridge parking area
275-641: Is to be temporarily used as a staging area until late October of the year during a rebuild of an access road leading to Spirit Lake. The construction is part of an effort to upgrade and repair the 1985 drainage tunnel . During the overall tunnel project, several trails leading from Windy Ridge into the pumice plain or near the lake will no longer be accessible during weekdays. The closures are planned to be in place until 2027. [REDACTED] This article incorporates public domain material from Forest Road 99 . United States Forest Service . Retrieved 2018-09-12 . This Washington -related article
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#1732797862938300-659: The Tsamosan branch of Salishan languages . A dictionary has been published for Cowlitz. The Cowlitz Indian Tribe has built the Ilani Casino Resort with ten restaurants and a hotel, located near Ridgefield, Washington . Cowlitz people actively traded with other tribes and later European Americans. 19th century treaties were not ratified by the United States or were unacceptable to the Cowlitz. In 1906
325-498: The lava dome, crater , pumice plain, and landslide deposit, with access to hiking trails in the restricted area. The observatory is located near the site of volcanologist David A. Johnston 's camp on the morning of May 18, 1980, and was opened in 1997. On May 14, 2023, access to the observatory was barred due to the 2023 South Coldwater Slide , a landslide that destroyed a bridge on Washington State Route 504 . A team composed of U.S. Forest Service staff and volunteers hiked to
350-572: The Johnston Ridge Observatory while cleanup and repairs were underway. By 2024, students participating in educational adventures held by the SLC could camp overnight in the building. The Winds of Change Trail #232, a short, barrier-free interpretive trail, departs from the Science and Learning Center. The southern and eastern sides of Mount St. Helens are accessible only by U.S. Forest Service roads. The main roads are: Bear Meadows
375-614: The Yakima Nation, and Quinault Indian Nation . The Cowlitz Reservation was established in 2010. The 152-acre (62 ha) reservation is located near Ridgefield , in Clark County, Washington . The Cowlitz Indian Tribe is headquartered in Longview, Washington . The tribe is governed by a democratically elected board of tribal council members. Salish is commonly spoken by the tribe. The Cowlitz language belongs to
400-719: The best roads in Washington State due to its good pavement, good views, and winding "sweeper" curves enjoyable to many drivers and motorcycle riders. At the end of the road at 4,200 feet (1,300 m) elevation, at 46°15′00″N 122°08′14″W / 46.25000°N 122.13722°W / 46.25000; -122.13722 above Spirit Lake , there is a viewpoint into the St. Helens crater. NF-99 meets Forest Road 25 near Wakepish Sno-park running to Windy Ridge and other Spirit Lake overlooks past places such as Bear Meadow Viewpoint, Miner's Car, Meta Lake and Cascade Peaks. This
425-498: The building to retrieve scientific items and supplies so that work to observe the volcano, as well as the continuation of services for visitors, could proceed at the Coldwater Science and Learning Center. Another landslide a month later would affect access to Windy Ridge. In early 2024, Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT) announced that because of cost and a limited construction schedule for repairs due to
450-639: The cave, is a National Recreation Trail receiving 170,000 visitors each year. In 2024, trails in the area of Spirit Lake were closed during weekdays due to a project to repair the 1985 drainage tunnel. Closure of the area for hiking is expected to last through 2027. Windy Ridge (Mount St. Helens) Windy Ridge is a ridge and eponymous Forest Highway in the Mount St. Helens National Volcanic Monument . The ridge goes between Windy Pass and Independence Pass, 1 mile (1.6 km) east of Spirit Lake. Several road guides list Windy Ridge Road (NF-99) as one of
475-676: The continental United States and the third longest (in total mapped length) lava tube in North America at 2.5 miles (4,023 meters). The cave was formed approximately 1,900 years ago, is situated at an average depth of 50 feet below ground, and the air temperature remains a constant 42 degrees throughout the year. Lava tubes are an unusual formation in this region, as volcanoes of the Cascade Range are mostly stratovolcanos and do not typically erupt with pahoehoe (fluid basalt). Two competing mentions of its discovery exist. The cave
500-515: The crater. From this vantage point overlooking Spirit Lake , people see not only the evidence of a volcano's destruction, but also the remarkable, gradual (but faster than originally predicted) recovery of the land as revegetation proceeds and wildlife returns. Ape Cave is a lava tube located in Gifford Pinchot National Forest just to the south of Mount St. Helens. Its passageway is the longest continuous lava tube in
525-486: The exhibits were removed, the gift shop, theatre, and some signage remained. The campus was closed during the Covid-19 pandemic , though it was available for educational residential visits, and reopened to weekend visits in 2022 and normal visitation in 2023. A proposed expansion of the SLC would include space for an amphitheater, overnight camping, an outdoor school, improved hiking trails, and timber lodges. Starting from
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#1732797862938550-410: The monument), opened in 1987 by then- Vice President George H.W. Bush . The center was formerly operated by the U.S. Forest Service and has been operated by Washington State Parks since October 2007. Exhibits include the area's culture and history, and the natural history and geology of the volcano and the eruption, including the recovery of the area's vegetation and animal life. The Center includes
575-502: The region, to discuss the eruption, safety concerns, and to commemorate lives lost during the natural disaster. Beginning in 1983, visitors have been able to drive to Windy Ridge , only 4 miles (6.4 km) northeast of the crater. Mountain climbing to the summit of the volcano has been allowed since 1986 and requires a permit. The Mount St. Helens Visitor Center at Silver Lake, about 30 miles (48 km) west of Mount St. Helens and five miles (8 km) east of Interstate 5 (outside
600-415: Was discovered in 1947 by a logger who almost fell into the system while operating a tractor. Another account mentions a discovery around 1951 by Lawrence Johnson, also a logger, when he noticed a tree that "looked wrong." After investigating the tree, he discovered it tilted into a lava tube collapse. A few days later, Johnson brought a group of other people back to the cave, and an individual named Harry Reese
625-470: Was lowered to the floor and became the first known person to explore the interior. The cave system takes its moniker from a local Boy Scout troop, named the Mount St. Helens Apes, who undertook subsequent explorations of the tube after its discovery. Ape Cave is a popular hiking destination with beautiful views of the Mount St. Helens lahar region. Ape Cave Trail No. 239, which runs along the interior of
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