Remembering Mount St Helens |
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Did you miss all the photos and memories of the 40th Anniversary?
Check out many of the images and articles. View More
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Memories of Mt St Helens
Photo credit: Washington State Historical Society
Date: February, 27, 1957
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Hiking is a great way to enjoy the outdoors and get fresh air during this global pandemic. Where outdoor recreation offer the best for social distancing practices. Here are a few open trails for your hiking getaway.
Click on Trails for more information.
SR 503
SR 504
Seasonal Road Closures
Forest Roads 26, 28, and 99 on the Gifford Pinchot have closed for the winter as of
Tuesday, November 17. There is a significant snow accumulation on roads throughout the
forest visitors are advised to come prepared and know your limits.
There are almost 1,500 miles of trails on the forest open to hiking.
Castle Rock
Longview
Kelso
12 Top - Rated Hiking Trails at Mount St Helens
So many trails so little time...Head out and explore!
Come stay for awhile...
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Free Park Days in 2021 start in January
State Parks, in coordination with WDFW, will once again offer a free day on Sunday, June 13, as part of WDFW’s Free Fishing Weekend. This day, combined with the June 12 free day for National Get Outdoors Day, will give visitors an entire weekend to explore state parks for free.
The 2021 State Parks free days are:
• Friday, Jan. 1 — First Day Hikes; New Year’s Day
• Monday, Jan. 18 — Martin Luther King, Jr. Day
• Friday, March 19 — State Parks’ 108th Birthday
• Saturday, April 3 — Springtime free day
• Thursday, April 22 — Earth Day
• Saturday, June 5 — National Trails Day
• Saturday, June 12 — National Get Outdoors Day
• Sunday, June 13 — Free Fishing Day
• Wednesday, Aug. 25 — National Park Service Birthday
• Saturday, Sept. 25 — National Public Lands Day
• Thursday, Nov. 11 — Veterans Day
• Friday, Nov. 26 — Autumn free day
Find a park here: parks.state.wa.us/findapark
WINTER RECREATION PERMIT REQUIREMENTS
The free days do not apply to Sno-Parks. During the winter season, visitors to Sno-Parks will need Sno-Park permits, which are available for purchase online or from vendors throughout the state. For more information about winter recreation permit requirements, visit: parks.state.wa.us/winter.
ABOUT THE DISCOVER PASS
The Discover Pass offers visitors access to millions of acres of state recreation lands in Washington, including state parks, primitive recreation sites, water-access points such as boat launches, land and water trails, and natural and wildlife areas. Purchase of a Discover Pass helps keep the state’s wonderful outdoor recreation sites open and accessible to the public.
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Parks Information
A pedestrian tunnel connects lush, forested Seaquest State Park with its more well-known neighbor across the road, the Silver Lake Mount St. Helens Visitor Center. The park makes a topnotch base for an exploration of the famous Washington volcano.
The visitor center is a destination unto itself. Ranger talks, documentary film showings, naturalist-led hikes and interpretive exhibits bring to life the mountain's geology and history. It's a tour through time, from prehistory to the earth-altering 1980 explosion and the area's recovery.
Unwind from touring by strolling through Seaquest, where dappled sunlight streams through secondary old-growth trees. Hiking and biking trails abound, and a children's playground features a human-made sand dune that will keep kids occupied for hours. A trail and boardwalk around the wetlands of Silver Lake offer birding and volcano views.
If you're headed to the U.S. Forest Service's Johnston Ridge Observatory, this state park will leave you with a deep appreciation for the resilience of nature – and a new context for what you will see as you travel closer to the mountain.
Park features
Seaquest is a 505-acre, year-round camping park across the Spirit Lake Highway from the Mount St. Helens Visitor Center. Seasonal fishing, boating and swimming are available nearby.
Discover Pass: A Discover Pass is required for vehicle access to state parks for day use. For more information about the Discover Pass and exemptions, please visit the Discover Pass web page.
ADA amenities/facilities
- Campground
- Restroom
- Hiking trail
Use our interactive ADA recreation map to search for other state parks with ADA amenities and facilities.
ActivitiesTrails
- 7 miles of hiking trails
- 1 mile of ADA-accessible hiking trails
Winter Schedule
- Sites 32 -54 and 57-76 closed Oct. 1 - May 1.
- Sites T1 - T16 and 1-31 first-come, first-served Oct. 1 - May 1.
- Partial closure Main Loop.
- Yurts available for reservations year round.
- Trailer dump open, no water.
Additional information
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New cornice forming after recent snowfall. Photo by volunteer Andy Goodwin. |
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Current Climbing Conditions
The road to Climber's Bivouac is CLOSED. Climbers should depart from Marble Mountain Sno-Park (winter route), which requires a Washington Sno-Park Pass after December 1.
Permits are required year-round. After November 1 permits are free, unlimited, and self-issue at the trailhead. Climbers must sign in to the climber's register at the kiosk at the trailhead as their "self-issue" permit.
There is dispersed camping and pit toilets available at the trailheads, but no running water, and bathroom services may be limited so please bring your own toilet paper, soap, water, or hand sanitizer. Please plan accordingly. A pre-purchase climbing permit is required and climbers must register in the log book at the climber's kiosk before climbing.
Please climb with your quarantine household, and maintain at least 6 feet of space between yourself and other hikers. Please review our Mount St. Helens and COVID-19 page to learn about open trailheads and sites, expected services, and how to recreate responsibly. Please bring a mask to put on when you pass others on the trail. Read More...
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Attention volcano fans! Registration for our
2021 Volcano Naturalist Program is open!
Treat yourself to this 12-week certification course, that will explore diverse aspects of the natural and cultural history of Mount St. Helens.
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Geminid meteor shower
December Events
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Dec. 13-14, Geminid meteor shower peak: The only thing the Perseids have over the Geminids is that they occur in the summer when it's comfortable to be outside. The Geminids, which run Dec. 7-17 every year, are known to produce up to 120 multicolored meteors at their peak. Produced by debris left behind by the asteroid 3200 Phaethon, this shower is best viewed after midnight. A nearly new moon will make for excellent viewing conditions. The meteors radiate from the constellation Gemini but are visible anywhere in the sky.
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Here's what's happening in Castle Rock |
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Here's what's happening in Longview |
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Thank you all so much for the overwhelmingly positive response we've had to Breakfast with Santa Delivery! All spots are now filled, we look forward to making some special deliveries soon! A huge thank you to our sponsors Comcast, Interfor, and Mike Wallin, Realtor who helped make this possible!
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2020 has made it more and more difficult to do the things we love but one tradition remains unfazed, driving around your community and enjoying the Christmas lights. This year, Cowlitz PUD and The Daily News are partnering to bring you the first annual Let it Glow Christmas Light Tour and Photo Contest.
The winner of the home décor light tour photo contest will receive a $500 Gift Certificate.
The Let it Glow Christmas Light Tour and Photo Contest will run for four weeks from Monday, November 23 to Sunday, December 20. Photo submission link will be available on November 30th.
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Our building is closed for now, but our digital branch is open 24/7! Use our Ask a Librarian form for information and
reference questions, or follow these links for
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Archive Collections from the Longview Public Library |
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Title "Visit the New City: Longview, Washington, on the Columbia River halfway Between Portland and the Sea "Subject Road signs Description" Visit the new city: Longview, Washington, on the Columbia River halfway between Portland and the sea"
Hotel Monticello, new, modern six stories. fire proof -- rooms with bath, European plan. Rates $2.50 and up. Sign was four miles west of Rainier. Date10/07/1923
Rights Longview Public Library
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Our New Schedule is Ready! |
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Your Home Town Black Bears are happy to announce the signing of six talented players for the 2021 season! Please welcome them to our team! |
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Gingerbread House Take-and-Make Pick-Up
In lieu of our annual Gingerbread House program we will be handing out supply bags as a take-and-make!
Please pull up to one of our curbside spots starting December 1st through December 23rd and give us a call. We will bring your supplies out to you. Supplies are limited and are available on a first come - first served basis.
Gingerbread Make-and-Takes are for ages 0-18 only.
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Mount St Helens &
Gifford Pinchot National Forest
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Interactive Visitor Map: Find your next national forest recreation adventure using this interactive map. Filter by activity, create custom views and GEO PDFs, or share your maps on social media.
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Road Conditions: As weather changes in and around Mt St Helens & Gifford Pinchot National Forest. Please click the map above to find out the most current information on openings and current conditions of recreation areas.
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Castle Rock Visitor Center
890 Huntington Ave N, Castle Rock, WA
360.274.6603
Visitor/Information Center Hours:
Temporarily Closed
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Mount St Helens Visitor Center
3029 Spirit Lake Hwy.
Castle Rock, WA 98611
360.274.0962
Visitor Center Hours/Exhibits:
Re-opening 2021
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Forest Learning Center
17000 Spirit Lake Hwy.
Toutle, WA 98649
360.274.7750
Exhibits re-opening - 2021
Gift Shop re-opening 2021
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Johnston Ridge Observatory
24000 Spirit Lake Hwy,
Toutle, WA 98649
360.274.2140
Visitor Center Hours/Exhibits: Reopening May 2021
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Science & Learning Center at Coldwater
19000 Spirit Lake Hwy.
Toutle, WA 98649
360.274.2114
Visitor/Information Center Hours:
Temporarily Closed
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Kelso Visitor Center
105 N Minor Road, Kelso, WA 98626
360.423.8400
Visitor/Information Center Hours:
Monday through Friday
Temporarily Closed
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Woodland Information Center
900 Goerig Street,
Woodland, WA 98674
360.225.9552
Visitor/Information Center Hours:
Open: 9 am to 4 pm
Open 7 days a week
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Cowlitz County Tourism
1900 7th Avenue
Longview, WA 98632
360.577.3137
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