Mt St Helens' Visitor Centers

Our third day around the mountain involved doing the more touristy attractions. That is driving up the Toutle River Valley side of the mountain, which was the most devastated area after the eruption. This is where the visitor centers are located.

Johnston Ridge Observatory is closest to the mountain. Built like a bunker into the surrounding landscape, it focuses visitor’s attention on the smoldering crater some six miles away.

Coldwater Visitor Center offers views from further west and along the scarred Toutle River Valley.

The Forest Learning Center was formed in an alliance with Weyerhaeuser Company, Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation and the Washington State Department of Transportation.

Hoffstadt Bluffs Visitor Center is owned by Cowlitz County. The lodge-style building offers excellent views of the mountain as well as helicopter tours of Mount St. Helens during the summer months. 

A few days later, we drove up the backside of the mountain that is still completely part of the National Volcanic Monument -- meaning no attempt to rush nature has occurred, no reforestation, no removal of debris except for the road and maintenance sections for the USGS. Spirit Lake still has lots of downed trees from the eruption over 20 years ago laying on the top of the water. Seeing this, it is unbelievable that this lake (albeit when it was 200 feet lower and a lot smaller) was once a thriving tourist destination.

 This side is as close to the crater as you can get without climbing the mountain.