Mount St. Helens

MountStHelens - Mount St. Helens

Mount St. Helens National Volcanic Monument is a United States National Monument in southwest Washington State that was the site of a massive volcanic eruption on 18 May 1980. In 1982 and the President and Congress created the 110,000-acre (445-km²) National Volcanic Monument, within the Gifford Pinchot National Forest, for research, recreation, and education.

Mount St. Helens Halal Explorer

History

On 20 March 1980, Mount St. Helens awakened from over 100 years of dormancy with a magnitude 4.1 earthquake which began a series of events leading to eruption. Steam and ash eruption started on 27 March and over the next two months the north side of the mountain started bulging at the rate of about 5 to 6 feet a day.

Then on May 18, 1980, at 8:32AM, a magnitude 5.1 earthquake caused the bulging north face to collapse in one of the largest landslides in recorded history. The highly pressurized magma burst forth in an explosive eruption, sending super-heated volcanic gas and ash across a large portion of the United States, destroying hundreds of square miles of forest, and killing 57 people in what was the most destructive volcanic eruption in the United States.

By 2005, life was starting to return to the barren landscape surrounding the mountain. However, as the steam eruptions starting in October 2004 illustrated and the danger of another catastrophic eruption is ever present. Visiting Mount St. Helens National Volcanic Monument is to simultaneously witness the result of catastrophic destruction and see the result of rebirth.

How is the Landscape of Mount St. Helens

Mount St. Helens is a typical "stratovolcano," the volcanic form most familiar from photographs of their typically conical profiles. The great 1980 eruption destroyed most of the volcanic cone, leaving a huge amphitheater on the north side that is well seen from the Johnston Ridge observatory and visitor center. Volcanic activity in 2004-05 built a new lava dome within this amphitheater, visible from the "VolcanoCam" at the observatory but not yet large enough to replace the destroyed cone.

Mount Street Helens Summit Pano II - panoramic view of Mount Street Helens

St. Helens is still glaciated to some extent, despite its reduced altitude. One unexpected and remarkable bit of landscape on the mountain is the astonishing Loowit Falls, a waterfall that emerges directly from the amphitheater bearing meltwater from a glacier within the crater. This falls can be seen (use binoculars) from the observatory, but to get the best feeling for the incongruity of the falls -- it seems to emerge as though from the surface of the moon -- requires a hike on a trail that is closed during volcanic activity.

Flora and fauna

As you explore the monument it's easy to see the results of ecosystem recovery since the eruption. Plants that sprouted from buried soil and late lying snow banks have gradually spread, transforming a gray-brown landscape to green. Over time and these survivors have been joined by legions of colonizers as wind-blown seeds of weedy plants like fireweed and pearly everlasting have taken root on shattered hillsides. In spring the monument glows with the purple blossoms of penstemon and lupine. By late summer, magenta fireweed and patches of cream-colored pearly everlasting frame the blown down forest. In autumn, monument breezes will dance with cotton-covered seeds as life continues its march across the blast zone. Watch for animals that have taken up residence in the developing forest. The once silent blast zone is punctuated by the calls of killdeer and red-winged blackbirds that have made their homes in lush shoreline vegetation. Red-tailed hawks can be spotted hunting for abundant mouse populations while osprey dive for trout in blast zone lakes. The open valleys and hillsides are a favorite feeding ground for North American elk. If you listen you can sometimes catch the echo of a whistling elk or maybe the howl of a lonely coyote.

How is the Climate in Mount St. Helens

Most viewpoints on the monument's north, east, and south sides can be visited from Memorial Day until snow closes the roads, usually in late October. Trails are generally open from June through October, although some lower elevation trails can be hiked all year. The Mount St. Helens Visitor Center (Highway 504 milepost 5) now operated by Washington State Parks is open during the winter, except winter holidays.

Travel to Mount St. Helens

{{Cautionbox| There are no gas/petrol stations past the 18-mile point (from I-5) on Highway 504. The Shell station in the Kid Valley (8 mi east of Toutle) is the last chance to buy fuel (including diesel). The round trip distance to the end of the highway (Johnston Ridge) from this point is 66.5 mi (107.5 kilometers). Cheaper gas is available at Castle Rock as you exit the I-5 freeway.

Mount St. Helens can be visited as a longish day trip from Seattle or Portland, or more conveniently as a side-trip while traveling between the two cities.

The most popular tourist route into the Mount St. Helens area is via Washington state route 504. It can be visited at Castle Rock (exit #49) off Interstate 5 in Washington, about 2 hours 15 min north of Portland and two hours south of Seattle. If going north on the return route (Seattle/Tacoma), State Route 505 can be used as a short cut back to I-5 (turn right a few miles east of Toutle). This is not recommended for the initial trip up the mountain, as it bypasses the main visitor center near Castle Rock. If you are coming from Portland or anywhere to the south, Mount Street Helens can be visited from Woodland (exit 21 from I-5) along State Route (SR) 503. SR-503 becomes Forest Road (FR) 90 past Cougar and goes along the south side of Mount Street Helens to FR-25, which goes north and south along the east side of Mt. St. Helens.

From the east and there are three main routes. If using GPS or computer routing, be sure it doesn't send you on unpaved, one-lane forest service roads unless that's what you want. From Spokane, all three take roughly the same amount of time.

• US Highway 12 West from Yakima to I-5 South for 19 miles. This is a two-lane highway beyond Yakima, with lower speed limits than the freeways. You also risk getting stuck behind slow-moving vehicles, especially when going uphill.
• I-90 West to WA Highway 18 (exit #25) via Maple Valley and Auburn and then I-5 South for 93 miles. (Drive with caution on the older sections of WA Highway 18, and watch for large trucks.) Though further, I-405 South (exit #10) from Bellevue is also an option.
• I-84 West to Portland, along the Columbia River and then I-205 North (exit #9) to I-5 North for 42 miles.

Fees and permits

Monument passes are sold for single-day admission to the visitor centers along Washington 504 (Mar 2023):

• 16 years or older: US $8
• 15 years or below: Free.

{{USA national park passes

What to see in Mount St. Helens

Along Washington Highway 504 are three visitor centers operated by Cowlitz County and the State of Washington, and the U.S. federal government. (Mount St. Helens and Spirit Lake are actually in Skamania County, but all the land near the mountain is federally owned.) A fourth center at Coldwater Ridge is semi-permanently closed now, and may be sold. The centers include video presentations, exhibits, and information desks. In addition and there are numerous viewpoints and turnoffs for taking photos along the highway.

• Mount St. Helens Visitor Center at Silver Lake - Opening Hours: Open daily, 9AM Monday - 4PM, closed New Years, Thanksgiving, and Christmas days This visitor center, operated by Washington State Parks, is about 5 miles east of Castle Rock, and across the highway from Seaquest State Park. It provides visitors with an introduction to the history of the area.

• Hoffstadt Bluffs Visitor Center - A public-private partnership between Cowlitz County and Weyerhaeuser Corp. Unlike the other two, this visitor center is free, though more commercialized. Has a large restaurant, and helicopter tours are available, weather permitting. Located past the Kid Valley, 26.5 miles from the freeway. Except for an outdoor Hot Dogs cart at Johnson Ridge, it's the last chance for a meal. Menu selection may be limited at off-peak times.

• Johnston Ridge Observatory - Opening Hours: Open summer months only About 52 miles east of Castle Rock, well within the blast zone, this observatory provides good views of the north face of the volcano. There's also a large indoor visitor center with an auditorium and gift shop. Interpretive talks available. This is as close to the mountain as you can get by car, as it's only five horizontal miles (8 kilometers) from the summit. Do not walk onto the observation deck without first going inside the center and obtaining a wrist band, or you will be cited. (Admission includes both the visitor center and its outside deck.) Annual and senior citizen National Park and Forest Service passes are accepted.

Top Muslim Travel Tips for Mount St. Helens

The summit of St. Helens is re-opened for climbing on a reservation and permit basis. Everyone must have a climbing permit to be above 4,800 feet elevation on Mount St. Helens.

Mount St. Helens climbing permits are administered by Mount St. Helens Institute (MSHI) through an online vendor that accepts all major credit and debit cards. Climbers will be emailed a permit purchase confirmation receipt at the time of purchase. The total permit fee is $22 (Mar 2023) From April 1 to October 31 climbing permits are available online by advance purchase only. Do not wait until the day of your climb to purchase your permit. Unsold permits may be purchased online until 24-hours before the date of the climb.

Halal Food

There are no restaurants available within the park, but options are available outside of the park in the town of Toutle. Water is available within the park. If scooping water from the lakes, rivers or streams be sure to boil or treat the water before drinking. Water is typically cleaner when taken from moving water in rivers and streams than from standing water such as ponds or puddles.

eHalal Group Launches Halal Guide to Mount St. Helens

Mount St. Helens - eHalal Travel Group, a leading provider of innovative Halal travel solutions for Muslim travelers to Mount St. Helens, is thrilled to announce the official launch of its comprehensive Halal and Muslim-Friendly Travel Guide for Mount St. Helens. This groundbreaking initiative aims to cater to the diverse needs of Muslim travelers, offering them a seamless and enriching travel experience in Mount St. Helens and its surrounding regions.

With the steady growth of Muslim tourism worldwide, eHalal Travel Group recognizes the importance of providing Muslim travelers with accessible, accurate, and up-to-date information to support their travel aspirations to Mount St. Helens. The Halal and Muslim-Friendly Travel Guide is designed to be a one-stop resource, offering an array of invaluable information on various travel aspects, all carefully curated to align with Islamic principles and values.

The Travel Guide encompasses a wide range of features that will undoubtedly enhance the travel experience for Muslim visitors to Mount St. Helens. Key components include:

Halal-Friendly Accommodations inMount St. Helens: A carefully selected list of hotels, lodges, and vacation rentals that cater to halal requirements, ensuring a comfortable and welcoming stay for Muslim travelers in Mount St. Helens.

Halal Food, Restaurants and Dining in Mount St. Helens: A comprehensive directory of restaurants, eateries, and food outlets offering halal-certified or halal-friendly options in Mount St. Helens, allowing Muslim travelers to savor local cuisines without compromising their dietary preferences in Mount St. Helens.

Prayer Facilities: Information on masjids, prayer rooms, and suitable locations for daily prayers in Mount St. Helens, ensuring ease and convenience for Muslim visitors in fulfilling their religious obligations.

Local Attractions: An engaging compilation of Muslim-friendly attractions, cultural sites such as Museums, and points of interest in Mount St. Helens, enabling travelers to explore the city's rich heritage while adhering to their values.

Transport and Logistics: Practical guidance on transportation options that accommodate Muslim travel needs, ensuring seamless movement within Mount St. Helens and beyond.

Speaking about the launch, Irwan Shah, Chief Technology Officer of eHalal Travel Group in Mount St. Helens, stated, "We are thrilled to introduce our Halal and Muslim-Friendly Travel Guide in Mount St. Helens, a Muslim friendly destination known for its cultural richness and historical significance. Our goal is to empower Muslim travelers with accurate information and resources, enabling them to experience the wonders of Mount St. Helens without any concerns about their faith-based requirements. This initiative reaffirms our commitment to creating inclusive and memorable travel experiences for all our clients."

The eHalal Travel Group's Halal and Muslim-Friendly Travel Guide for Mount St. Helens is now accessible on this page. The guide will be regularly updated to ensure that Muslim travelers have access to the latest information, thus reinforcing its status as a reliable companion for Muslim travelers exploring Mount St. Helens.

About eHalal Travel Group:

eHalal Travel Group Mount St. Helens is a prominent name in the global Muslim travel industry, dedicated to providing innovative and all-inclusive travel solutions tailored to the needs of Muslim travelers worldwide. With a commitment to excellence and inclusivity, eHalal Travel Group aims to foster a seamless travel experience for its clients while respecting their religious and cultural values.

For Halal business inquiries in Mount St. Helens, please contact:

eHalal Travel Group Mount St. Helens Media: info@ehalal.io

Muslim Friendly Hotels

Lodging

There are no hotels located within the park, but the town of Toutle, located to the west of the park, offers numerous options.

Camping Places

Camping near I-5 exits to Mount St. Helens along Route 504 is available at Seaquest State Park or south of Highway 12 at Lewis & Clark State Park. There are also National Forest Service campsites south of Randle (NE of MSH access forest road 99) and along the Lewis River east of Cougar.

Stay Safe

Volcano safety is, to put it mildly, a controversial subject; see the article on Volcanoes (and, particularly, its discussion page) for some of the issues. Compared to many other active volcanoes, Mount St. Helens has been studied extensively, and therefore has a relatively well-defined "safety envelope" that allows informed decision making as regards trail closures, etc. Even St. Helens, however, is prone to bouts of unexpectedly violent behavior, as for example on 8 March 2005 when an explosive event sent ash and steam to elevations above 35,000 feet (10 kilometers) crucially without warning. The monument and therefore, has established a policy regarding road and trail closures that at first glance appears unnecessarily conservative -- but it is not. Believe it. The closures aren't there simply to inconvenience and irritate you. If a trail is closed due to eruptive hazard, stay off the trail.

Other than the volcanic activity, St. Helens poses basically the usual set of hazards associated with mountainous country -- changeable weather, potential for road closures due to sin the winter, etc. One extra thing to be aware of is that much of the area on the north side of the mountain, particularly the northeast, does not yet have many travel services, even things as basic as gas stations. When leaving the primary streets to head for the observatory, or particularly the Windy Ridge viewpoint and trailhead, it's wise to have a full gas tank.

Travel Next

• Toutle is the closest town to the park along the Spirit Lake Highway, offering amenities such as hotels and restaurants.
• Mount Rainier National Park
• Portland (Oregon)
• Seattle

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