Mount St. Helens National Volcanic Monument (Johnston Ridge)
Mount St. Helens National Volcanic Monument
An active volcano that erupted catastrophically in 1980. Its horseshoe-shaped crater and the mudflow-scarred landscape are awe-inspiring, making it a classic day trip north of Portland.
Mount St. Helens is located in Washington State, about 85 kilometers from Portland. On May 18, 1980, a major eruption blew away about 400 meters off the summit. The classic route enters along the north side of State Route 504, known as the Spirit Lake Highway, with stops including the Silver Lake Visitor Center, the Forest Learning Center, and Coldwater Lake. The route ends at the Johnston Ridge Observatory, which faces the crater directly. Note: a 2023 landslide washed out a road bridge, closing the observatory. The Washington State Department of Transportation expects to restore the road in fall 2026 and reopen the observatory around spring 2027. In the meantime, you can view the volcano from the Coldwater Lake area or from Windy Ridge on the east side (open in summer). The national monument pass costs about US$8 per person. The one-way drive takes about 2 to 2.5 hours.
Opening hours
Open summer and autumn; Johnston Ridge Observatory closed until approx. spring 2027
Nearby sights
- Multnomah Falls
- Columbia River Gorge
- Vista House at Crown Point
- Alberta Arts District
- Hawthorne District
- Lan Su Chinese Garden
- Pearl District
- Portland Saturday Market