(TGA) - Travel - My husband and I are heading to the Oregon Coast from Montana in mid July and want to spent a day or two exploring Mt. St. Helens. We would like to do some short hikes and visit the visitor center. How many days should we plan to stay and can you recommend where to stay- motels and campgrounds(we camp out of our truck/topper). We will get there late the first night and just stay at a motel, but would like to camp out the next night. Thanks!
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If you are trying to make it from Montana to Mt. St. Helens in one day, it's going to be a bit of a haul. I'd recommend I-90 all the way to exit 25 in Washington, then 18 down to Tacoma, and southbound to Mt. St. Helens.
Another option would be to leave 1-90 in Ritzville, and head to Richland and take the Columbia Gorge, but it would add about an hour to the trip.
Assuming take I90 all the way to exit 25, On the first night, I might recommend a hotel in Chehalis or Centralia. there are plenty of inexpensive hotels there -- then it's anohter half hour drive down to the roads that lead to Mt. St. Helens
There is great camping south of St. Helens, near Mt. Adams.
One day around the mountain should be plenty.
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You don't say where in Montana you are starting your trip. We have driven from where we live, just 50 miles south of Mt. St. Helens, to Livingstone MT in one day, but it was really a 'long haul'.
However, from Montana head to Spokane and take I-90 all the way to Ellensburg. Just east of Ellensburg, take I-82 south to Yakima, then Hwy 12 west across White Pass. This is a good two lane highway and actually the shortest route to Mt. St. Helens. Hwy 12 joins I-5 just about 20 miles north of the exit to Mt. St. Helens. (Exit 68, Mt. St. Helens Exit at Castle Rock is exit 49)
Best place to camp is probably Seaquest State Park at Silver Lake (right across the road from the first Visitor Center. Make reservations thru Washington State parks. There is also Anderson's Resort, a small motel and RV park on Silver Lake and a couple of other RV parks in the area. Also a couple of motels at the Castle Rock exit.
Here are some websites to check:
www.fs.fed.us/gpnf/mshnvm/
www.mountsthelens.com/
www.visitmtsthelens.com
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We will be leaving from Missoula, so it won't be too bad of a drive. Thanks for all the information. Should we just stick to the west side of Mt. St. Helens, or is it worth it to check out the east side too?
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In mid-July the east side roads may still be closed or just opening up. The west side drive to the mountain really has the most to offer in the way of accomodations and visitor information.
One possibility, if you have the time, would be to drive up the Lewis River on Hwy 503 (I-5 Exit 21) to Cougar and Swift Creek Dam. From here you can visit Ape Caves and the Lahar trail--if they are open. They were closed all last summer due to road conditions. Check the Mt. St. Helens website about the 1st of July to see just which roads will be open.
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