Mount St. Helens National Volcanic Monument near Portland, OR
The dramatic 1980 eruption of Mount St. Helens sent columns of ash thousands of feet in the air, blackened skies for miles, and destroyed nearly 150 square miles of forest in a matter of moments. Two years later the National Volcanic Monument was created as a place for research, recreation, and education. The Johnston Ridge Observatory, located in the heart of the blast zone, offers fascinating interpretive displays and human history exhibits where visitors can read eyewitness accounts and take a short walk on the Eruption Trail, where they'll see the lava dome, crater, pumice plain, and landslide deposit.
Miles of other trails in the Mount Margaret Backcountry wander past craters, lakes, mudflows, forests, and ancient lava flows. For an even more thrilling adventure, both beginning and experienced climbers can journey to the crater rim. With an elevation of 8,365 feet, the climb takes some effort but the once-in-a-lifetime experience and magnificent views will be well worth it.
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