Hike: Glacier Overlook @ Mt St Helens, WA

Getting There

I drove from Portland to Randle, then dropped down on NF-25 but had to take a detour passed Cispus Learning Center via NF-76, reconnecting with NF-25 at Iron Creek Campground. Then, continued south to Wakepish Picnic Area & Sno-Park, at the junction for NF-99. I was technically "camping" but I just slept in the back of my Jeep. It was good to have access to the brand new pit toilet there. 

In the morning of the hike, I drove about 16 miles to the Windy Ridge parking lot to meet the guides, fellow volunteer, and guests.  

The Hike

Distance: 6.77 miles
Elevation Gain: 1,760 feet
Max. Elevation: 5,277 feet 

Note: This isn't the actual hike route. We are accessing an area that is off-limits to the general public through special permission from the USFS & the Cowlitz Tribe, I didn't want to make the actual route public. This is just the AllTrails map for Loowit Falls, which IS open to the public.

Additionally, we had access to the trail from the staging site for the Spirit Lake tunnel project road.

This was my second GO hike in 2025. We got word a few days before that the geologist that was scheduled to be on this hike had canceled. The guests would be getting a partial refund. The guide, other volunteer, and I would have to fill in the gaps. I might not be a geologist but know enough about the mountain and eruptive history to share some facts with confidence.

Our group was great. 3 sets of couples were one group from Vancouver, WA and another pair of women that were traveling from Chicago in a Sprinter van. They were unfazed by the lack of the geologist. 

We started out strong but part way up the pumice plain, one lady from the "roadtrippers" and one from the group of 6 weren't doing well and decided to hang back. The other MSHI volunteer stayed with them and I continued with the guide and rest of the group. 

The place where we've had lunch before had degraded since the previous year and was unstable. The weather was great: a few in the group we wearing shorts and short-sleeved shirts.

We started back down to the main trail. The crew seemed contented with the views and we didn't venture any further, like to Loowit Falls. We reconnected with the splinter group and eastbound back to the cars at the trailhead.