Trip Distance: 4 mi/6.4 km
Trip Elevation: 300 ft/91 m
Season:
Custom Dates Available: Give us a call or send us an email to schedule a trip.
Cost: *Price includes guides, transportation, permits, trekking poles, helmet, light, knee pads, trail snacks and lunch.
Group Size: Minimum of three people
About the Hike:
This is a great trip for families with children. The hike starts with a one-hour interpretive tour of Ape Cave and a .25 mile walk around the Trail of Two Forests where we will observe the effects of a lava flow through a stand of trees. There is also opportunity to crawl through a 50 ft. tree mold tube if you so desire. Next, we’ll drive to the Lava Canyon Trailhead, stopping along the way to view Mount St. Helen’s east side and the Muddy River Lahar area. We will head down a boardwalk to the basalt banks of the Muddy River and cross over a metal bridge. The basalt flow occurred about 3,500 years ago and was then cut by the Muddy River into steep waterfall slots and freestanding towers. As the years passed, it was buried by debris. The Lahar (massive flow of water, mud and rock caused by the sudden melting of the Shoestring Glacier during the 1980 eruption) scoured the Canyon clean. Afterward, we will cross back over the slot via a bouncy 100 ft. suspension bridge. Here we turn right and descend down a narrow exposed trail in the cliff wall. We’ll stop to observe the river boiling and crashing in steps down the slotted canyon. Soon, we come to a 40 ft. ladder bolted to the cliff. We climb down and walk a short distance to the trail up to “The Ship” which also involves climbing up a ladder. We climb to the top of this 100 ft. freestanding lava tower and walk to the end where we have a view straight up the canyon and the waterfalls. In this awesome setting, we’ll enjoy lunch and enjoy the scenery. Then, we’ll retrace our route having the opportunity to view waterfalls head-on. We continue past the suspension bridge and walk up the boardwalk back to the trailhead.
*If hiking with children, we do not do the section beyond the last suspension bridge.
Skill Level:
This is a beginner hike suitable for families with children.
**Rare Earth Adventures will make every attempt to follow the trip itinerary. However, this itinerary is subject to change due to group dynamics, unsafe weather and/or route conditions, or other reasons beyond our control.
Equipment Recommendations
