Mt. St. Helens Tours and Tickets

There are plenty of ways to experience Mt. St. Helens. Looking at ratings and reviews previously given by customers, these are the best tours available right now:

• Mt. St. Helens National Monument from Seattle: All-Inclusive Small-Group Tour

• The Mt St Helens Adventure Tour from Portland

• Mt. St. Helens Air Tour by Envi Adventures

• Volcano & Mountain Air Tour by Envi Adventures

• Small-group Mt. St. Helen National Park Tour from Seattle in SUV

It costs US$5 for adults to access the Mt. St. Helens Visitor Center, or US$2.50 for 7–17 year olds. Children 6 and under can enter free. There are plenty of tours available as well, with prices starting at US$319; some include transportation from nearby cities.

Yes, Mt. St. Helens is worth visiting. Its landscape, shaped by a massive 1980 eruption, is among the most dramatic places to see Washington State's volcanic activity at work. It's also a beautiful mountain, where the scenery ranges from deep winter snowdrifts to the colorful paintbrush, lupine, and other wildflowers that bloom each summer.

Per one customer who booked the Mt. St. Helens National Monument from Seattle: All-Inclusive Small-Group Tour, "Starting with a hike to learn about old growth forests, seeing the devastation caused by the eruption, and being able to see how nature has adapted afterward, the trip has a natural sequence to it. Ending with a stop at Mt. St. Helens and Bigfoot Interpretive Center, and hearing Joe's detailed explanations about the eruption and its effects was a perfect way to wrap up a great tour. I highly recommend both this trip and Tess!"

No, you don't need a reservation, but you do need a climbing permit to climb Mt. St. Helens. Some areas, like the Westside's Johnston Ridge Observatory and the visitor center at Silver Lake, require a fee. Washington state parks mandate that vehicles have a National Forest Recreation Pass.

One day allows visitors to drive the scenic Spirit Lake Memorial Highway, visit the blast zone, explore Johnston Ridge Observatory, and walk Eruption Trail. However, a few more days lets you experience other sides of the mountain, such as the southside Trail of Two Forests and Ape Cave (reservations required).

Layers are a crucial component to any visit to Mt. St. Helens, even in summer, which can bring serious heat. There is little shade surrounding the blast zone and Johnston Ridge Observatory. Weather can change quickly and temperatures are cooler at high elevations. In winter, expect snow and freezing temps.

No, you can't drive around Mt. St. Helens itself. Technically you can drive a circle around the area, although some National Forest roads are seasonal and other roads are very far from the mountain. The 52-mile (84-kilometer) in-and-out Spirit Lake Memorial Highway to the blast zone is the usual approach.

The most popular way to experience Mt. St. Helens is to take the scenic 52-mile (84-kilometer) drive along Highway 504 to the blast zone. Here you can see the devastation of the 1980 eruption, explore Johnston Ridge Observatory, and walk Eruption Trail. Longer day hikes further showcase the area's scenery.

The Johnston Ridge Observatory—at the heart of the Mt. St. Helens blast zone—has a large parking lot. With most of its large trees decimated in the 1980 eruption, there is little shade in the lot and surrounding area. For this reason, it is suggested that pets be left at home.

There are tons of fun things to do when you're done visiting Mt. St. Helens. According to travelers, these are some of the top attractions in Seattle:

• Space Needle

• Pioneer Square

• Pike Place Market

• Kerry Park

• Seattle Waterfront

View Viator's guide to all the best attractions in Seattle.