Sitting on the northwest side of Mount St. Helens, this area offers breathtaking lakeside views, interpretive trails, and scenic ridge hikes. Visitors can take in sweeping vistas of the volcano, the Spirit Lake basin, and the surrounding landscape as it continues to recover and evolve following the historic 1980 eruption.
Coldwater Lake Viewpoints – Scenic overlooks of the lake created by the 1980 eruption, with reflections of the surrounding blast zone.
Coldwater Lake Trail – Easy 3-mile loop trail around the lake, offering views of volcanic debris, regrowing forest, and wildlife.
Picnic Areas & Access Points – Lakeside picnic spots ideal for family visits or short stops.
Coldwater Ridge Trailhead – Start for longer hikes that climb to panoramic ridges above the lake and blast zone.
Coldwater Ridge Overlook – Sweeping vistas of Mount St. Helens, Spirit Lake, and the surrounding recovering forests.
Hiking & Photography Spots – Popular for sunrise/sunset photography and observing the scale of the 1980 eruption’s impact.
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