South Cascades

South Cascades

Hikes of interest:

• Windy Ridge
• Ape Caves

The South Cascades are dominated by two main volcanoes, Mt Adams and Mt St Helens. Mt St Helens has numerous hiking opportunities around the mountain and provides some interesting views. My favorite two hikes are Windy Ridge and the Ape Caves. I generally start the day in the Ape Caves, the longest lava tube in North America. Created over 2,000 years ago, the lava tube provides an interesting hike hard to get anywhere else. There is an upper and lower section of the cave. The lower section would be appropriate for all abilities with a relatively flat path. The upper section includes numerous boulder piles to climb over as well as an 8’ wall to scale and is twice as long. Bring a jacket and hat as the lava tube stays cool year round, and make sure to bring a second light source as it is pitch black in the cave. I prefer using a headlamp and bringing along a flashlight as my backup. Using a headlamp allows me to free my hands, but people hike with flashlights and lanterns as well.

Windy Ridge allows you to see just how powerful an eruption can be. Driving to the viewpoint will take you into the blast zone. You will leave a green area with lots of large trees and enter an area with downed trees, stripped of branches and pointing in the direction of the pressure wave from the eruption. You’ll pass by Spirit Lake which has been displaced and reformed from the debris that flowed into it. The hike from Windy Ridge is also relatively easy, 2 miles one way with minimal elevation gain. It provides some fantastic views of the mountain and the crater that sits atop it. These two hikes in one day prove to be an extremely long day for anyone from Seattle, but a fun filled day of adventures for certain.