Lori and I got out for a hike on Mt. St. Helens on Sunday. We started at the Blue Lake Trailhead and took a connector trail up to the Toutle River trail (238). We followed this trail first to Blue Lake then to Sheep Canyon and finally to connect with the Loowitt trail near the Toutle River. We then followed the Loowitt trail east to where it met the Sheep Canyon trail and followed that back to the Loowitt trail. From there we then retraced our route back to the car. The hike was 11.3 miles with 2535 elevation gain and we reached our high point at 4700 ft. This was a new hike for both of us and we had good weather.
Lori’s SUV parked in the woods at the Blue Lake Trailhead
Starting out on the trail.
Mt. St. Helens from the Toutle River trail.
The trail passes by Blue Lake.
Blue Lake from the trail.
The trail winds through old growth forest.
Castle Ridge on the other side of the Toutle River.
Sheep Canyon Creek
Lori on Sheep Canyon Bridge.
Looking up Sheep Canyon to Mt. St. Helens.
Castle Ridge was in the blast zone
Looking down the valley carved by the Toutle River and mud follows.
Toutle River
From a view point looking down at the Toutle River and over to Castle Ridge.
Mt. Rainier and Mt. Margaret.
A view over to Johnston Ridge and Coldwater.
In this area the huckleberry had already put on fall colors.
Looking over to the hummocks at Coldwater.
Lots of grass.
Looking up to Mt. St. Helens.
Mt. St. Helens from the Sheep Canyon trail.
Last look at Mt. St. Helens from the Toutle River trail.