Mt. St. Helens

Positive effects of Volcanic Activity

North Fork Toutle River - Visitor Attractions 2010

1 Silver Lake Visitor Centre (10 min)

2 7 Wonders Museum

3 Eco Park Resort

4 Hoffstadt Bluffs Visitor Centre / Grill (30 min)

5 Weyerhaeuser Forest Centre (45 min)

6 Hummocks Trail

7 Johnston Ridge Observatory (90 min)

Access by Road …

South from Seattle 2 hours (south) down Interstate 5

North from Portland 1 hour (north) up Interstate 5

Leave at Exit 49 at Castle Rock and follow Highway 504.

Times to attractions are driving from Exit 49

Castle Rock – Exit 49 some motel accommodations … Harry Truman Memorial

Silver Lake Visitor Centre

7 days / week all year 9am to 4pm - $3 entry

Silver Lake Visitor Centre

Exhibits, movie, models … rangers, gift shop.

www.parks.wa.gov/mtsthelens

Silver Lake Visitor Centre and Wetland walk!

Blue Heron Inn – Bed and Breakfast Accommodation

“Tourism has helped to revitalise the Toutle Valley after a very bleak period economically in the 1980s. Visitors come all year round from all over the world. Attracted by the National Volcanic Monument of Mt. St. Helens”

Hoffstadt Bluffs Visitor Centre – 7 days a week; 9 to close – hours extend in the summer

Helicopter tours in the summer season give views of the blast zone.

Hoffstadt Bluffs Visitor Centre

Deposits still fill valley floor of Toutle River North Fork.

Forestry re-growing on valley sides. http://www.co.cowlitz.wa.us/tourism/brochure/online/hoffstadt.htm

From May 29th 2010

Starting at $159 / person

Every 30 mins

Over 40,000 passengers in 18 years of trading

Johnston Ridge Observatory Closed in Winter280-seat theatre10,000 square-foot exhibit hall staffed information desk interpretive sales area restrooms, public phones, parking for 350 cars, 50 RV's and 20 buses viewing plaza trailhead access to the Boundary Trail #1 leading east and west interpretive staff will offer a variety of formal talks and guided walks.

National Volcanic Monument – Not a National Park – may restrict leisure activities

http://www.fs.fed.us/gpnf/04maps/files/mshrec.jpg

Cycling Highway 504 … ‘no through road’

Further south – Mt. Hood 30 miles SE of Portland (Oregon)Seatosummit lift from Portland city centre - $40/person single

Timberline Lodge at 6000’ – half way up Mt. Hood.

Built in 1937 as part of Roosevelt’s New Deal –

A Ski Lodge to help develop a new leisure industry

All year round visitors to hotel – mainly for skiing

But also outdoor pool and hot tub …

Mount Hood – over 11000’ (3000m+) – a volcano in the Cascade Range just like Mount St. Helens

Constant snow clearance – many day visitors.