Mt. St. Helens National Volcanic Monument

Mt. St. Helens erupted in May of 1980 blasting a third of its mass into a pyroclastic flow of ash and leveling vast tracts of ancient forests for miles around.

Click here to visit the Mt. St. Helens National Volcanic Monument home page.

Mt. St. Helens from the west

The view from the Coldwater Ridge Visitor Center, overlooking Coldwater Lake

Lupins now adorn the site outside the center

Approaching the Johnson Ridge Visitor Center

Looking at the crater straight on

The left flank

The right flank

Further right

Below the crater

Huge trees were strewn like matchsticks across the surrounding mountainsides, all pointing away from the crater.  The pyroclastic flow left trees standing only in protected pockets like the one next to the distant ridge.

The Johnson Ridge Visitor Center

Delicate purple flowers are among the returning plantlife

Nature's restoration is well underway

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Last modified: July 14, 2002

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