Nicholas C.

A great experience on Mt. Saint Helens with quite the views. Would recommend the drive up when weather permits.

Richard F.

This was our first time to visit this area to see Mt. St. Helens and I have to say we were awestruck the entire time there. We arrived just in time to get a history lesson from one of the Park Rangers. He was well versed on the events that took place in 1980. He described the eruption of Mount St. Helens and then he told us about the re-growth and recovery of the blast zone and area around Silver Lake. The exhibits inside the visitor center help you understand what took place during and after. Plan to spend enough time to see everything.

Jenna M.

Large observatory for Mount St. Helens. Very cool. You pay inside and then go and walk around. There's a huge display of the mountain and where the lava flowed- very informative. Also little posters to read. Outside, there is a long trail that have great views of the mountain. We hiked for a good mile before we turned back. Great day to get out. The top of the mountain was of course covered, but still cool to learn the history and take pictures. Pretty busy but not like in your way. Just be mindful of others!

Zach P.

Johnston Ridge Observatory is the closest visitors center to Mt St Helens named after a guy who was monitoring the mountain in the days before the eruption and was subsequently killed in the blast. It's about 1 hour drive from the 5 Freeway. The drive is nice and scenic and you drive through much of the blast area and get to see how nature has come back since the eruption. The center is run by the US Forest Service and there is an admission with includes a number of exhibits and a movie. The movie itself does not focus so much on the eruption itself but more on how the eruption has changed the landscape and how it has effected it since. There is a visitors center near Silver Lake closer to the freeway that focuses more on the eruption itself. If you get there on a clear day, the view doesn't get any better. There are some outdoor exhibits and trails nearby. Definitely worth a stop if you are in the area.

John C K.

I've been coming to Mount St Helens, at least yearly, for over 20 years. The Johnston Ridge Observatory takes you far closer to the volcano than did some of the national park service (NPS) outlooks "back in the day". There are spectacular vistas, trails every where, and very knowledgeable rangers to answer your every question (although I did stump them [pun] on a forestry question last summer). It is a 2 hour drive from Olympia, through spectacular scenery on excellent roadway. In addition to the scenery, there are filmed documentaries in the Observatory and open air lectures from the rangers. Near by is equally stunning Coldwater Lake This is a great place for a family day and to get into truly unique nature. I am not a fan of how tax payer dollars are too often spent by our government. But I will say the NPS did a super job here and continues to do so in the whole national volcano monument park.

Kelly B.

I'm going to be honest, I was last in the area in 1986. As my mom asked, "Is it still godforsaken?" As we were driving up, I thought it would be. But once we arrived and saw all the new growth and wildflowers, I thought it was gorgeous! This is nature! While there are many trails here to hike, we only did the 1 mile eruption trail which offered great views of the crater. There are two 20 minute movies that you must stay until the end to see. Inside the center are stories of people and their experience with the eruption...fascinating. You can buy your National Park Pass here too.

Anthony P.

I grew up in this area. Always beautiful, fun and a nice drive. Unfortunately it was closed and very cloudy! But I got to take my son to a child hood memory so that is all that matters!

Jason C.

My friend and I loved this place! It's a great base of operations, as it's at the center of a few different trails. We were trying to figure out the best option for our time available, and Andrew, the Park Ranger, was really helpful and knowledgeable. Definitely among my most awesome experiences with getting help with trail finding. We later heard him talk about the eruption, and he had the perfect balance between providing good information and being a solid storyteller. Highly recommend coming up here and taking some time to hike around!

Sherill Y.

08/28/11 (Last Visited) Nice view of the mountain and valley. Never been here so really glad we came. The walk from parking lot to the obsevatory was short. The view from outside is amazing and free. Excellent views of the crater. This visitor center has grand sweeping views, a movie and some other arifacts. The movies are about a half hour and worth seeing. There were several children watching the movies who appeared to be enjoying them. I highly recommend the movie, which told the story of the devastation and subsequent regeneration of the area. They are worth the entrance fee ($8). The visitors center had excellent information and the view of the crater is a photographers dream. There's a gift shop and bathroom facilities. There are also hiking trails, there is also a near by lake which has a picnic benches. Well worth the drive if you are in the Seattle or Portland areas. *Located at the end of State Highway 504 (52 miles east of Castle Rock), in the heart of the blast zone, the observatory hosts interpretive displays that tell the biological, geological, and human story of Mount St. Helens. Visitors to Johnston Ridge Observatory can enjoy multiple award-winning films, listen to ranger talks, observe the landscape, purchase souvenirs, set off on a hike, or get a light lunch from the food cart. Check out the annual summer Music on the Mountain series held throughout summer at the Johnston Ridge Observatory outdoor amphitheater (in partnership with the Cowlitz County Economic Development Council and the Mount St. Helens Institute).

Rose D.

Awesome! It's worth the drive up there and you get the closest views of Mount St. Helens - and it's worth the inexpensive fee to go in and look at all the interesting displays and watch the video. We hiked along some of the trails right there as well and the views are just breathtaking!

Kyle L.

Johnston Ridge was a great place to learn about the volcano that literally turned day into night in the state of Washington. It was such a beautiful drive. Once you get off of the interstate and onto to the drive that takes you up the mountain, you get some of the best views you will see in the US! You can also stop and pick some berries on the way! Once you get there, the views of Mount Saint Helens are incredible. It feels like it's only been a few years since the volcano erupted. It's almost an eerie feeling because there is no wildlife there and no plants where the ash and mudslide came down from the eruption. Not only do I think this is a good place to go for visitors but it's definitely a place for Washington state locals also. I highly recommend checking it out!

Ben D.

I love the outdoors. I also love history. This is the place for people who love either or both of those. The history behind the eruption is fascinating and sobering. I think about the people who died during the explosion and those who helped others survive. They all sacrificed for the betterment of humanity. The views on Mt. St Helens was spectacular. It was a clear day and in the 50's. The mountain was almost completely filled with snow but you could see the crater. It is also amazing to see how mankind helped build the area up after the explosion. Not to mention, it's incredible how the earth rebuilt itself after the explosion. All in all, you should make it a point to come here.

Chen Z.

I wasn't quite to fond of this observetory. First it cost $8 per person to go inside the visitor center to look at pictures. 2nd it cost $25 or more to go up to the outlook for a 360 view. If you trespass it's a $500 fine! View didn't seem that exciting from the base. We skip this observetory and saved us a Benjamin.