WIndy Ridge Viewpoint
WIndy Ridge Viewpoint
5
Tours & experiences
Explore different ways to experience this place.
Full view
Top ways to experience WIndy Ridge Viewpoint and nearby attractions
The area
Reach out directly
Contribute
Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.
Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as waiting time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.
5.0
34 reviews
Excellent
28
Very good
5
Average
1
Poor
0
Terrible
0
Grover R
Pensacola, FL22,047 contributions
Sept 2023 • Couples
Windy Ridge is the closest place you can get to Mt. St. Helens in a car and currently the only visitor access to the volcano after rockslides this summer, 2023, closed the road to Johnson Ridge Observatory. While another rockslide summer 2023 closed the highway to Windy Ridge from Cougar, you CAN still access the ridge from Randle. I will say the road to Windy Ridge is slow and adventurous but passable. It takes every bit of an hour to reach the parking lot and viewing area from Randle. While the views from Johnson Ridge appear amazing, this is the closest you can get to the volcano, and if you hike the ridge, you can get amazing views of the volcano and Spirit Lake. I was simply glad there was a least some place I could visit and see the volcano of my youth. Additionally, from Windy Ridge there is a trail where you can walk on the volcano. The trail is a 2 mile gravel road from the parking lot to the volcano where you can hike up the mounds of dirt and rock moved by the eruption. It was really cool to walk on the volcano.
Windy Ridge was constructed right after the eruption with pictures of the parking lot open in 1985. Today it looks like the park service has abandoned the amenities and it looks as though nature is simply taking over. With that said, if you can brave the ride out, it is amazing for those who visit. I have been to Vesuvius and the experience here is simply better.
Windy Ridge was constructed right after the eruption with pictures of the parking lot open in 1985. Today it looks like the park service has abandoned the amenities and it looks as though nature is simply taking over. With that said, if you can brave the ride out, it is amazing for those who visit. I have been to Vesuvius and the experience here is simply better.
Written 3 October 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
UTManAmI
Utah231 contributions
Sept 2015 • Friends
We had been in this exact place in 1986, just six years after the eruption and it made an indelible impression. Now, nearly 30 years later, the impact is still significant. The roads to Windy Ridge (we came up from the south) are now very good and all are paved, two-lane roads. Very, very curvy though, so driving is slow.
At the viewpoint itself there is a large car park and good restrooms. The views there and on the way up of Spirit Lake are awesome. Lots of pull-outs and interpretive signs exist to provide good information.
Those with eagle's eyes or binoculars can find the Johnston Observatory to the west a couple miles. We had been there the day before.
We had made a plan to drive to Hurricane Ridge from Woodland, and then south into the Columbia River Gorge. The roads were all paved and our GPS found the route easily. We popped out in the gorge at Stevenson WA, and soon crossed the Bridge of the Gods at Cascade Locks OR and drove on into Portland from there.
One can drop a trailer at the bottom of the road up to Hurricane Ridge (as we did in 1986), and it is inadvisable to go up with a trailer or in a large motor home.
At the viewpoint itself there is a large car park and good restrooms. The views there and on the way up of Spirit Lake are awesome. Lots of pull-outs and interpretive signs exist to provide good information.
Those with eagle's eyes or binoculars can find the Johnston Observatory to the west a couple miles. We had been there the day before.
We had made a plan to drive to Hurricane Ridge from Woodland, and then south into the Columbia River Gorge. The roads were all paved and our GPS found the route easily. We popped out in the gorge at Stevenson WA, and soon crossed the Bridge of the Gods at Cascade Locks OR and drove on into Portland from there.
One can drop a trailer at the bottom of the road up to Hurricane Ridge (as we did in 1986), and it is inadvisable to go up with a trailer or in a large motor home.
Written 30 September 2015
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Jody_11
Sapporo120 contributions
Jun 2015 • Friends
This trip--driving down from Randle, WA, to the Windy Ridge viewpoint--is for the more adventurous and, in general, the better informed because there is some but not as much information as there is on the west side, primary entrance. The drive from Randle is about 50 miles and takes about 2 hours--roads are ok but twisty and with lots of road damage from land slippage; if you are not comfortable driving on narrow roads with steep drop-offs, this trip is not recommended. However, if you want to travel through the blast zone, get spectacular views of all the effects of the 1980 eruption and aftermath, this is a great trip. There is a trail that will take you down onto the devastated surface, it is a long and exposed (to elements) hike, we did not do it this time, but I have in the past, when we had a whole day. There is no water on this ridge, or anything else much of development, so bring your own. We went on this trip after visiting the east side of Mt. Rainier, then we returned via the west side of Mt. Rainier. It makes a nice three-day circle route. It's more challenging to get from Rainier to the west entrance to Mt. St. Helens, so this is a good alternative, if you have less time. We were blessed with great weather. There are well maintained latrines; at the Windy Ridge stop (end of road),there is a 400-step stairs to a great view. On a clear day, there are views not only of Mt. St. Helens, but also of Mt. Adams (looming), Mt. Hood (to the south), and Mt. Rainier from a few spots. It IS windy, so there can be a lot of ashy dust from the recent and older eruptive materials on the ridge. Snow retreated early this year, so in other years, check before you go. There is a $5 daily usage fee, though if you have a pass, it is waived.
Written 11 June 2015
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
LaDonna S
Nashville, TN346 contributions
Jun 2021 • Couples
Very disappointed we drove 2 hours to find the road closed. We desperately wanted to see the Mt St Helens blast zone area but could not get close. Not sure why road was closed in mid-late June. We did get a distant photo of the mountain.
Written 30 June 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
HazelEyesFromTN
Gatlinburg, TN396 contributions
Aug 2014 • Solo
Windy Ridge is actually the very last stop of Mt St Helens east entrance. From the beginning of the east entrance to the end is roughly 20 miles and it is heaven along the way. The west entrance was nice but this ….. oh wow! Aside from lava flow fields on the west side, this area has the dead tress strewn on the hillsides.
At this stop, there are lots of wooden stairs going straight up and the top with a 360 view.
If you don’t already have a park pass, this where a park ranger is and he collects $5 for the entrance…backward – right? LOL. BTW, CASH ONLY. He gives you a ticket to put in your window. Oh, and I never had to pay anyone for the west entrance but they got my money via goods. If you look on the www.fs.usda.gov website, it shows the east and south as requiring a permit but not the west.
At this last stop you also get a closer view of the crater!
Ok, pay the fee and walk way up those steps to Windy Ridge. Trust me it’s worth it – just take your time. At the top, you can see Johnston Ridge Observatory across the way, Spirit Lake where logs still float from the blast and the trail I was talking about starting at the observatory which leads to the lake, Mt Rainier, Mt Hood, Mt Adams and Loowit Falls under the crater’s mouth.
It is divine. I could go on with adjectives but you get the picture? See for yourself with my postings of pictures. I spent at least 1.5 hours at this last stop.
A couple of stops (Donnybrook and Harmony) on the right hand side before Windy Ridge have wonderful views of Spirit Lake. The Smith Creek stop on the left side right before Windy has a huge circular drive area and many people can sit on top of a stone built wall to take in the beauty of Oregon across the way.
I started from Ashford, WA around 8 am and did not get back until 3:00 pm so plan accordingly. I thought this would take a couple of hours but I was wrong.
This entrance MUST be a part of your Mt St Helens experience.
At this stop, there are lots of wooden stairs going straight up and the top with a 360 view.
If you don’t already have a park pass, this where a park ranger is and he collects $5 for the entrance…backward – right? LOL. BTW, CASH ONLY. He gives you a ticket to put in your window. Oh, and I never had to pay anyone for the west entrance but they got my money via goods. If you look on the www.fs.usda.gov website, it shows the east and south as requiring a permit but not the west.
At this last stop you also get a closer view of the crater!
Ok, pay the fee and walk way up those steps to Windy Ridge. Trust me it’s worth it – just take your time. At the top, you can see Johnston Ridge Observatory across the way, Spirit Lake where logs still float from the blast and the trail I was talking about starting at the observatory which leads to the lake, Mt Rainier, Mt Hood, Mt Adams and Loowit Falls under the crater’s mouth.
It is divine. I could go on with adjectives but you get the picture? See for yourself with my postings of pictures. I spent at least 1.5 hours at this last stop.
A couple of stops (Donnybrook and Harmony) on the right hand side before Windy Ridge have wonderful views of Spirit Lake. The Smith Creek stop on the left side right before Windy has a huge circular drive area and many people can sit on top of a stone built wall to take in the beauty of Oregon across the way.
I started from Ashford, WA around 8 am and did not get back until 3:00 pm so plan accordingly. I thought this would take a couple of hours but I was wrong.
This entrance MUST be a part of your Mt St Helens experience.
Written 3 January 2015
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Lapinous F
Lyon, France37 contributions
Jul 2013 • Couples
A rough road with sharp curves -caution required- for about 40 min to go there. Breathtaking and closer views of the crater than in Johnston Ridge Point that we did two years ago. No crowd, no gift shop, no food, no refreshment (fill up gas tank and take drinks with you), no visitor center, no tour buses... Nothing but a feeling of world's end in a wild nature, sometimes lunar, and the terrifying scars of the eruption, even if the forest is reborn. Go up to the last parking lot to contemplate the volcano closer. Just great wind and total silence there : a strange impression of being alone and at the mercy of the monster... Spirit Lake down under with thousands of tree trunks on surface. Miner's car view point -sinister and very impressive- (car wreck of three people who unfortunately died in the eruption). Hiking possible / see USDA MSH-NVM site for the online map. A very different way to see the real strength of Mt St Helens, so far away from the beaten tracks.
Written 1 August 2013
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Jocelyn P
Kirkland, WA412 contributions
Aug 2014 • Couples
For those of you who have ventured to Maui and driven the road to Hana this was a little similar, as it's about a 30 mile drive round trip from hwy 25 and the entire trek is slow and windy, curve after curve. For those who get road sick or headaches in higher elevation, this may make you a little sick so bring lots of water. There are tons of little stops and view points along the way up that you can check out for a great photo opportunity , or even go on a hike in one of the many designated trails. I recommend checking out spirit lake, it is breathtaking and the history is really interesting. At the end of the road, there is a great view of the mountain, which happened to be steaming in 3 spots when we were there. For a better view, there are built in stairs up the hill adjacent to the parking lot. And...if you want to learn more about the eruption and mountain, three times a day a ranger does an interpretive story on the left side of the parking lot by the maps and built in seats so check that out, they are super informative. I've been to all three sides of the mountain, and this side is one of the lesser travelled, and for that I really liked the serenity and peaceful surroundings.
If you only have a day or two to see the mountain, you can fit in ape caves and lava canyon, then come to windy ridge and spirit lake, as it's only 50 miles apart from each other. These are both more on the east side of the mountain so you could access both in one trip....we did. But getting to Johnston ridge you would need another full day as that is many hours around the other side of the mountain. So if you want to see more than one view point, I would recommend these two as they are the closest to one another. And....just past ape caves is a great view point of the mountain just beyond climbers Boulivac
If you only have a day or two to see the mountain, you can fit in ape caves and lava canyon, then come to windy ridge and spirit lake, as it's only 50 miles apart from each other. These are both more on the east side of the mountain so you could access both in one trip....we did. But getting to Johnston ridge you would need another full day as that is many hours around the other side of the mountain. So if you want to see more than one view point, I would recommend these two as they are the closest to one another. And....just past ape caves is a great view point of the mountain just beyond climbers Boulivac
Written 13 August 2014
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
BobandSheila2013
Battle Ground, WA37 contributions
Jul 2014 • Friends
Although it is a bit of a drive to get up here, it is well worth the time and effort. To get to Windy Ridge, you get to drive through the Blast area from the 1980 eruption of Mt. St. Helens. You can still see the "fall line" even though it has been almost 35 years. My first trip up there was in 1983 and there was absolutely NOTHING growing, but now you can see the native wildflowers, trees and wildlife that has recovered. We try to make it up here every year. It is not as "touristy" as Coldwater and Johnston Observatory, but it does have a stairway to Heaven that will give you that incomparable view into the mouth of St. Helens.
Written 7 March 2015
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
themoons2014
Yelm, WA131 contributions
Sept 2014 • Couples
Views are out of this world, no crowds like at the other place/Johnston Obs. There are no services so gas up and bring your lunch. You will have to purchase a forest pass for day use and you can buy them in Randle WA at the little market right before you turn off hwy 12. Take the stairs up to the top when you get to Windy Ridge...it is worth it. You can picnic anywhere in Gifford Pinchot National Forest...find a nice spot to pull off and enjoy the nature and beauty of the place. As long as you have your day pass. Much better than fighting crowds for a spot to watch a video and the other viewing spot for St. Helens.
Written 15 December 2014
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Peter S
Plymouth, MN96 contributions
Jul 2018 • Friends
Worth the scenic drive, watch out for uneven roads though. You have a great view of the crater and the surrounding area on a nice day. Unfortunately it was a little cloudy when we went but it was still amazing. If you feel up for it, climb the 400+ stairs to have an even better view of the area. Really beautiful.
Written 6 July 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Hi,
If we choose not to hike, are we missing everything? Can we see anything without hiking?
Asking this because our dog just had a knee surgery and we will trying to avoid straining his knee.
Thanks
Abhi
Written 25 June 2020
Is there a short way from the Windy ridge to Johnston observation?
Written 20 August 2019
Hi! We will be traveling from Portland to Seattle in September, and are thinking of trying to Mt. St. Helens and Mt Rainier along the way. It seems that the Windy Ridge viewpoint at Mt. St. Helens would be a relativey easy detour, but also maybe the best vantage point for the volcano and less crowded. Am I correct that, if we head east on Rte 503 from Woodland, we could easily access Rte. 99 off Rte 25? Are Rtes 503 and 25 relatively decent roads? Thanks so much for your help!
Written 14 March 2018
Showing results 1-4 of 4
Is this your Tripadvisor listing?
Own or manage this property? Claim your listing for free to respond to reviews, update your profile and much more.
Claim your listing