Johnston Ridge Observatory
| Mount St. Helens National Volcanic Monument | |
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IUCN category III (natural monument or feature)
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Spirit Lake and Mount St. Helens
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| Location | Skamania / Cowlitz / Lewis counties, Washington, USA |
| Nearest city | Castle Rock, Washington |
| Coordinates | 46°13′59″N 122°11′04″W / 46.2331657°N 122.1845412°WCoordinates: 46°13′59″N 122°11′04″W / 46.2331657°N 122.1845412°W |
| Area | 110,000 acres (450 km2) |
| Created | August 26, 1982 |
| Governing body | U.S. Forest Service |
| Website | Mount St. Helens National Volcanic Monument |
Mount St. Helens National Volcanic Monument is a U.S. National Monument that includes the area around Mount St. Helens in Washington. It was established on August 27, 1982 by U.S. President Ronald Reagan following the 1980 eruption. The 110,000 acre (445 km2) National Volcanic Monument was set-aside for research, recreation, and education. Inside the Monument, the environment is left to respond naturally to the disturbance.
Mount St. Helens National Volcanic Monument was the United States' first such monument managed by the U.S. Forest Service. At dedication ceremonies on May 18, 1983, Max Peterson, head of the USFS, said, "we can take pride in having preserved the unique episode of natural history for future generations." Since then, many trails, viewpoints, information stations, campgrounds, and picnic areas have been established to accommodate the increasing number of visitors each year.
Beginning in the summer of 1983, visitors have been able to drive to Windy Ridge, only 4 miles (6.4 km) northeast of the crater.
Mountain climbing to the summit of the volcano has been allowed since 1986.
A visitor center was completed in December 1986 at Silver Lake, about 30 miles (48 km) west of Mount St. Helens and five miles (8 km) east of Interstate 5. By the end of 1989, the Center had hosted more than 1.5 million visitors.
The Mount St. Helens Visitor Center at Silver Lake opened in 1987 and has been operated by the Washington State Park System since October 2000. Exhibits include the area's culture and history, and the natural history and geology of the volcano and the eruption, including the recovery of the area's vegetation and animal life. The Center includes a theater, a gift shop and outdoor trails. A small admission fee is charged.
The Center was formerly operated by the U.S. Forest Service.
The Johnston Ridge Observatory is located 52 miles (84 km) east of Castle Rock, Washington, at the end of Washington State Route 504. Exhibits focus on the geologic history of the volcano, eyewitness accounts of the explosion, and the science of monitoring volcanic activity. Two movies and ranger-led programs are available every hour. A half-mile trail provides views of the lava dome, crater, pumice plain, and landslide deposit.
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