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Mountaineers Books.
Copyright © Dan A. Nelson/The Mountaineers Books Harry's Ridge
Everyone knows about Harry Truman-not to be confused with the former U.S. president, but the sweet old curmudgeon with the just-as-old cats. Harry and his cats refused to evacuate from his beloved Spirit Lake home when the volcano started to awaken. He's still there somewhere, as much a part of the mountain as he ever was. This short trail on the ridge above Spirit Lake is one of the most picturesque routes in the monument.
Head east along the Boundary Trail. For 2 miles, you'll be able to stroll along the narrow ridge, staring across the broad blast plain in front of the gaping maw of the mountain's breach. Utter devastation-but beautiful! The trail loops around one steeply sloped ridge spine just past the 2-mile mark before reaching a junction with the Truman Trail. Stay left at the junction to head north. At 3.3 miles out, another trail junction awaits. Turn right onto this path, the Harrys Ridge Trail. It crosses over the ridge between you and Spirit Lake, then rolls south again, this time on the slope above Spirit. For a mile you can walk and gawk. Look down on Spirit Lake. Note the raft of logs that still jams the lake surface, twenty-six years after the blast-the remains of the once great forest that surrounded the lake. Once you've had your fill of fantastic scenery, or (more likely) you just run out of time, turn back and return the way you came.
Driving Directions:
From Castle Rock, drive about 43 miles east on Highway 504 to the Coldwater Visitor Center and continue on to the road's end at Johnston Ridge Observatory. The trailhead is on the east end of the parking lot. Recent Trip Reports
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Day hike
Features:
Wildflowers blooming | Fall foliage
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Partly sunny day turned into a mostly sunny day. When we arrived around 2pm most of the mountain wa...
Partly sunny day turned into a mostly sunny day. When we arrived around 2pm most of the mountain was cloud covered, but by the time we reached Harry's Ridge 3:45 pm the clouds had cleared and we got a perfect view of the crater. The fall colors were amazing, very few hikers, great trail conditions. Still some indian paintbrush, lupines, and yarrows blooming.
Day hike
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Wildflowers blooming
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Took my mom to Helens, I had been many times only to see fog and not the mountain, today was worth t...
Took my mom to Helens, I had been many times only to see fog and not the mountain, today was worth the 3 hour drive each way! Weather was prefect, sunny, not too hot, nice breeze. Mom was impressed. The views along the trail are ever-changing, the landscape provides much diversity in color. The wildflowers are past prime and some going to seed already. But still very beautiful. The trail is easy and in good shape. View over Spirit lake with Adams was killer! Saw a heard of elk lounging on the way back.
They are doing some work in the parking lot, but didn't affect our good times. Not many people up here for a beautiful summer day. Day hike
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Wildflowers blooming
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This was the fourth time going to Mt St Helen's hoping to finally actually see the mountain. The are...
This was the fourth time going to Mt St Helen's hoping to finally actually see the mountain. The area was pretty well socked in with fog and clouds on the road up. A sign at the Johnston Ridge Visitor Center read "the weather will clear up, sometime today". Our group got lucky and on the way back from Harry's Ridge we did get to see most of the mountain.
The wildflowers are fantastic. They seem to be at about their height of blooming. Even in the fog they gave us something to look at along the trail when the long distance views were obscured by fog. If you hike to harry's Ridge, note that even though the gain is listed as 200 feet, it was a bit over 2,000 with the up and down loss/gain there and back. The trail is in very good condition-even Devils Elbow, which had some repairs done to it since I hiked it a year ago. And no snow! Day hike
Features:
Wildflowers blooming
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Snow on trail
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The huge parking lot at the Johnston Ridge Observatory was empty, apart from a handful of cars at 9a...
The huge parking lot at the Johnston Ridge Observatory was empty, apart from a handful of cars at 9am. Looks like you're supposed to register, even if you have a valid pass such as the America the Beautiful pass, but we didn't want to wait another hour for the observatory to open.
We were glad that the trail was in good condition and dry well past the narrow, exposed section of the boundary trail; after that there were smaller and larger patches of soft, well-consolidated snow on the trail. Didn't need any traction devices or even gaiters to make it to the highpoint of Harry's Ridge. Looked like it was a bit early for wildflowers (some Penstemon and Lupine near the observatory, and lots of Avalanche Lilies below Harry's Ridge), but the stunning views of Mt St Helens (and Spirit Lake and Mt Adams and Mt Hood...) and of the area below made more than up for that. Encountered fewer than a dozen people on the way in, and more than we cared to count on the way back. The interpretive trail was packed with people, many of them wearing wristbands that were handed out after queuing and registering at the observatory. Photos: http://picasaweb.google.com/eric.jain/HarrysRidgeJuly2011 Panorama: http://photosynth.net/view.[…]81f7-4b1a-82c5-ff8368620afb Tracklog: http://connect.garmin.com/activity/96671252 Day hike
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The hike to Harry’s Ridge from Johnston Ridge Observatory is an outstanding hike with a good rewar...
The hike to Harry’s Ridge from Johnston Ridge Observatory is an outstanding hike with a good reward/effort ratio. Starting out, there are in-your-face views of the crater, collapse features, the lava dome and the pumice field with hummocks in the broad plains below. Head out on the Boundary Trail with easy to moderate ups-downs along the ridges with continuous great views.
When you get to the intersection of the Boundary Trail and the one-mile trail up to Harry’s Ridge, you will be rewarded with stunning views of Spirit Lake with Mt. Adams prominent in the background. Take a good look at the group of conical-shaped hummocks at the northwest inlet below for an other-worldly view. And of course, Mt. St. Helens is staring down at you and providing even better views of its incredible features than at the Observatory. A couple of points to consider…..At about 1.5 miles after leaving the Observatory, the trail becomes a narrow path, in a few places a foot to two feet wide, skirting high along the side of the ridge with steep slopes below. The section along Devil’s Elbow will certainly frighten a few and will likely at least “get the attention” of many people crossing it. As other reviews have said, “it is not for the faint of heart.” When discussing the trail with one of the Observatory staff, he made it a point to describe it to us and help us understand what to expect…a very good piece of advice. It would not be a bad idea to discuss this section of the trail and its present condition with one of the rangers at the Observatory before you head out. Another point…On a cool but sunny September day, the heat was not bad. But, in true hot weather, the wind and sun along this hike is something to prepare for. Take plenty of water, a hat and your sunscreen. Sunglasses would also help. At September’s end, most of the wildflowers were gone. However, the grasshoppers were plentiful and lively. Fall colors were very nice, especially on the ridges and peaks above. My approximate 8 mile roundtrip from the Observatory to the top of Harry’s Ridge, with lots of photo stops, took a little over four hours. I suggest you allow more time. Stop at many vantage points,sit and study this incredible mountain while you think about what a treasure this area is. Look for elk on the plains below and hawks and eagles above. Be prepared to stop and stare a long time at Spirit Lake from Harry’s Ridge, recover from that and then stare at the mountain. I will take longer next time I go up there. |
 View of Mount Adams and Spirit Lake from Harry's Ridge. Photo: Thomas Elsnab.
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