Hummocks, Coldwater Lake, Boundary

May 22, 2009

by Hikingqueen — last modified May 06, 2010 10:20 AM

Type of Outing: Day hike

Read More in our Hiking Guide: Hike: South Coldwater Trail; Region: South Cascades -- Mt. St. Helens; Agency: USFS Mount St. Helens National Volcanic Monument; Trails: South Coldwater Trail (#230A); Avg Rating: 3.40
Read More in our Hiking Guide: Hike: Hummocks Trail; Region: South Cascades -- Mt. St. Helens; Agency: Mount St. Helens National Volcanic Monument; Trails: Hummocks (#229); Avg Rating: 3.50
Read More in our Hiking Guide: Hike: Coldwater Lake; Region: South Cascades; Avg Rating: 3.50
Read More in our Hiking Guide: Hike: Boundary West; Region: South Cascades -- Mt. St. Helens; Agency: USFS Mount St. Helens National Volcanic Monument; Trails: Boundary (#1); Avg Rating: 2.50

St. Helens

Triple Banger @ St. Helens 5-22-09
I packed a bag and headed out Friday morning. I arrived at the Spirit Lake Visitors center at 9:30. Only saw a couple of people and hoped this was going to be a trend all day…I did the small trail around the ponds and got some good photos of flowers and birds. Saw a boat and fisherman in the pond, totally out of place and I’m sure illegal, there were signs everywhere no fishing/hunting. Mountain was behind the clouds at this time. I was headed to coldwater lakes now and make a few stops along the way. Chatting with so many nice people at every stop. I arrived at Coldwater Lake around 10:30 and took more pictures and soaked in the views. I noticed some large charter buses in the parking lot. After speaking with a friendly fisherman he said they were a junior high group from Bellevue. I talked to the group leader about where the hummocks trailhead was and she warned me that she brought 400 students with her and there were more kids on the trail I was headed to.. I took a deep breath and said it can’t be that bad…I set out around 11:00 on the Hummocks trail which is located across the highway from the Lakes trail. Hummocks is a nice easy 2.5 mile loop with great views and diverse areas, ponds, meadows, lava formations, rocks, river, mountain views.. pretty much everything you would like in a trail except 400 students. I only had to move over once in the beginning and then the last ½ mile I had to say excuse me 50 times, I think that is what they were broken up in groups of.. It was funny to see the Bellevue mom’s in there “hiking” clothes. I made a quick side trip a few miles on the boundary trail to avoid one of the groups, it was worth it. When I was done I headed back across the street to walk the lake loop trail. Saw another sweet old fisherman and his dog Jack. The color of his lake is jade right and truly spectacular. I didn’t want to leave and was figuring out if I was going to drive home or stay the night somewhere.. originally I was going to do some trail on the South side of the mountain but after further review the only thing open is the ape caves and I will save that for a trip when I’m not solo. I was very interested in seeing the Lava Canyon area but the bridge is out and might be many months before the heli a new one in the ranger told me. The wildflowers are just starting to poke out so if you want a flower show wait a while. But it’s nice because there are not many bugs yet. All together I got around 5-6 miles in. This area reminded me a bit of Painted hills, Grand Canyon, and Rainer all rolled into one.