Ape Canyon, Loowit
Oct 21, 2010
by
Sunrise Creek
—
last modified
Oct 22, 2010 08:40 AM
- Type of Outing
- Day hike
- Read More in our Hiking Guide
- Hike: Loowit Trail
- Region: South Cascades -- Mt. St. Helens
- Agency: Mount St. Helens National Volcanic Monument
- Trails: Loowit (#216)
- Avg Rating: 3.11
- Read More in our Hiking Guide
- Hike: Ape Canyon
- Region: South Cascades -- Mt. St. Helens
- Agency: USFS Mount St. Helens National Volcanic Monument
- Trails: Ape Canyon (#234)
- Avg Rating: 2.50
- Why You Should Go Now
- Fall foliage
Mushrooms along the Ape Canyon Trail. Photo by Susan Saul
The Ape Canyon Trail on the southeast side of Mount St. Helens is among my favorite annual hikes.
This trail had to be completely rebuilt following the 1980 eruption since the original trail was wiped out by the Muddy River lahar. The well-graded trail follows a forested ridge up to the southeast shoulder of the volcano.
The first 1.4 miles of the trail go through a 1968 clearcut. Then the trail enters an impressive forest of old-growth Douglas-fir and climbs the ridge in a series of switchbacks.
Although the guidebooks give the elevation gain on this hike as 1,300 feet, it actually is around 2,000 feet due to several 200-foot descents as the trail drops to cross saddles on the ridge. (Not only to you have to regain that elevation on the way in, you have to climb back up those descents on the way out.)
At about 4 miles, the trail reaches the slot-like gash of Ape Canyon. Prior to 1980, Ape Canyon was a narrow chasm. Lahar-like flooding through the canyon has eroded and widened it.
Ape Canyon got its name in 1924 when some miners below the canyon reported that ape-like creatures had thrown rocks at their cabin from the cliffs above. When they told their story to the Forest Service ranger at Spirit Lake, he reportedly said, "Oh, that's just those Mount St. Helens apes." What the miners didn't know was that the ranger always called young boys "apes." The ranger was referring to the kids at the summer camps around Spirit Lake, but the Sasquatch tale was born instead. In 1985, an old-timer confessed that he and another boy were responsible for the prank.
We always go beyond the junction with the Loowit Trail, turning north for .8 mile to a great lunch spot on the Plains of Abraham. It is just across the creek on a rock cliff with 360 degree views.
Today was the last warm day of fall, with a significant storm in the forecast. We experienced the weather change from a sunny morning to heavy clouds and strong wind as we hiked out. We could feel the moisture coming with the storm front. In about 4 days, this area will receive its first winter snow pack.
This trail had to be completely rebuilt following the 1980 eruption since the original trail was wiped out by the Muddy River lahar. The well-graded trail follows a forested ridge up to the southeast shoulder of the volcano.
The first 1.4 miles of the trail go through a 1968 clearcut. Then the trail enters an impressive forest of old-growth Douglas-fir and climbs the ridge in a series of switchbacks.
Although the guidebooks give the elevation gain on this hike as 1,300 feet, it actually is around 2,000 feet due to several 200-foot descents as the trail drops to cross saddles on the ridge. (Not only to you have to regain that elevation on the way in, you have to climb back up those descents on the way out.)
At about 4 miles, the trail reaches the slot-like gash of Ape Canyon. Prior to 1980, Ape Canyon was a narrow chasm. Lahar-like flooding through the canyon has eroded and widened it.
Ape Canyon got its name in 1924 when some miners below the canyon reported that ape-like creatures had thrown rocks at their cabin from the cliffs above. When they told their story to the Forest Service ranger at Spirit Lake, he reportedly said, "Oh, that's just those Mount St. Helens apes." What the miners didn't know was that the ranger always called young boys "apes." The ranger was referring to the kids at the summer camps around Spirit Lake, but the Sasquatch tale was born instead. In 1985, an old-timer confessed that he and another boy were responsible for the prank.
We always go beyond the junction with the Loowit Trail, turning north for .8 mile to a great lunch spot on the Plains of Abraham. It is just across the creek on a rock cliff with 360 degree views.
Today was the last warm day of fall, with a significant storm in the forecast. We experienced the weather change from a sunny morning to heavy clouds and strong wind as we hiked out. We could feel the moisture coming with the storm front. In about 4 days, this area will receive its first winter snow pack.
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Mount St. Helens southeast face viewed from Ape Canyon Trail. Photo by Susan Saul
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Ape Canyon. Photo by Susan Saul
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Ape Canyon. Photo by Susan Saul
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