South Coldwater Trail

We walked the South Coldwater Trail to the Coldwater Trail, then onward to Coldwater Saddle. We arrived early, around 9:15 a.m., to avoid the heat for as long as we could. We were a little apprehensive about the tent caterpillar invasion that has denuded many of the trees in the nearby Hummocks Trail area, and made a squishy mess of parking lots, but at the South Coldwater trailhead, they weren't so bad. There were just a few. The first half mile or so of the trail did have mosquitos, so we tried our best to keep moving.

The trail is in remarkably great shape all the way. There is a group called Friends of Coldwater that performs maintenance from time to time and they were here two weeks ago. They are a group of mountain bikers; this is one of the trails on which bicycles are allowed.

There were a few snow banks to cross as I made the final ascent to Coldwater Saddle. They're a little steep, so one needs to take care that they don't fall.

It was a hot day. As it got into the afternoon it was somewhat fatiguing. However we managed to complete the hike by 2:45 p.m., so that was about 5 hours of hiking time (and 30 minutes for lunch). My pedometer said it was 5.85 miles in and 5.85 miles out.

This trail has the best views of Coldwater Lake, but there are easier ways to see better views of Mt. St. Helens. However, the well-graded and well-maintained trail is a pleasure to walk and gives you a good workout. You just want to be aware there's no water available and not a lot of shade. Carry a hydration pack and have it filled when you begin, and wear sunscreen!