Windy Ridge Trail

Name: Windy Ridge Trail
Rating: 3.4

South Cascades > Mount St. Helens

46.2499, -122.1362 Map & Directions

Length: 4.0 miles, roundtrip
Elevation Gain: 200 feet
Highest Point: 4,200 feet
Calculated Difficulty About Calculated Difficulty: Easy/Moderate

This trail is closed all M-F between May 15 and Oct 31 through the end of 2027. The trail will remain open on all weekends and federal holidays.

View of Mount St. Helens from Windy Ridge. Photo by Riri. Full-size image

Dogs not allowed
Mountain views
Ridges/passes
Wildflowers/Meadows

Parking Pass/Entry Fee

Northwest Forest Pass

Saved to My Backpack

The drive to Mount St. Helens’ Windy Ridge is spectacular! From this east side of the mountain, the summit is close — more so than from the Johnston Observatory side. And it is quiet; on a busy weekend, you can often find the parking lot less than half full. Continue reading

Rating

3.38 out of 5

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45 trip reports for this trail

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Hiking Windy Ridge Trail

On the road to Windy Ridge, stop at every viewpoint and explore the trailheads.

Enjoy a picnic lunch at Windy Ridge and listen to the Ranger Talk (it is excellent and is held every hour, on the half hour on summer weekends) as you gaze in awe at Mount St. Helens.

Then hike up the steep stairs above Windy Ridge, where Spirit Lake and Mount Rainier come into view, or simply enjoy the view from Windy Ridge itself.

WTA Pro Tip: If you want to extend your adventure, explore the nearby Meta Lake trailhead, a seldom-used paved trail, which provides a lovely view of the lake’s calm waters. The Meta Lake trailhead is also home to the Miner’s Car — a stark reminder of the lives that were lost on May 18, 1980.

Toilet Information

Toilet at trailhead

More information about toilets

Wheelchair Accessibility

There is a viewpoint from the base of the Windy Ridge trail that offers stellar views of the mountain, but the trail itself is a staircase.

Hike Description Written by
Karen Daubert, WTA Community

Windy Ridge Trail

Map & Directions

Trailhead

Co-ordinates: 46.2499, -122.1362 Open in Google Maps