Wonderful way to see the results of the 1980 eruption. We return after seeing the area in 1989. The mud flats are now covered in meadow and elk can be seen grazing —stop at the Forest research center for a peek through the telescopes. 
The hike is dusty and has many ups and downs but all very easy on aging knees. 
View of the mountain partially obscured by clouds. Very interesting terrain - forest, big, ponds, creeks, and more. Fascinating. 

I joined the Mount St. Helens Institute for a guided hike of the Hummocks Trail to learn about the Institute's work in science education. Founded in 1996, the MSHI connects people of all ages to Mount St. Helens and the natural world through educational programming designed to enrich visitors’ appreciation and understanding of the Pacific Northwest’s youngest and most active volcano.

We took several hours to hike the trail, guided by co-executive directors Abi Groskopf and Alyssa Hoyt. Our group included board members, supporters and donors to the MSHI.

The trail was in good condition. We hiked it clockwise, but many trip reports recommend hiking it counter-clockwise. I concur with that recommendation since the final leg of the trail is a steep climb back to the trailhead.

It was a warm day, with temperatures in the 70s or low 80s, so I appreciated the leafy shade over much of the trail.

We had a good view of Mount St. Helens from the junction with the Boundary Trail about 1/2 mile from the trailhead. Several blocked-off social trails indicate that people are looking for a volcano view when they take this hike.

PRO-TIP: There are not any restrooms at the trailhead, so I recommend stopping at the Coldwater Lake boat launch to use the restrooms there (nice restrooms with flush toilets and sinks with running water).

#hikeathon

This was a great hike my beginners like myself, though I would personally recommend taking the loop counterclockwise (starting at 7/where the trail terminates) rather than the starting where the trashcan and signage is (1 marker) - I found that towards the 7 marker, it got a little steeper and views were less grand.

The trail itself is not bad! A little overgrown in the forest areas, so pants are definitely a must. Also didn't take very long, I think a little over 1 hour to complete.

Overall this was a super fun hike with great views, and I saw a lot of cool bugs and animals (chipmunk, deer, snake, some really beautiful blue dragonflies).

I think when I get a little more experienced (and physically active) I would definitely come back for a long hike.

Completed a loop around the Mt Margaret Backcountry this past weekend from Friday 8/1 - Sunday 8/3. There are a lot of reports highlighting how awesome the backcountry is so I will just include some info I hope is helpful for anyone making a trip soon as there wasn't much online and the ranger station also didn't have much info for me.

Day 1 Hummocks Trailhead to Margaret Camp - long day, lots of elevation gain and hot/exposed trail. Only water available during the day is at the junction with the Truman trail ~7 miles in and you have to hike down Truman trail for a few minutes to find the stream. It wasn't running super strong but there was plenty of water for filtering. Did not stop at Dome Camp along the way so I can't comment on water availability but an earlier report from last weekend mentioned water. Margaret Camp has plenty of water available from 3-4 snowfields melting nearby, water was super clean and ice cold and I think it will be steady for at least a couple more weeks (see photo). Dome and Margaret Camps are very close so even from Dome you could use this as a water supply if you don't mind the walking. Saw about 30 goats at Margaret Camp in the evening.

Day 2 Margaret Camp to Snow Lake - beautiful day start to finish. Incredible views from Margaret summit and along the boundary trail followed by beautiful alpine lakes on the back half of the day. Trail is quite overgrown in some sections between Bear Pass and Shovel Lake. Plenty of water available at Bear Camp and then every lake. Snow lake is stunning and perfect for an afternoon swim.

Day 3 Snow Lake to Coldwater Lake Trailhead - steady descent from Snow Lake down the valley to Coldwater. There are 2 washouts on this section mentioned by others, they require some attention but with caution you'll be through them quickly and on your way. Hike along the lakeshore back to the trailhead and then a short road walk to the Hummocks parking lot to complete the loop. 

Overall this is a great area if you can snag the right permits. I did hear from some other folks who camped at Ridge Camp that it was dry. Hope this info is helpful since the ranger station didn't have much to share. 

While the road is washed out, this hike is a beautiful way to get to the Johnston Ridge Observatory (still closed - no facilities). From my stats, it was 10 miles out and back. Took 2 hours 40 minutes to get to Johnston Ridge, hung out there for an hour, and then back down the trail took 2 hours 20 minutes. 

The majority of elevation gain is in the first 3ish miles and once the Hummocks trail joins the Boundary trail, it is really exposed. The temp was in the 70s and it was HOT for those 3 miles. Bring all that water, sun protection, find shade, and take breaks as needed. As you get higher, you'd catch a breeze which felt amazing. The trail gets a little narrow along some scree field crossings.

The wildflowers were abundant and amazing - orange Indian paintbrush, foxglove, daisies, yellow flowers, lupine. 

Once at the Johnston Ridge Observatory, it's like you're on a movie set. The wildflowers are taking over the parking lot, there's this amazing mountain in front of you, and it is totally deserted. No other humans were there. We sat in a shady spot and enjoyed the silence and nature's majesty.

As mammals go, we only saw chipmunks on the trail until we were coming down. In an open field area, we saw 3 golden coated coyotes looking to take down a deer. We were higher on a ridge and they disappeared behind a hill so I don't know what happened. We thought the coyotes might be wolves and later learned from Mt. St. Helens staff that they were most likely coyotes.

Also, the WTA site says you need a Northwest Forest parking pass for the trailhead lot. I didn't see signs saying any passes were needed for parking.