A Day We’ll Never Forget!
VERDICT: We gave 5 out of 5 tickets and here’s why!
This guide forms part of our complete USA Travel Guide, featuring scenic road trips, iconic destinations, practical travel advice and honest first-hand travel experiences from across the United States.
Day 1: Historic Bridges, Sea Lions & Astoria’s Waterfront ✅
Day 2: Haystack Rock, Puffins & Oregon’s Most Beautiful Beach ✅
Day 3: Shipwrecks, Cheese & Portland’s Weird Side ✅
Day 4: Volcanoes, Forests & The Mountain That Changed America ✅
Day 5: Small-Town Charm, Ferries & The Journey Home ✅
From volcanic devastation to Bigfoot legends, this became our most unforgettable day in Washington State
fter three wonderful days exploring Oregon, it was finally time to leave Portland behind and head north into Washington State for one of the highlights of our entire Pacific Northwest adventure.
Today’s destination was one we had both been looking forward to for months — Mount St. Helens, the volcano whose devastating eruption in 1980 changed both the landscape and the lives of thousands of people forever.
The drive from Portland to Castle Rock was an easy one, covering approximately 60 miles (97 kilometres) in just over an hour via Interstate 5 North. Rather than rushing straight to the volcano, we decided to stop for breakfast.
Breakfast at The Vault Books & Brew
Castle Rock proved to be the perfect place to stretch our legs.
We stumbled across Vault Books & Brew, a charming café unlike any we’d visited before. Combining a welcoming coffee shop with an independent bookstore created a relaxed atmosphere, and after ordering one of their excellent breakfast sandwiches we spent a few minutes browsing the shelves before continuing our journey.
Fuelled for the day ahead, we turned east onto State Route 504, better known as the Spirit Lake Memorial Highway.
Almost immediately the scenery began changing.
Rolling farmland slowly gave way to dense forests, winding mountain roads and spectacular views following the North Fork Toutle River toward one of North America’s most famous volcanic landscapes.
Heading Towards Mount St. Helens
Before leaving Canada we had already learned that Johnston Ridge Observatory remained closed following major landslide damage that destroyed sections of the highway beyond the Forest Learning Center.
Although disappointing, we were still excited because everyone we spoke with insisted the Mount St. Helens Forest Learning Center was well worth visiting.
They were absolutely right.
After about an hour’s drive climbing to approximately 3,000 feet, we arrived at the beautifully positioned visitor centre overlooking the North Fork Toutle River valley.
Best of all…
Admission was completely free.
Free parking made it even better.
Located at 17000 Spirit Lake Highway (State Route 504), Toutle, Washington, the centre sits inside the original blast zone and offers spectacular views directly toward Mount St. Helens’ enormous crater.
One of America’s Best Visitor Centres
We’ve visited many museums and visitor centres around the world.
This one genuinely ranks among the very best.
Rather than simply displaying photographs and information boards, the Forest Learning Center tells the incredible story of destruction, survival and recovery through immersive exhibits, interactive displays and fascinating multimedia presentations.
One of the first things visitors notice is how the exhibits recreate a forest exactly as it would have appeared before the eruption.
The sounds…
The lighting…
Even the floor beneath your feet feels soft and spring-like, helping recreate the feeling of walking through an ancient Pacific Northwest forest.
It is remarkably effective.
Reliving the 1980 Eruption
Without doubt, the highlight is the Eruption Chamber.
Here visitors are surrounded by authentic news footage, eyewitness recordings and dramatic sound effects that recreate the terrifying moments of May 18, 1980.
Although many of us have seen clips of the eruption before, experiencing them inside this theatre is something entirely different.
It quickly becomes apparent just how violent the explosion really was.
Within minutes, one of North America’s most beautiful mountain landscapes had been transformed forever.
Interactive displays explain how forests, rivers and wildlife have slowly recovered over the decades, while visitors can also enjoy virtual helicopter flights above the volcano and learn about the massive reforestation efforts that followed.
It was educational, emotional and surprisingly inspiring.
The Volcano That Changed History
The eruption itself remains one of the most significant natural disasters in modern American history.
On the morning of May 18, 1980, a magnitude 5.1 earthquake triggered the collapse of the mountain’s northern flank.
The resulting landslide remains the largest ever recorded.
Moments later, a powerful lateral blast exploded sideways from the mountain.
In less than three minutes, over 230 square miles (595 square kilometres) of forest had been flattened.
Super-heated gases, volcanic ash and mudflows devastated everything in their path.
Ash rose approximately 15 miles (24 kilometres) into the atmosphere, turning daylight into darkness across much of eastern Washington.
Standing quietly outside afterwards and looking directly towards Mount St. Helens, it was almost impossible to imagine the violence that had unfolded here.
Today the landscape feels peaceful.
Forty-five years ago it looked like another planet.
Incredible Views
After spending around two hours inside the visitor centre, we walked to the outdoor viewing area.
Fortunately the clouds had cleared.
Mount St. Helens stood proudly in the distance with remarkably clear views into its famous horseshoe-shaped crater.
It was one of those travel moments where photographs simply cannot capture the true scale.
We spent quite some time simply standing there appreciating the view before reluctantly beginning our drive back down the mountain.
Little did we know…
The day’s biggest surprise was still waiting.
A Surprise Bigfoot Encounter
Driving back along Spirit Lake Highway we suddenly noticed a large roadside attraction.
Towering above the trees stood an enormous 22-foot Bigfoot statue.
Naturally… We had to stop.
The North Fork Survivors Interpretive Center & Museum turned out to be one of the quirkiest places we’ve visited.
Inside were fascinating displays rescued from the volcanic blast zone, including damaged vehicles, eruption artefacts and even a partially buried A-frame house carried by the mudflows during the eruption.
Then things became even more interesting.
We struck up a conversation with one of the resident Bigfoot researchers.
After decades of research throughout Washington State and British Columbia, he believed there could be hundreds of Sasquatch living in the vast wilderness stretching from Mount St. Helens to the Canadian border.
Whether you believe the legend or not, seeing the enormous footprint casts and hearing the stories certainly added an unexpected twist to our day.
It was completely different from anything we had expected.
Heading Towards Hood Canal
After one final stop at Mount St. Helens Gifts, we began the two-hour drive toward our accommodation for the evening.
Nestled beside the beautiful Hood Canal, Robin Hood Village Resort looked like something from a storybook.
Surrounded by towering trees and peaceful waterfront scenery, it provided the perfect place to relax after such an eventful day.
Our private cottage was wonderfully quiet and proved an excellent base for the night.
Later that evening we drove about twenty minutes to Model T Pub & Eatery, where we enjoyed an outstanding dinner before picking up a few breakfast supplies for the following morning.
Tomorrow would see us begin the final leg of our Pacific Northwest road trip, returning to Canada via the Bremerton–Seattle Ferry.
Our Verdict
If there’s one day from our Pacific Northwest road trip that perfectly combined history, spectacular scenery, fascinating museums and unexpected discoveries, this was it.
From standing before one of America’s most famous volcanoes to discussing Bigfoot with a lifelong researcher, this became one of the most memorable travel days we’ve experienced.
Mount St. Helens is far more than simply a volcano.
It’s a place that reminds visitors of nature’s incredible power—and its remarkable ability to recover.
Top 5 Volcanoes to Visit in the USA
- Mount St. Helens (Washington) – The world’s most famous modern volcanic eruption, excellent visitor centres and spectacular viewpoints.
- Kīlauea (Hawaii) – One of the world’s most active volcanoes with lava fields, steam vents and dramatic landscapes inside Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park.
- Mount Rainier (Washington) – A glacier-covered stratovolcano surrounded by alpine meadows, waterfalls and incredible hiking trails.
- Mount Shasta (California) – Northern California’s iconic snow-capped volcanic peak popular with hikers, photographers and climbers.
- Lassen Peak (California) – One of the world’s largest plug-dome volcanoes featuring boiling mud pots, steaming fumaroles and colourful geothermal landscapes.
Top 5 Nearby Destinations to Mount St. Helens
Castle Rock
A charming gateway town offering cafés, shops and the perfect place to begin your Mount St. Helens adventure.
Ape Cave
One of North America’s longest lava tubes, allowing visitors to walk deep beneath ancient volcanic rock.
Coldwater Lake
A peaceful lake formed after the 1980 eruption, offering kayaking, wildlife viewing and beautiful mountain scenery.
Silver Lake Visitor Center
An excellent introduction to the eruption, local wildlife and the history of Mount St. Helens.
Johnston Ridge Observatory (when reopened)
The closest public viewpoint to Mount St. Helens’ crater, offering breathtaking panoramic views and outstanding interpretive exhibits.
Continue Exploring Oregon and Washington
- Amazing Oregon Coast Wildlife
- Seaside, Oregon
- Astoria River Walk
- Nordic Park and Trolls
- Largest Bookstore in the World
- Robinhood Village Resort
Nearby Attractions
- The Astoria Column
- Haystack Rock
- Cannon Beach
- Cape Meares Lighthouse
- Columbia River Maritime Museum
- Tillamook Creamery – Best Cheddar Cheese
Planning Your Trip?
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- 🎟️ Top-rated tours & attractions
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- 🛡️ Travel insurance
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- 🎒 Travel gear from The Venturio
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