One Day Wilderness-Toutle Trail

Flower meadows above Studebaker Canyon

Hiking into the Blast Zone at Mt. St. Helens is always an startling experience for everyone, a real eye opener if you will. Even 36 years after the earth shattering eruption of the Mountain, the area fills the soul with a lonely/inspired feeling impossible to replicate in other wilderness settings in the Northwest. This trail takes you the Toutle River, where giant mudflows rushed down this drainage at alarming speeds, covering all life in its path. Now, after all these years later, the area is making a comeback as small seedlings grow in the sandy bars and slopes in the Canyon while wild strawberries and huckleberries carpet the meadows above. Keep in mind, you should pack light on this one to stay light on your feet through the sandy and rocky miles.

Big trees above Blue Lake

So, set off from the Blue Lake TH, through a forest that has seen better days before the 1980’s eruption. Shortly, a easy creek crossing leads into a nice old-growth forest above the lake, leaving you with just a taste of the big trees this area once had. Stay to the left at all intersections, following TR #238 Toutle Trail. As you start making your way down to a river crossing, stay to the right following the trail to a bridge over a cool chasm over Sheep Creek. Now, you come to a intersection, stay to the left for another 1.7 miles to the edge of the S. Fork Toutle River and the  Loowit Trail. Now after 5 miles of hiking you have a chose to make, either make a left onto the Loowit and climb down the to the river for a mesmerizing cataclysm that happened here in the 80’s eruption and turn back. Or, you could cross the river and make your way up to the lovely parkland beyond around Studebaker Ridge. After the split for the debunk Castle Ridge TR, pull off to the left of the for some delicious wild strawberries that grow here in profusion. Wander this rolling parkland until your heart is content, or your feet get tired before turning back.

A shattered landscape at the Toutle

A little pine sapling clings to the ash

Let the parkland begin as summer finally sings