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Jess FischerExplorer

An east coast transplant exploring the wild and wonderful PNW ⇞

I would rate this hike as moderate and great for any season, just make sure you have snowshoes or touring gear for the winter months. You'll be sure to see herds of elk and lots of other wildlife as well. Great views of Mount St Helens on a clear day as well as other surrounding volcanic peaks.

This hike definitely has some steeper uphill sections, but they're not long so you can definitely take your time. It's a great loop that takes you from down by the river to up on the cliffs. Best hiked in springtime when you can catch some wildflowers blooming! There are some precarious sections during the wintertime and early spring (packed ice on the trail) and spikes are highly recommended.

We did this hike January 5 and there was a lot of snow on the ground but most of it was compact and snowshoes were not needed. We went on a clear day and there were great views of Mount St. Helens covered in snow. The hike is easy and good for all ages and fitness levels. I'm not sure when the last reviewer went on this hike (most likely during the week) but there are ALWAYS crowds on the weekends (also why the parking lot is so big, to accommodate all the vehicles). Keep an eye on the ground for piles of dog poop- unfortunately they are everywhere and people are failing to pick up after their pets.