Mount St. Helens Summit via Worm Flows

The Worm Flow Route, starting at Marble Mountain Sno Park, is the most direct winter route up to the summit. You'll start at around 2,700 feet and begin a steady walk along the trail for 2 miles. Although the trail is fairly well marked well above the snow, you'll want to pay attention to the arrows (especially if departing in early dawn).

Once you've cleared the forest, the trail is a bit more difficult to follow. The landscape is now a mixture of rock and lava flow, but there will be wooden posts and cairns along the way. After another mile or so, the grade will begin to pick up as you walk along a rocky spine until you're surrounded by snow. Proper footing can get a bit tricky, so be careful as you navigate through this mixture of rock, snow, and mud.

From here on out, the trail is well marked by plenty of previous hikers making their way up the summit. There are a few steep sections, so take your time on the way up. It seems like a never-ending climb at times, but keep pushing until you reach the first view of the crater. Once you've reached the false summit, head west a short distance to the true summit and enjoy the awesome views from up there. Be careful not to get too close to the edge once you're up since the snowpack may be unstable along the cornices.

As you make your way down, it may be a good idea for crampons and an ice axe. When the slopes get steep, I highly recommend glissading (as long as you're in control). Continue following your trail back down the mountain until you reach the car park a few hours later.

PERMITS:
Mt. St. Helens climbing permit via Rec.Gov

PACKLIST:

• Waterproof boots
• Gators
• Crampons
• Ice Axe
• Trekking Poles
• Sunglasses
• Camera
• Headlamp
• Skis + Boots (Optional)
• Warm layers for summit + breaks
• Plenty of water + snacks
• Change of clothes in the car