Lava Canyon

After starting on the nearby quarter mile Two Forests hike, Lava Canyon is a relatively short dayhike across from the trailhead to Ape Canyon. There is a short, medium, and long version, each one getting more difficult and exposed. The eruption on Mt Saint Helens in 1980 washed away the covering forest to expose the carved riverbed from much earlier.

Two Forests Hike: lava casts around burned out trees

Ape Canyon Hike

The 5.5 mile hike up Ape Canyon actually stays on a ridge and in the forest, which was nice because it was very hot and sunny. I found a stand of trees right next to where the trail meets the Loowit Trail to camp at.

Ape Canyon trail actually stays on a shaded ridge the whole way

There is a campsite right where those creeks go over the edge

looking back down at the ridge the trail goes up

Plains of Abraham

From camp the first evening I hiked up Pumice Butte for views of the peak and the plains. The next day I hiked to Windy Pass and out to the rim above Smith Creek.

snow still hides the creek in upper Ape Canyon

in the Plains of Abraham, the Loowit Trail heads towards Windy Pass

Mt Saint Helens - Ape Canyon area

Lava Canyon

Ape Canyon Hike

Plains of Abraham