First, some background. I am quite used to looking up National Parks or National Monuments under www.nps.gov. I initially assumed that Mount St. Helens would be listed in a standard way. I was profoundly wrong. I do not know if it is due to MSH having not been a federal site prior to the eruption, or whether the status is the result of some inter-agency squabble. But in the end, info about the park is...dispersed. Leave yourself a few extra minutes to wade through multiple sites to determine who has the info you are looking for (the National Park Service, the U.S. Geologic Survey, the Forest Service, the State of Washington, etc.). This facility is at the end of Hwy 504. I assume the highway used to go further but became a dead end due to the eruption. Hwy 504 runs from I-5 at Castle Rock, WA about 50 miles to Johnston Ridge Observatory. You cross a high bridge en route, which is worth a 2-minute pull off to see from an overlook. There is a huge parking lot at the site within a couple of hundred yards of the facility. Admission is $8 per adult. This was the site where one of the government geologists was stationed to monitor the mountain. He was killed in the blast and the site is now named for him. They have interesting displays about the blast, how it affected the ridge, how the ongoing monitoring of the mountain works, etc. There is a small amphitheater where they give periodic ranger talks throughout the day. We attended one and it was quite interesting. The views of the mountain from this site are spectacular; it drives home the level of destruction that happened 40+ years ago. There are several hikes you can do from the main building. The easiest / shortest is the eruption trail. It extends about 1/4 mile further up a ridge to a slightly higher vantage point. Other trails go a bit further out into the desolate surroundings. One thing to keep in mind about your visit is the timing of meals. When we visited, there was a small food truck in the parking lot out at the mountain. If you do not want to eat there (mostly burgers, hot dogs, chili, or a couple of wraps) you have 2 options: bring your own food or wait until you get back to Castle Rock. Your visit will be 2 hours of driving plus whatever time you spend at the site (figure at least an hour). So you may want to leave early to get there and back by some reasonable lunch time. Alternatively, you can go after lunch and have plenty of time until dinner, I guess. It is probably more crowded later in the day. Just be aware that food options on the 50-mile route between this site and Castle Rock are quite limited. read more

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A bit basic for interactive displays and heavy on education, but still a great stop when wanting to see the history of the Mount Saint Helens volcano. read more

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This is a great place to learn about the history of Mount St. Helen's and observe the sleeping volcano. Other than the clouds obscuring the mountain's top, it was quite the spectacle. In the middle of July, I was surprise how one still needs to wear a jacket to keep the wind chill off you back. It was quite windy outside, but inside the education center, it was quite cozy. The learning center offered a lot of great information. It offered interactive models, pictorial displays with captions, videos with narratives from survivors points of views,' and what impress me the most, a severely damaged tree with blast damage. The docents and rangers were all welcoming and friendly. They restrooms but no overnight accommodations The fee to enter is $8. Definitely worth the visit if you are an enthusiast. read more

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I've been visiting Johnston ridge ever sine they repaired and re-opened the road up here several decades ago. There is lots of great information, exhibits, videos and more on the history of this interesting mountain and it's most recent explosion. And of course great views and photo opportunities for the mountain itself. The observatory is about as close as you can get to the mountain by car although there are numerous hiking trails including the Loowit that circumvents the entire mountain. At one time or another I have hiked all of them and have also "climbed" to the summit numerous times. I say climbed but it is mostly a semi-arduous hike not a technical climb, especially in non-Winter months. The Ranger staff is great. And also make a stop to Coldwater Lake nearby for some nice views and a quiet place to have a picnic. read more

A great experience on Mt. Saint Helens with quite the views. Would recommend the drive up when weather permits. read more

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This was our first time to visit this area to see Mt. St. Helens and I have to say we were awestruck the entire time there. We arrived just in time to get a history lesson from one of the Park Rangers. He was well versed on the events that took place in 1980. He described the eruption of Mount St. Helens and then he told us about the re-growth and recovery of the blast zone and area around Silver Lake. The exhibits inside the visitor center help you understand what took place during and after. Plan to spend enough time to see everything. read more

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Large observatory for Mount St. Helens. Very cool. You pay inside and then go and walk around. There's a huge display of the mountain and where the lava flowed- very informative. Also little posters to read. Outside, there is a long trail that have great views of the mountain. We hiked for a good mile before we turned back. Great day to get out. The top of the mountain was of course covered, but still cool to learn the history and take pictures. Pretty busy but not like in your way. Just be mindful of others! read more

Johnston Ridge Observatory - Observatories Near Me - Toutle, Washington

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Johnston Ridge Observatory is the closest visitors center to Mt St Helens named after a guy who was monitoring the mountain in the days before the eruption and was subsequently killed in the blast. It's about 1 hour drive from the 5 Freeway. The drive is nice and scenic and you drive through much of the blast area and get to see how nature has come back since the eruption. The center is run by the US Forest Service and there is an admission with includes a number of exhibits and a movie. The movie itself does not focus so much on the eruption itself but more on how the eruption has changed the landscape and how it has effected it since. There is a visitors center near Silver Lake closer to the freeway that focuses more on the eruption itself. If you get there on a clear day, the view doesn't get any better. There are some outdoor exhibits and trails nearby. Definitely worth a stop if you are in the area. read more

Johnston Ridge Observatory - Mount St Helens - Observatories Near Me - Toutle, Washington

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I've been coming to Mount St Helens, at least yearly, for over 20 years. The Johnston Ridge Observatory takes you far closer to the volcano than did some of the national park service (NPS) outlooks "back in the day". There are spectacular vistas, trails every where, and very knowledgeable rangers to answer your every question (although I did stump them [pun] on a forestry question last summer). It is a 2 hour drive from Olympia, through spectacular scenery on excellent roadway. In addition to the scenery, there are filmed documentaries in the Observatory and open air lectures from the rangers. Near by is equally stunning Coldwater Lake This is a great place for a family day and to get into truly unique nature. I am not a fan of how tax payer dollars are too often spent by our government. But I will say the NPS did a super job here and continues to do so in the whole national volcano monument park. read more

Johnston Ridge Observatory - The Observatory from Boundary Trail, only a few hundred yards away. - Observatories Near Me - Toutle, Washington

I'm going to be honest, I was last in the area in 1986. As my mom asked, "Is it still godforsaken?" As we were driving up, I thought it would be. But once we arrived and saw all the new growth and wildflowers, I thought it was gorgeous! This is nature! While there are many trails here to hike, we only did the 1 mile eruption trail which offered great views of the crater. There are two 20 minute movies that you must stay until the end to see. Inside the center are stories of people and their experience with the eruption...fascinating. You can buy your National Park Pass here too. read more

Johnston Ridge Observatory - Observatories Near Me - Toutle, Washington

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I grew up in this area. Always beautiful, fun and a nice drive. Unfortunately it was closed and very cloudy! But I got to take my son to a child hood memory so that is all that matters! read more

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My friend and I loved this place! It's a great base of operations, as it's at the center of a few different trails. We were trying to figure out the best option for our time available, and Andrew, the Park Ranger, was really helpful and knowledgeable. Definitely among my most awesome experiences with getting help with trail finding. We later heard him talk about the eruption, and he had the perfect balance between providing good information and being a solid storyteller. Highly recommend coming up here and taking some time to hike around! read more

Johnston Ridge Observatory - Getting lots of learning in the noggin with Andrew - Observatories Near Me - Toutle, Washington

08/28/11 (Last Visited) Nice view of the mountain and valley. Never been here so really glad we came. The walk from parking lot to the obsevatory was short. The view from outside is amazing and free. Excellent views of the crater. This visitor center has grand sweeping views, a movie and some other arifacts. The movies are about a half hour and worth seeing. There were several children watching the movies who appeared to be enjoying them. I highly recommend the movie, which told the story of the devastation and subsequent regeneration of the area. They are worth the entrance fee ($8). The visitors center had excellent information and the view of the crater is a photographers dream. There's a gift shop and bathroom facilities. There are also hiking trails, there is also a near by lake which has a picnic benches. Well worth the drive if you are in the Seattle or Portland areas. *Located at the end of State Highway 504 (52 miles east of Castle Rock), in the heart of the blast zone, the observatory hosts interpretive displays that tell the biological, geological, and human story of Mount St. Helens. Visitors to Johnston Ridge Observatory can enjoy multiple award-winning films, listen to ranger talks, observe the landscape, purchase souvenirs, set off on a hike, or get a light lunch from the food cart. Check out the annual summer Music on the Mountain series held throughout summer at the Johnston Ridge Observatory outdoor amphitheater (in partnership with the Cowlitz County Economic Development Council and the Mount St. Helens Institute). read more

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If you go all the way up the mountain to the end of the road, you will make it to the Johnston Ridge Observatory. I recommend a visit. You will need to pay inside for admission that includes parking and walking around the decks and trails outside. If you have a national parks pass, you get in free. They offer a nice movie and when its over, the screen lifts to show windows that view Mt. St. Helens. The outdoor decks offer the same view. It is the closest you can get without hiking. We found a food truck in the parking lot and a small shop in the lobby. Expect to spend about 30 minutes or more there. read more

Awesome! It's worth the drive up there and you get the closest views of Mount St. Helens - and it's worth the inexpensive fee to go in and look at all the interesting displays and watch the video. We hiked along some of the trails right there as well and the views are just breathtaking! read more

Johnston Ridge Observatory - Observatories Near Me - Toutle, Washington

Johnston Ridge was a great place to learn about the volcano that literally turned day into night in the state of Washington. It was such a beautiful drive. Once you get off of the interstate and onto to the drive that takes you up the mountain, you get some of the best views you will see in the US! You can also stop and pick some berries on the way! Once you get there, the views of Mount Saint Helens are incredible. It feels like it's only been a few years since the volcano erupted. It's almost an eerie feeling because there is no wildlife there and no plants where the ash and mudslide came down from the eruption. Not only do I think this is a good place to go for visitors but it's definitely a place for Washington state locals also. I highly recommend checking it out! read more

Johnston Ridge Observatory - This is mount saint Helens directly from the observatory! - Observatories Near Me - Toutle, Washington

I wasn't quite to fond of this observetory. First it cost $8 per person to go inside the visitor center to look at pictures. 2nd it cost $25 or more to go up to the outlook for a 360 view. If you trespass it's a $500 fine! View didn't seem that exciting from the base. We skip this observetory and saved us a Benjamin. read more

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I love the outdoors. I also love history. This is the place for people who love either or both of those. The history behind the eruption is fascinating and sobering. I think about the people who died during the explosion and those who helped others survive. They all sacrificed for the betterment of humanity. The views on Mt. St Helens was spectacular. It was a clear day and in the 50's. The mountain was almost completely filled with snow but you could see the crater. It is also amazing to see how mankind helped build the area up after the explosion. Not to mention, it's incredible how the earth rebuilt itself after the explosion. All in all, you should make it a point to come here. read more

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So this place is quite a ways out of the way. It's super overpriced at $8/person for admission, but had some great views and the flowers blooming were beautiful! read more

Johnston Ridge Observatory - Observatories Near Me - Toutle, Washington

This was a first for us & something that was on my husband's bucket list. He remembered when it erupted & was fascinated by it. Johnston Ridge Observatory had the best view point of Mount St. Helen's devastation. We listened to the park ranger's presentation of the story of Mount St. Helens. He was a fast talking & funny guy. Very informative. After that we watched a 17 minute movie of what happened on the morning of May 18, 1980 @ 8:32 am. Pretty scary. There are a lot of informative displays & interactive stations. I really didn't realize until this day how many active volcanos there are in this area. Luckily, before a volcano erupts, you usually have at least a two week warning. read more

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half the fun of the destination is the journey. Highway 504 is a perfect road for any motorcycle or sports car enthusiast. Long sweeping turns with a few hairpin turns, plenty of turn offs at viewpoints to snap photos of the beautiful scenery we have here in WA. Sitting at the peak is the Johnston Ridge Observatory. A relatively outdated building but filled with history and a picture perfect view of the world famous Mt. St. Helens. There is ample parking a top with a nice little food truck to feed your hunger. Plenty of hiking trails (must pay a park fee) to take part in and plenty of park benches to sit back and breath in fresh mountain air. Inside the observatory you will learn all about Mt. St. Helens and the eruption. You can see lava rocks, learn how the explosion created crevices and pretty much reshaped the land around it. There is a short movie that explains what happened and how and why the mountain erupted, but be warned as it is a "Blair Witch Project" kind of cinematography so if you get headaches or motion sickness easily - it wouldn't be the best thing to watch. Overall a cool place to visit if you've never been and a better place to ride to if you enjoy scenic views and a fun run. read more

Johnston Ridge Observatory - Sunday funday - Observatories Near Me - Toutle, Washington

I would highly suggest listening to the park rangers explanation on the history. They seem to present about once an hour. Very informative! Other points to note: -The movie was pretty cheesy. -There is a hiking trail that will take you 35 miles to Mt. Saint Adams. -You can see Spirit Lake from the ridge. -They have a small selection of snacks and many trinkets for purchase inside the visitor center. read more

Johnston Ridge Observatory - Observatories Near Me - Toutle, Washington

Excellent place to learn about, not only the eruption, but also the effect the eruption had on scientific knowledge of volcano eruptions. It is beautiful to see even after all that destruction, the earth, with no help from humans, can rebound and flourish again. This visitor center is placed in a way so you can get a real understanding what happened that fateful day. The rangers are all very knowledgable and their presentations should not be missed. The movies also, greatly contribute to understanding what happened and how the area is recovering. Glad this will be protected into the future as we have much to learn from how nature heals itself. read more

Johnston Ridge Observatory - Wildflowers on the area once decimated by Mount St. Helens which is in the background. View from Johnston Ridge Observatory. - Observatories Near Me - Toutle, Washington

We came here last Monday on a family outing. I am a native PNW-er and it was my first time. (I know... I know... pathetic). The observatory is really great. There is so much to look at even for being such a small place. They have 2 movies that show every hour (about 20 minutes each) and I could stay and watch them all day. Well, except for the small fact that one of them gives me a headache as it is a fast moving camera (modeling after the explosion and landslides) and the seats are really short and uncomfortable. The windows are large and anyone can see the view, indoors and out. I was so proud to be from the PNW and this was an incredible event to learn about. Monday the cloud cover was really low so we could not see the mountain and that was a little saddening, but it was fun none the less. And thanks for the commemorative penny! read more

Last week I made my regular trip to Mt. St. Helens for a hike with my wife and our new little baby. I remember the park charging to enter the Observatory, but I don't remember them charging to hike! To use any of the trails and around the observatory, you need to pay $6. Not cool! But, I guess that is the result of a tough economy. The Observatory is nice, but small. There are videos and pictures of the explosion and you can read first hand accounts of people who lived in the area. There is also a movie you can attend. It is cool, but you can see everything in a matter of 30 minutes or less. Don't waste your time in the observatory. Take a $6 hike and see the results of the explosion. It won't take you very long before you are walking in fields of fallen trees that were ripped down by the blast. If you are a "real" hiker, you can go far enough to see mangled vehicles and logging equipment. The views are great. Don't waste too much time inside. read more

An Absolute Must! The views from here are nothing short of amazing. It is easy to see the devastation caused by the last eruption and the beginnings of what will be the next eruption. There is a great visitor center and trails to walk, so it is possible to spend many hours here. What makes this location even more powerful is knowing how it got its name. read more

Wow !!! This place is awesome. It must have been d deadly scary when this mountain erupted on May 18, 1980. I never thought I will see this devastation up and close and personal. This Ridge is right up where you can see the crater. You can actually see hour this mountain erupted. It was a sideway eruption and the whole side of the mountain was gone. Land slide and lots of volcanic debris. I believe the valley down this ridge was risen up to 150 feet after the eruption. That was the debris of the whole mountain. Thai ridge was named after a very brave geologist/seismologists who died 1/2 a mile away doing his job. Daniel Johnston, I read stuck around to monitor the activities prior to the eruption. He was here in the negginin when the activities was got more and more frequent, a sign of an up coming eruption. Many lives was saved. Although were 50+ casualties, but thousands were weeks before the main eruption. I have read back then about the heroic action from this man. That named this ridge in his honor. Love you ever visit the beautiful state of Washington, make a note and visit historic national monument. read more

Come on Seattle and Portland, this is only an hour or two away! Maybe I am jaded being from the midwest, and any hill or valley is a mighty impressive thing to me, but this is truly magnificent! The highlight was when we were standing there on the ridge, looking at Mt. St Helens in the distance (5 miles they say, even though it looks like it is across the street, were there streets between, that is) and a cloud came up over us and obscured everything but what was directly in front of us. Thats right, we were standing in a cloud. Friggin awesome. read more

My husband and I are cheap. Er, budget oriented. So, the last time we were on Mt. St. Helens, we didn't want to pay the admission fee to the Observatory. That was a mistake--on this trip, we paid the admission, and discovered that the view from the terrace is amazing. Also, the movie inside the visitor center is pretty amazing, too. Also amazing were two of the ranger talks we heard--one on how the plant life has (or hasn't) recovered and why, and one on the terrace sharing first hand accounts of what it was like to be on the mountain the day it blew. Not particularly amazing are the exhibits (I have a professional museum background, so I'm allowed to be judgey). But, again, that view! Those ranger talks. Totally worth it. read more

Great views, if you want to actually go to the balcony and see the main view your supposed to pay entry for the tour... even though you can just walk to the edge. Anyways, I won't tell if you won't. read more

Johnston Ridge Observatory - Mt St Helens - Observatories Near Me - Toutle, Washington

Go for the free view. You can park, walk around, hike, whatever without paying. You only have to pay for the museum, which is small, mediocre as museums go, and overpriced - $8 each to see and read everything in about 30 minutes or so. The high school or college kids or whatever they were at the counter were clearly bored out of their mind. The girl at the info counter was reading a book and didn't acknowledge visitors until they said, "Excuse me." read more

She'll be coming 'round the mountain when she comes... When the weather is more agreeable, get in your car & take a long, long drive to see creation at her finest. Of course, try to go on a clear, sunny day. It's a little over a 2 hour drive, 100 miles NE from Portland. At 4200 feet, the observatory appears relatively new, with a decent size museum-like lobby with a model of the volcanic terrain, before/after shots, & machines showing ongoing seismic activity. It also has a cool theater with an ILM-esque movie about the volcano. When the movie ended, the curtains rise to a spectacular view of...fog. Minus 1 star for nature shrouding the crown jewel in fog. If you can, wait until later in summer when the nearby snow has melted. But still, for a city gal, it was awesome to be outside, enjoy the crisp air, vast forests of trees and valleys, feel immensely tiny, & see glimpses of her greatness, Mt. St. Helen. read more

Great close views of Mount St Helens. Epic sight of the destruction and ongoing recovery. A long drive up there but worth it. Make sure you have plenty of gasoline before you make the trip. I would stop at the free Weyerhaeuser volcano center on the way up for lots of information about the eruption and their timber harvesting after the blast and reforestation efforts. There is little information at the observatory itself other than a 20 minute movie that plays every half hour and some outdoor placards. In the past there wasn't food available at the observatory but when we visited on a Saturday there was a food truck in the parking lot which I'm sure was a welcome addition for many. We brought lunch in a cooler on our trip up, along with lots of water. You can enjoy the outdoor views of the mountain for free. You have to pay for admission to the visitor's center, or free with your America the Beautiful card or whatever it's called now. There isn't much inside the visitor's center other than a gift shop and the movie. You can access the bathrooms inside the visitor's center without paying to enter the center itself. read more

Spend the day hiking to enjoy the vast volcano. Observatory is loud with the families taking in the breathtaking view but it's fun to hear all the inquisitive questions. read more

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We visited the observatory in July 4th right when it opened so I think we were not only there at a quiet time of day but also on a quiet day (in general) for them. The observatory is very pretty and clean. The staff is friendly as well. I'd say it's more geared toward adults because there is a lot of reading on the walls but there is interesting bits for the kids too (personal stories and pics from those who experienced the eruption up close, volcano facts, a diorama of the volcano, place to make flattened pennies as a souvenir, etc). There is a cute gift shop and a beautiful theater where they show a video of the details of the eruption. Pros: beautiful observatory. The stories of people who experienced the eruption up close were fascinating to read. The video was interesting. Clean bathrooms! (Always something I mention). Cons: there was a video malfunction so they couldn't play the first video so we had to wait another 15 minutes while they tried to figure out what was going on. The staff was very nice and you could tell the woman was frustrated with the equipment. I've been there when technology fails so I felt for her but she handled it like a champ. That's the only real con and according to my boyfriend (whose been there a few times) he's never had that issue with the video so I think it was a fluke. Important to note: We couldn't see the mountain today because it was cloudy so definitely check the weather before going. If it's cloudy there's a good chance you may not be able to see the mountain which actually kind of sucks after that long drive and going through the video inside. We went hiking on the trails and saw a lot of beautiful wild flowers, chipmunks, and birds. It's not too hilly and I imagine when it's sunny it must be gorgeous. I want to go again when it's sunny so I can see the beautiful volcano! read more

Wow, wow WOW! Come here to get the BEST view of Mt. St. Helens. The park rangers were great and informative as well. We were unable to watch the video but heard it was a great one by other people around. I highly recommending driving all the way up here! We came here twice. Once on a Saturday afternoon which was PACKED. Then on Monday morning which was very quiet and few people. It was much nicer with it being not as busy. *If you are military, make sure to get a national parks pass (FREE for Military) beforehand and you can use it here for free entrance* read more

Excellent views of Mt St Helen's from here. Good museum about the eruptions. The Observatory is about 45 minutes from the Hwy 5. It's a nice drive on a curvy road with multiple view points of the mountain along the way. Don't bring your dog because they must stay in the parking lot. read more

Johnston Ridge Observatory - Pano of Mt St Helens - Observatories Near Me - Toutle, Washington

Went here are what seemed to be a beautiful afternoon. The drive up was completely dry, gorgeous, and cloudy. We did have a dog in the car and dogs are not allowed at the top, keep this in mind! It was a very cool afternoon and the dog was fine with food and water in the car. The observatory has a lot of very interesting information. We spent a long time reading and looking at all the information inside. Not to mention a very interesting video. The views i am sure are usually stunning but unfortunately it was so cloudy so we couldn't see much more than the valley floor. So we were very disappointed with the weather but not the observatory. We didn't enjoy our trip any less. It was all very informative and the ride was just as enjoyable as the end. For those who enjoy hiking, bring your shoes and plenty of water. There are trails abound from the observatory. read more

Amazingly beautiful. The rangers are very knowledgeable and friendly. I would recommend going during the eruption anniversary as many of the geologist that are world class experts on volcanology will be there. Get in touch with your inner nerd. Bring water and hiking shoes as there are beautiful trails to be conquered. read more

Great place to see first hand in person what a volcano looks like and the devastation it creates. Before you drive all the way up approx 59 miles or approx 80 km, Stop at "19 Mile House" approx 19 miles from I-5, enjoy a Great meal, because on the mountain at the observatory you can buy a $ 6.89 hot dog wow that's $14 plus tax and No drink.. Inside seating or view the river on the patio. Try the beer battered fries.. The observatory is Fantastic, take your kids, family and enjoy. From Portland it's approx 2 to 3 hour trip and really nice day trip. read more