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    Mount St. Helens Forest Learning Center

    4.6 (18 reviews)
    Closed 10:00 am - 4:00 pm

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    Nicho S.

    Great learning center to learn some of the history of Mount St. Helens. They have a really nice gift shop, clean restrooms, friendly staff, tons of parking, a good angle for a picture of Mount St Helens and really nice 3/4 mile forest hike. Also adding, keep driving! They have 3 more way better peaks to take better angles of St Helens.

    Craig B.

    Mount St. Helen's is a park with two attractions: mountains and lakes with miles of trails, similar to what's found in other Washington national parks, and the volcano. We did a short walk around one of the lakes. It had the same feeling and terrain I found in New Mexico. It was dry, the leaves were yellow, yet the temperature was very mild. It made me think of New Mexico because I have only been to New Mexico in the Fall. We would've explored more of the trails while we were there, but Washington was still struggling through forest fire smoke after a dry summer. I can drive around smoky areas, but I can't hike in them. The volcano is more impressive as a piece of history and a geological force than as a picture. The area around the volcano is still barren but it was fascinating to understand the force of the eruption. Instead of a shower of lava, the force of the eruption broke off half of the mountain and pushed it toward the coast, demolishing everything in its path.

    Amazing views that you don't even need binoculars for.
    Josh B.

    I only stopped here because I had to turn around on my way to Johnston Ridge. I have never driven into a cloud before by let me tell you, it was scary as all get out when you can't see the road in front of you. I was going uphill and the road was surrounded by a thick cloud. Everyone was going well under the speed limit because no one could see. I went with my gut and decided to turn around as the clouds seemed to not be looking as if they would be going anywhere anytime soon....typical pacnw, am I right? I thought that maybe the cloud would just blow over and I could keep on truckin' to my destination. This was not the case, so rather risk getting in an accident or driving off a cliff I turned around. I'm glad I did because the Mt St Helens Forest Learning Center is a great place to stop and get some great views of Mount St. Helens, buy some gifts from the gift shop, and learn a little bit about the Mount Saint Helens landscape area. Don't forget to bring your camera or cellphone because if you go around the back of the learning center there is a little paved trail where you can walk up to two viewpoints and get a gorgeous view of the valley below. This also helped me see even further that the clouds weren't going anywhere since I could see huge clouds in the distance. Oh well! Maybe next time I'll make it to Johnston Ridge.

    Sherill Y.

    08/28/11 (Last Visited) On the drive up to St. Mt. Helens, you can stop off and see the views of the volcano and the river valley. Very informative. I watched the film containing the news coverage of the Mt. St. Helens eruption. We found the information very well presented, and the film had the most actual footage of the eruption and its aftermath. There are three visitor centers on spirit lake highway. This one is by Weyerhaeuser and is free. The hands on exhibit are great for children and adults. They have some good exhibits on the local history of the area. Great displays of wildlife and the volcano impacts. There is a nice playground outside. I don't know that this visitors center is any better then any others, unless you have small kids. There is no charge for this facility which makes it an even better place to enjoy if you have a large family. Free to park and enter, and needn't cost a cent for your whole visit as spend is optional. Yes, the gift shop is expensive (aren't they all?). Just stop in and check it out! *The Mt. St. Helens Forest Learning Center is located inside the blast zone of the May 18, 1980 eruption of Mount St. Helens on Highway 504. It is a partnership between Weyerhaeuser Company, Washington State Department of Transportation and the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation. The Visitor Center is open to the public free of charge. Walk through a life-like forest and experience the Eruption Chamber. Learn about forest recovery, reforestation and conservation of forest resources.

    Nikita H.

    We stopped here on our drive up to Mt. St. Helen's mostly because we saw "scenic viewpoint" signs and wanted a nice lookout. There's a little movie to start with some history of the mountain and actual news footage of the event. Then it leads you through a museum of the history of the area which was great. The gift shop was small but a lot of people commend it apparently. We ended up driving all the way to Johnston Ridge Observatory to get as close to Mt. St. Helen's as we could, but we didn't go inside so I can't compare it to Forest Learning Center. You still get a great view of the mountain from here and it was a nice little stopping point on the drive to stretch your legs and see the views.

    Chen Z.

    A good stop to relax and enjoy the view. Mountain, vast landacape and what the power of the volcano can do to the land.

    A view of Mount St Helens from the parking lot.

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    Review Highlights - Mount St. Helens Forest Learning Center

    The area around the volcano is still barren but it was fascinating to understand the force of the eruption.

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    The Columbia Gorge Museum - The display in the room with the rosaries

    The Columbia Gorge Museum

    4.9(20 reviews)
    49.2 mi

    Nice little stop on our way home in the gorge. We got to see a lot of indigenous items as well as a…read morerestored airplane and huge steam engine. It's very ADA accessible, restroom, hallways, etc. No stairs on the way in. You have a nice little gift shop if you want a memento.

    The Columbia Gorge museum sits riverside of the Columbia River and through the century explores the…read moreformation and living life around it. There is much history here ranging from the American Indians, settlers, European explorers, immigrants, the lifestyle and hardships endured and more here at the museum. There are many stories you can read about and information on periods during the Gorge's history. The Skamania County historical society collect, preserve and display all sorts of tools, trinkets and more from the time period all related to the Gorge and all involved. There are many generous donors as noted on many of the displays which is cool. In the yard, there are old vehicles and construction equipment of the early days showing how supplies and timber were moved. They are worn and rusted but adds to its historical significance. The museum is about 3 floors, the 2nd floor is small, but packed with information about the nature around the gorge. There are theaters that show short features of the environment about the gorge. Depending on how deep your fascination for this goes, you could spend about 2 hours here a bit more if you read and examine all the displays. This museum is a perfect field trip for a school or parents looking to educate their youngsters about the history of the area. Even then, if you enjoy Pacific Northwest history, definitely add this to your list of museums to visit.

    Photos
    The Columbia Gorge Museum - Super cool airplane hanging from the ceiling

    Super cool airplane hanging from the ceiling

    The Columbia Gorge Museum - Ana Rugani recycled woodframed are handed made and painted different types of canvas

    Ana Rugani recycled woodframed are handed made and painted different types of canvas

    The Columbia Gorge Museum

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    Mt St Helens Visitor Center  - Interior

    Mt St Helens Visitor Center

    4.5(68 reviews)
    20.1 mi

    Very beautiful visitor center. It reopened in 2025 after being closed for renovations and I have to…read moresay, the architecture is GORGEOUS with vaulted ceilings and large windows to let in the surroundings. There's wood paneling which helps you feel immersed into nature. There's an informational desk about the area, helpful for visitors newish to the area or those with questions. The gift shop is also accessible with the usual offerings of post cards, tchotchkes, and such. Do note that the restrooms are accessible outdoors at the side of the building. There's a pay area part of the center which is $5/18+, $2.50/7-17, free for 6 years old or younger, and family $15 for 2 adults and children 7-17 years old. They also honor veteran's disabled pass, WA state disabled pass, and senior limited income pass. It's definitely worth the admission, since there's a lot of exhibits explaining the geology of the area, the flora and fauna, the native peoples, and the later commercial and recreational uses of the area. There's even a place where you can walk into a huge mock up of Mt St Helens! Very fun. They have a short film playing about the eruption too. I didn't get to explore much outside as it was super rainy, but I saw a boardwalk trail out in the back. I did not see Mt St Helens due to the weather, but I'll be back when the weather is nicer!

    Just stopped in to get a map and road conditions. you can…read morepay a small fee and see the exhibits. Discounts for Washington Residents only.

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    Mt St Helens Visitor Center
    Mt St Helens Visitor Center
    Mt St Helens Visitor Center  - Exhibits

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    Exhibits

    Columbia River Maritime Museum - (6/17/25)

    Columbia River Maritime Museum

    4.4(172 reviews)
    68.7 mi

    The Native cultural exhibits were delightfully narrative-forward, giving context to a…read morerepresentative collection of artifacts, fishing, hunting, a fabulous display of the amazing use of the cedar tree. It's truly top notch, and as my old man builds, scripts and funds museums, I've been to more than my share. The variety of exhibits, the excellence of the writing in the narratives (the one on the Coast Guard rescues in the bar is heart wrenching and moving), and the sweep of the architecture make this a truly excellent museum. I didn't have any issue with the staff as some have written about, and I cannot imagine anything they could have done diminishing my enjoyment of this museum. I look forward to visiting the new addition when it is completed.

    The women at check in and the hostess for the 3D movies have piss poor attitudes and customer…read moreservice. Not only do they look like they hate their life but they're not polite to any of the guests here. Gorgeous museum but the customer service is on par with the rest of Clatsop county LOL (bummy and full of a bunch of Has-Been/ Wanna Be's.) Tainted my experience from the second I walked in. I recommend hiring younger people that have life still. Get rid of the miserable staff, you'd be doing everyone a favor

    Photos
    Columbia River Maritime Museum - My ticket for the Columbia Lightship!!

    My ticket for the Columbia Lightship!!

    Columbia River Maritime Museum - You can tour the inside of the Columbia Lightship! It's so cool!

    You can tour the inside of the Columbia Lightship! It's so cool!

    Columbia River Maritime Museum - Museum entry to all exhibits

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    Museum entry to all exhibits

    Portland Art Museum - 9/11/2024 - 'Monet to Matisse: French Moderns', Dress of the Morning, Oil on canvas, 1946 - Yves Tanguy

    Portland Art Museum

    4.2(407 reviews)
    56.5 miDowntown, Southwest Portland

    I love visiting museums whenever I'm in different states, and the Portland Museum of Art was a…read morereally nice little surprise. There's so much to see from classic paintings to modern installations and the layout makes it easy to explore at your own pace. I really enjoyed discovering different exhibits and spending a few hours soaking up the art. The staff were friendly, and the museum has a welcoming vibe. Definitely worth a visit if you're in Portland!

    The Portland Art Museum is a must-visit if you are ever in Portland. If you have some free time,…read morepossibly a free half day this is a great place to come by. I came in the morning until the afternoon, and it was not busy. There were some school children and some random adults in here but since this place is big it felt quite calm and cool just to hang out and look at all the different types of art. The main reason why I came here was to look at Yoshida Chizuko's work which has an amazing story about how her life was and how she became an artist. Here has many different styles of art and honestly I had a lot of fun here, I spent half my day here enjoying each level, room, and just a unique layout! It is a must-visit museum!!

    Photos
    Portland Art Museum - Laika clay animation exhibit. Adding some memories of  earlier visits

    Laika clay animation exhibit. Adding some memories of earlier visits

    Portland Art Museum - Laika clay animation exhibit. Adding some memories of  earlier visits

    Laika clay animation exhibit. Adding some memories of earlier visits

    Portland Art Museum - 9/11/2024 -'Monet to Matisse: French Moderns'. Dress of the Morning, Oil on canvas, 1946 - Yves Tanguy

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    9/11/2024 -'Monet to Matisse: French Moderns'. Dress of the Morning, Oil on canvas, 1946 - Yves Tanguy

    Mount St. Helens Forest Learning Center - hiking - Updated May 2026

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