The Mt St Helens Adventure Tour from Portland

4.7
(41 reviews)

11 to 12 hours (approximately)
Pickup offered
Offered in: English

Travel to Mount Saint Helens and environs, from Portland, on this ALL-INCLUSIVE tour with a guide who will discuss the geology, ecology, climate, history, and legends of the area, as well as the history of US public lands. Your guide will lead you on hikes near waterfalls, through lava tubes, and within oldgrowth forests.

You will see some of the most unique geological features in North America, including North America's longest continuous lava tube and a lava tree mold forest. Weather permitting, you will be driven to the closest viewpoint into the crater of the volcano, where you will be provided a picnic lunch, overlooking Spirit Lake. No matter how hot the weather, you'll enjoy natural air conditioning as you hike by dramatic waterfalls and through primeval forest. You'll have the option of a dinner/beer stop (own expense) on the way back to Portland. *THIS IS A 12-HOUR TOUR*

What's Included

If weather does not allow mountain visibility, a modified itinerary will take you to bonus stops.
Bottled water
Snacks
Lunch
Hotel pickup/drop-off in Portland area
Air-conditioned vehicle
Headlamps
Gratuities
PA system to hear guide while driving
Professional naturalist guide
Hotel pickup/drop-off in Seattle area
Hotel pickup/drop-off in Hillsboro

Meeting and pickup

Pickup points
You can choose a pickup location at checkout (multiple pickup locations are available).
Pickup details:

*We do not guarantee pickup at your hotel, as we consolidate pickups to 3 locations. We also do not do pickups in Hillsboro.* We will contact you the evening prior to confirm pickup location and time.

OR
Meeting point
End point
This activity ends back at the meeting point.

Itinerary

Duration: 11 to 12 hours (approximately)
  • 1

    Travel to Mt. St. Helens and environs with a naturalist guide who will discuss the geology, ecology, climate, history, and legends of the area, as well as the history of US public lands. Your guide will lead you on hikes near waterfalls, through lava tubes, and within oldgrowth forests. Stops both inside and outside of Mt. St. Helens National Volcanic Monument.

    7 hours Admission ticket included
  • 2

    Traverse North America's longest continuous lava tube! No matter how hot it is outside, the temperature in the cave is a constant 42F (5.5C), so bring layers. Also, be sure to bring shoes that are suitable for scrambling, and wipe those shoes before entering the bats' home so that they don't get white-nose syndrome!

    1 hour Admission ticket included
  • 3

    A lava mold forest. Walk through a wonderland of wells and tunnels, that's hard to pull kids away from.

    20 minutes Admission ticket included
  • 4

    Weather permitting, we'll take you to the closest viewpoint with a view into the crater that is accessible by vehicle. There you'll have a picnic lunch, and have the opportunity to burn off your lunch by ascending the 357 stairs to a 365-degree view overlooking Spirit Lake, with the mountain looming. If conditions are clear enough, you'll see four stratovolcanoes: St. Helens, Rainier, Adams, and Hood.

    1 hour Admission ticket included
  • (Pass by)

    The place where Dave Johnston got on the radio and yelled "Vancouver! Vancouver! This is it!", the fateful morning of May 18, 1980.

    Admission ticket free
  • (Pass by)

    The visitor center with the most detailed history and geology of Mt. St. Helens.

    Admission ticket free
  • (Pass by)

    A fairytale landscape of sapphire waterfalls and blue-grey andesite that were scoured and smoothed by the 1980 lahar resulting from the rapid melting of the Shoestring Glacier by pyroclastic flows.

    Admission ticket free
  • (Pass by)

    The visitor center that provides a special retro experience, with a movie about Mt. St. Helens circa 1985, and a 1990s-era Disneyland Haunted Mansion-style park ranger statue, who will give you a lecture.

    Admission ticket free

Additional info

  • Not recommended for travelers with spinal injuries
  • Not recommended for pregnant travelers
  • Not recommended for travelers with poor cardiovascular health
  • Travelers should have at least a moderate level of physical fitness
  • This tour operates in all weather conditions, and the cave is 42F (5.5C). Please dress in layers.
  • We recommend shoes that are suitable for minor rock climbing (i.e. scrambling/bouldering).
Supplied by Terran Travels

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Tags

Day Trips
Hiking Tours
Full-day Tours
Bus Tours
Private and Luxury
Walking Tours
Ports of Call Tours
Underground Tours
Nature Walks
Luxury Car Tours
Shore Excursions
Small Group
Excellent Quality
Adventure Tours
Port Pickup
Short term availability

Cancellation Policy

For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.

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Rating

4.7 Based on 41 41 reviews
5 stars
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