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Current Conditions
Mount St. Helens Climbing Route
Last update: June 17, 2025
Scroll for detailed description of current conditions.
Want more info about climbing Mount St. Helens? Visit our climbing page.
Want support during your climb? Check out our guided adventures for more information about summit climbs with the Mount St. Helens Institute.
Have a report to share? Email us!
Visit USGS' live feed to see current conditions from the north side.
Rim west of Monitor Ridge. Stay back at least 30' from the edge to avoid cornice danger!
Sagging cornice at the summit. Stay back!
Rim melting out at the summit.
Worm flows route - melted out with exposed boulders
Worm flows route. Photos courtesy of MSHI Volunteers and Guides unless otherwise noted.
Roads
ROADS: FS-83 and Marble Mountain Sno-Park parking areas are snow-free. Road work has commenced on sections of the FS-83 and subsequent closures are reroutes are possible. FS-81 and the gravel 830 road leading to the Climber's Bivouac Trailhead are snow free. The gravel 830 rd is rough and very bumpy, but passable in any vehicle.
Climbing Route
CLIMBING ROUTE: Monitor Ridge Route, aka Summer Route from Climber's Bivouac is OPEN. Expect a few inches of snow accumulation during weekend storms forecasted for Friday 6/20 and Saturday 6/21. Light rain is forecast for the trailhead, with light to moderate snow above 5,000 feet (1,524 m). Expect patchy snow and downed trees in the forest. The Winter Route, aka "Worm Flows" from Marble Mountain Sno-Park is also open and suitable for climbing. If glissading on either route, WATCH FOR THE GLIDE CRACKS above 7,000 ft (2,133 m) moving laterally East/West. The largest crack on the Worm Flows (Winter) Route is over 12" wide, very deep and has portions under snow bridges (invisible underfoot). Stay well clear or take the boulders around.
CORNICE WARNING: The rim cornice is beginning to sag below the rim and still overhangs the rim 20+ feet (6+ m) (see photo). As the rim melts out, stay off the snow beyond the rim. A fatality occurred on March 30, 2024 when the cornice collapsed under the weight of only one individual. STAY BACK - STAY ALIVE.
Cornice
CORNICE WARNING: The rim cornice is beginning to sag below the rim and still overhangs the rim 20+ feet (6+ m) (see photo). As the rim melts out, stay off the snow beyond the rim. A fatality occurred on March 30, 2024 when the cornice collapsed under the weight of only one individual. STAY BACK - STAY ALIVE.
Avalanche Conditions
AVALANCHE CONDITIONS: NWAC Avalanche foreasting has concluded for the '24/'25 season. It is your responsibility to decide when, where and how to travel. Make sure you have the experience and skills to evaluate avalanche danger, and match your terrain choices to the conditions. Give the highest priority to observations of recent avalanches and other signs of instability, such as shooting cracks, rollerballs, significant snowfall/wind loading and rapid or prolonged warming.
During avalanche season, regularly check the Northwest Avalanche Center for up to date information.
BE PREPARED
BE PREPARED: Know the types and uses of traction devices, ice ax, and self-arrest techniques. Know the forecast at all elevations before your climb, have cold/wet weather layers and redundant navigational aides (map, compass and GPS) for low-visibility conditions. Have GPS basemaps and tracks in your navigation device before you go and look for pole cairns that mark the route above treeline.
PERMITTING: Washington Sno-Park Permit required as of Dec 1. Refer to the recreation and permitting site for current permit dates, prices and limitations. Information about Washington State sno-park passes can be found here.
CLIMBING ROUTE: Refer to the recreation and permitting site for current permit dates, prices and limitations. Climbing information from the Mount St. Helens Institute is found here.
LEAVE NO TRACE: Climbers are required to utilize blue bags to pack out all human or pet waste, including toilet paper.
CAMPING: There is dispersed camping and pit toilets available at the trailhead, but no running water, and bathroom services may be limited so please bring your own toilet paper, soap, water, or hand sanitizer. Please plan accordingly.
ADDITIONAL FORECASTING AND CONDITION GUIDES
U.S. FOREST SERVICE
See the U.S. Forest Service Mount St. Helens National Volcanic Monument website for more information.
FIRE
Incident Information System has the most up to date info on all fires (prescribed or wild) around the country, or Northwest Interagency Coordination Center. Visit Washington Smoke Information, Washington's Air Monitoring Network and AirNow for the latest in Air Quality and forecasting.
WEATHER
Weather.gov point forecasts- Marble Mountain SnoPark (2,700ft) and mid-slope (6,200ft). Mountain-Forecast.com provides forecasts at three different elevations: summit 8,328ft, mid-slope 6,500ft and just above the trailhead 3,200ft.
AVALANCHE
Visit the Northwest Weather and Avalanche Center for the most up-to-date avalanche forecast information during winter months.
SNOWPACK
Visit these SNOTEL sites for recent snow pack readings on the south side of Mount St. Helens- June Lake (3,400ft) and Swift Creek (4,400ft).
This conditions report is provided in conjunction with the US Forest Service, and is intended for personal and recreational purposes only. Safe backcountry travel requires preparation and planning, and this information may be used for planning purposes but does not provide all the information necessary for backcountry travel. Advanced mountaineering education is strongly encouraged for winter climbing.
The user acknowledges that it is impossible to accurately predict natural events in every instance, and the accuracy or reliability of the information provided here is not guaranteed in any way. This report describes general conditions and local variations will always occur. This report expires 24 hours after the posted time unless noted otherwise.