Mount St. Helens is OPEN during the government shutdown

This means many government employees, including those that support the Mount St. Helens National Volcanic Monument, may not to come to work until a budget is passed. Conditions may change over time; please continue to check this page for current updates regarding Mount St. Helens accessibility due to the shutdown.

Mount St. Helens National Volcanic Monument staff are dedicated to the place and will be maintaining operations as much as possible in accordance with shutdown procedures.

Here is what to expect at Mount St. Helens:

• Trails are open! Some recreation staff are furloughed, so expect lower levels of maintenance including trash pickup and toilet paper stocking. Please pack out your trash and bring your own toilet paper and human waste disposal bags.
• Ape Cave is open! Please purchase tickets in advance of your visit at recreation.gov. Ape Cave closes for the season November 1.
• Windy Ridge is open! When winter arrives, Forest Road 99 (the access road to Windy Ridge) will close due to snow.
• The Science and Learning Center is closed to the public. Area trails including the Hummocks, Birth of a Lake, Lakes, and South Coldwater trails are open.
• The USFS Mount St. Helens National Volcanic Monument administration office in Amboy is closed. The front desk is closed and in-person permit sales are not available.
• Furloughed staff means that fewer Forest Rangers are out and about. Thankfully, MSHI roving volunteers are continuing to support the Forest Service and visiting public during this time. We are deeply grateful to these dedicated volunteers, who are carrying an extra heavy load while staffing is reduced. Please exercise care when recreating on the Monument as support services are limited.

You can find more information about responsible recreation here.

Updated: 10/6/25