Fall Family Fun on the South Side of Mount St. Helens

Hiking in the fall is my absolute favorite, especially around Mount St. Helens. Even if rain or clouds obscure the volcano, it is worth hiking the monument’s trails this time of year. There is a peaceful stillness up on the mountain as it gets ready to be blanketed in snow for the months to come. The fall season on the volcano brings changing leaves, colorful mushrooms, and a crisp chill in the air, as well as fewer biting insects! The trails also tend to be less crowded, making it easier to connect with one another on the trail.

Speaking of connecting, it’s important to remember to keep hiking in our natural areas after kids go back to school and start back up with sports and extracurriculars. Staying connected to each other and to nature is more important than ever during this busy time.

In regards to the timing of seasonal changes, vine maples should start turning vivid red, yellow, and orange in late-September. Bigleaf maple, red alder, and cottonwood trees should start turning bright yellow in late October. The vibrancy of changing leaf colors does seem to vary each year based on environmental conditions. Throughout fall, mushrooms will be popping up. Consider bringing a mushroom guide with you to identify. Many mushrooms are poisonous and harvesting them is prohibited in the monument. Looking without touching is always best. If kids want to interact with a mushroom, I recommend bringing a little hand mirror and magnifying glass for kids to use. Using a nature journal to document the shapes and colors of the mushrooms, as well as any leaves you encounter, is also a great way for kids (and adults) to bring a little bit of nature home with them.

Where to hike in fall in the Mount St. Helens National Volcanic Monument

The following trails are excellent for experiencing the fall season within the monument. They not only show signs of the changing season, but they are also interesting and beautiful when the volcano is hidden by clouds or rain. The trails are usually accessible through early November, except where noted. See below for special things to consider during this changing season.

Ape Cave Surface Trail

October is a fantastic time to hike the Ape Cave Surface Trail. The vine maple leaves are changing to a vibrant red, fun mushrooms are popping up in the forest, and you can hike along the trail through the lava fields without getting overheated. You can also explore the cave with smaller crowds. Learn more about the trail and cave here or in Jessica’s second hiking guide little feet hiking two. Note that the trail and cave close for the winter on 10/31.

Toutle Trail from Red Rock Pass

Similarly to the Ape Cave Surface Trail, the Toutle Trail from Red Rock Pass also has changing vine maples and mushrooms in the fall. It is also cooler walking through the lava field, which means you can slow down and look for toy soldier lichens growing on the rocks! As you hike through the softer sections of trail, keep an eye out for Rocky Mountain elk, which frequent this area often. Learn more about this hike here or in Jessica’s first hiking guide little feet hiking.

Ape Canyon Trail

There seem to be fewer fall colors on this trail due to the shady, dense forest, but that shade also means you are likely to find lots of cool mushrooms along the trail. On clear days, you’ll see Mount St. Helens at the beginning of your hike, hopefully with a fresh coat of mountain snow. The highlights on this trail are the big trees and the adjacent lahar, so hiking it on a cloudy or rainy fall day won’t disappoint. Learn more about this hike here.

June Lake Trail

The 2.8 mile round-trip hike on the June Lake Trail has more obscured views of the volcano, but it does have a lovely lake with a waterfall. This makes the trail worthwhile on even the cloudiest or rainiest day. Keep an eye out for yellow heart-shaped black cottonwood leaves, as well as other pretty changing fall colors and mushrooms. Learn more about this hike here or in Jessica’s first hiking guide little feet hiking.

Lava Canyon Trail

The 0.6 mile round-trip accessible trail to the waterfall viewpoint at Lava Canyon is another excellent place to hike when the mountain is hiding behind clouds or rain. There are some vine maples on this trail that should turn lovely colors in fall. On cold days, you may also see some ice around the water’s edge. Be sure to stay away from cliff edges and turn back at the waterfall viewpoint with kids (the trail beyond the viewpoint is not kid-friendly). Learn more about this trail here.

Extra Considerations

There are extra safety considerations for hiking during the fall season:

• Plan for quickly changing weather. Check the weather the morning of your hike, and make sure you have extra layers for rain, wind, or hail. All of the recommended trailheads are located around 3,000 feet. Check here for the weather around that elevation in the monument.
• Be prepared for ice and/or snow on the roads or trails. To check snow levels, I like the Washington Trail Association’s Hiking Map with the Snow Depth layer turned on. If you encounter ice or snow on the roadways, always err on the side of caution and turn around BEFORE getting stuck. Lack of cell service and travel on the roads could hinder any help you might need.
• Dress in layers and avoid cotton. The combination of unpredictable fall weather, cooler temperatures, and rain can quickly put you in hypothermia territory.
• Teach kids how to be safe around mushrooms.
• Plan your hikes around earlier sunsets.
• Stay safe during October and November hunting seasons (see below).

Other Things to Note:

• It is advised that folks hiking on Mount St. Helens check for volcanic activity before heading out.
• There is no cell service for a long time accessing these trails. Have offline maps available to you, as well as directions. If you would like to purchase a map, I recommend National Geographic Trails Illustrated Map: Mount St. Helens - Mt. Adams or Green Trails Map: Mount St Helens National Volcanic Monument, WA #332S. You can also create and download a map here.
• Gas, food, flush toilets, and water are available in Cougar. Cell service is spotty in Cougar, but some of the stores in Cougar may have guest wifi available.

Remember to bring:

• Extra food and water
• 10 Essentials
• Sun protection
• Full tank of gas
• A good map and clear trailhead directions
• Extra layers in case of cooler temperature and rain
• Bright colors for hunting season

Read more in this safety and gear guide for families.

A note about hunting seasons

Our local forests have many types of users, and hikers need to know when hunting seasons are taking place for safety. There are three main seasons for deer and elk: archery, muzzleloader, and modern firearm. Typically, the modern firearm deer and elk seasons are the busiest seasons, but you will see hunters out during archery and muzzleloader seasons, as well as during seasons for animals other than deer and elk. All hunting seasons vary in timing depending on Game Management Units (GMUs).

The GMUs around Mount St. Helens are 522 and 560. GMU 522 is closed to deer hunting and open to elk hunting by limited special permit. The recommended trails above are all in GMU 560. The 2025 season dates for this GMU are 10/11-31 and 11/13-16 for modern firearm deer and 11/1-12 for modern firearm elk. You can learn more about the other hunting seasons that may impact your hike here.

It is good to dress the part and be prepared when hiking during hunting season. Remember that we are all permitted to recreate in legally-permitted ways. Please be respectful of one another!