Mt Saint Helen Small Group Tour: Explore Volcanic History
2.9
14 Ratings
Bellevue
Join our small group tour to Mt. Saint Helens and explore the fascinating volcanic history of this iconic mountain. Discover the stories of the 1980 eruption and learn about the geology of the area. Limited to 12 people for an intimate experience.
Duration:
10 hours
Cancellation:
1 day
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Highlights
- Mount St. Helens Visitor Center - The stop includes an approximate 3 hours driving time from pick up locations:
Large, step-in model of the volcano
Life-size mannequins
Functioning seismograph and live feed of current Mount St. Helens volcano seismicity
Chronological timeline of events leading up to the volcanic blast on May 18, 1980
Theater program offered twice an hour; at :05 and :35 after.
Outdoors, visitors can explore Silver Lake along the 0.6 mile-long trail, including boardwalks over the wetland where a variety of aquatic plants and migratory waterfowl can be viewed at different times of the year.
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Coldwater Lake - On your way to or from the Johnston Ridge Observatory take a side-trip to Coldwater Lake formed by an avalanche during the volcano’s eruption. The lake is just a short distance off the highway. You’ll find a parking area with paths to the lake; restroom, boat launch (electric motors only) and trails (don’t throw away that wrist-band!). You will need them as proof that you’ve paid to visit or hike the trails inside the Mount St Helens National Volcanic Monument. There are also hiking trails around Coldwater Lake
Coldwater Lake provides a tranquil ending to a long and scenic experience through a landscape that must be seen to believe. - Johnston Ridge Observatory - The Johnston Ridge Observatory is open seasonally and is located on Johnston Ridge in the center of the 1980 blast zone approximately 8 km (5 mi) north of the Mount St. Helens summit. The Ridge was named in honor of David Johnston, the USGS volcanologist who was on duty at the USGS Coldwater II observation point during the May 18, 1980 eruption. He was one of 57 people who lost their lives in the eruption. The Observatory building houses seismic, deformation, and other monitoring equipment that relays data to the USGS Cascades Volcano Observatory for analysis.
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Eruption Trail - After this stop , we will head back - 3 hours drive time to drop off locations
A barrier-free, paved hike of less than one mile from the Johnston Ridge Observatory. The trail includes interpretive kiosks and 360 views of Mount St. Helens and the surrounding blast zone.
What's Included
- Private transportation
- Bottled water provided
- Small group transport for a more personalized experience
- Convenient pick-up and drop-off from select locations
What's Not Included
- Lunch
- Breakfast
Additional Information
This place was once a top-tier location for camping, boasting a cone reminiscent of Mt. Fuji and untouched woods. The mountain, which used to soar to 9,665 feet but now stands at 8,365 feet, is part of the series of volcanic peaks in the Cascade Range.
Discover the rich history and narratives of the 1980 Mount Saint Helens eruption. A close-up view of the volcano and an introduction to its geology will provide fascinating insights about its past and present in this beautiful natural spectacle.
The excursion is limited to a group of 12 individuals.
Location
Bellevue Transit Center
Northeast 6th Street
Cancellation Policy
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
Customer Ratings
2.9
(14 Ratings)
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Fenot_a
Jul 21, 2023
Dwight made the tour remarkable! - I had the pleasure of being guided by Dwight on a tour of Mount Helen on 7/20/2023, and I must say it was an unforgettable experience. His passion, knowledge, and love for the area were evident throughout the excursion, making it remarkable. If you're looking for an exceptional tour guide to explore the wonders of Mount Helen, I highly recommend Dwight. His expertise and enthusiasm will leave you lasting memories of this magical place. I'm already looking forward to my next expedition with him!
Review provided by Viator
Michelle_p
Jul 2, 2023
Awesome tour! - We were picked up from our hotel on time. Our guide was very knowledgeable of the area. He stopped at several places along to way and explained what we were seeing. He showed us the best places to get pictures. Gave us plenty of time at each stop. We loved our tour. Thank you, Dwight!
Review provided by Viator
Peter_h
May 11, 2023
Mount St Helen’s 5/10/2023 - We had a terrific tour with Dwight t the wheel, he was full of history and information. He was kind enough to take me to a remote toilet when I needed to relieve my self urgently.
I would recommend this tour
Review provided by Viator
Arely_s
Sep 24, 2022
Great learning experience - Great learning experiencing, fun, educational. Friendly tour guide and knowledge. Had great views of Mt St Helen.
Review provided by Viator
Heylata
Sep 4, 2023
Not worth it - We got the driver who did not know which one was Mt Helens! He pointed to a different mountain and I took pictures of what he pointed to be Mt Helens. Car battery died and he did not have the cable for the jump. Driver was driving 90 miles per hour where speed limit was 70 miles per hour. Basically this company provided with a driver not a professional tour guide.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Heylata
Feb 3, 2024
bad experience - Basically you get a car with a driver. He did not even know which one was mount Helen and pointed to a wrong mountain and then he was making excuses. Battery went down and he did not even have a jump cable.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Sarah_g
Jul 30, 2023
Trip was cancelled by... - Trip was cancelled by vendor due to no other confirmed travelers, still pending refund of price paid for tour that was cancelled by vendor
Review provided by Viator
N7177djkevint
May 5, 2023
Double booked by VIATOUR and destination wasn’t even open yet - The VIATOUR middleman double -charged our card, which was not done until 2 nights before and could not cancel the double without filing a credit card dispute. The morning of the tour, we found out the selected tour was not available (not weather) but because MtSt Helen’s was not open for visitors for another two weeks. Again, no chance to cancel. Would not use VIATOUR again.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Luca_z
Apr 20, 2023
the trip was cancelled at 7.30pm the night before (the alternative was to upgrde paying additional 350 $) - the night before the trip was cancelled (at 7.30)
they8 uffer me to upgarde to an individaul trip, which would have costed an additonal 350 $ (on top of the 195)
Review provided by Viator
Howard_h
Oct 17, 2022
Didn’t get to go, didn’t get the minimum people needed….money was refunded. - I did read the reviews before booking, but I was hopeful that it wouldn’t apply to me. My trip got canceled the day before due to not having enough people to make the trip. There is a minimum number for them to run the trip, sadly we barely had half the number needed. Judging by the other reviews I think this is a common thing. If you can drive a car I feel like renting a car and driving to the places you want to go is the only way do it. I was really hoping to enjoy a trip with others which is why I booked here, but sadly it seems the solo trip in a car would have been my only option. The person running the tour was friendly and communicated to me throughout and was able to refund my money with ease, I was just let down.
Review provided by Viator
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