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A rugged section of the Loowit Trail that descends from Castle Ridge to the river.


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Map Key

4.0

Miles

6.4

KM

Point to Point

4,696' 1,431 m

High

3,242' 988 m

Low

1,709' 521 m

Up

1,024' 312 m

Down

13%

Avg Grade (7°)

60%

Max Grade (31°)

Dogs No Dogs

Features River/Creek · Views · Wildflowers · Wildlife

No dogs allowed between the S. Fork of the Toutle River and Windy Pass.

Description

This maintained section of Loowit Trail #216 runs from Castle Ridge Trail #216G junction to the Sheep Canyon Trail #240 junction.

Few trails capture more completely the range of effects of the 1980 eruption than this section of the Loowit Trail. Along this route, you'll discover views of mudflow-scoured river valleys, blast- singed trees, miles of blown-down forest, and views of newly created lakes. Observe this raw landscape and see how the familiar features of the Cascade Range were formed.

Walk out onto a huge boulder and enjoy an impressive view of the headwall of the South Fork of the Toutle River. Scan the horizon for outstanding views of Mount St. Helens, Mount Margaret, Mount Rainier and Johnston Ridge. Also enjoy a view of Coldwater Lake which was formed as a result of the 1980 eruption.

The trail descends to the South Fork of the Toutle River. Here you can see that this once well-forested valley was transformed into the skeletal remains of ash-covered logs and shattered stumps by the fury of a fiery blast of fragmented rock and the abrasive action of a raging mudflow. From the heart of the blast area, the trail descends into the Pumice Bowl and crosses via ford the South Fork Toutle River and climbs through a subalpine environment to panoramic views as it traverses the ridge.

Contacts

Shared By:

Brian Smith

Trail Ratings

  3.0 from 1 vote

#32611

Overall
  3.0 from 1 vote
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Trail Rankings

#1,537

in Washington

#32,611

Overall
2 Views Last Month
206 Since Oct 9, 2015
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