About this campground
This 1980 mudflow area offers an outstanding view of Mount St. Helen’s (non-crater) south side. The v-notch on the mountain once held Shoestring Glacier, which was liquified along with the surrounding mountain snow from the heat of the eruption. Water mixed with rock and ash, creating a giant lahar (destructive mudflow originating on a volcano) which swept down St. Helens at 100 miles per hour. It raced through the forest and across this location, shearing off most trees and debarking others as far as 30 feet up. A variety of trees, plants and wildlife now inhabit this once-barren mudflow. Accessible Adventures Video
Getting there
From Woodland, WA take State Route 503, becoming Forest Road 90, east to the well-signed junction with Forest Road 83. Lahar is 10.5 miles east of the junction of Forest Roads 83 and 90.
Nearby federal campgrounds
- Lava Canyon Interpretive SiteGifford Pinchot National Forest1 mi
- Smith Creek Trailhead (Road 8322)Gifford Pinchot National Forest3 mi
- Climbers Bivouac TrailheadGifford Pinchot National Forest4 mi
- Sno-Park: CougarGifford Pinchot National Forest6 mi
- Smith Creek Picnic/ViewpointWashington7 mi
- Forest Road 90Gifford Pinchot National Forest8 mi
Explore more Washington camping
Lahar Viewpoint Interpretive Site doesn't take campsite reservations — but plenty of nearby Washington campgrounds do, and we'll alert you the moment a sold-out site opens up.
Browse Washington camping →Details from Recreation.gov's official RIDB catalog. Conditions change — confirm with the managing office before you go. Not affiliated with Recreation.gov or any federal agency.