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Windy Trail

South Cascades > Mount St. Helens
 46.2499, -122.1361 Map & Directions
Length
1.0 miles, one-way
Elevation Gain
200 feet
Highest Point
4,300 feet
Calculated Difficulty About Calculated Difficulty
Easy

FR 99 is closed beyond Wakepish Sno-Park for the winter season.

Windy Trail winding through open plains. Photo by Kent P. Full-size image
  • Wildflowers/Meadows
  • Mountain views
  • Dogs not allowed

Parking Pass/Entry Fee

Northwest Forest Pass
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A short trail accessible from the Windy Ridge area of Mount St. Helens National Volcanic Monument, the Windy Trail makes it possible for hikers to loop up a variety of trails in the blast zone. Continue reading

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Hiking Windy Trail

A short trail accessible from the Windy Ridge area of Mount St. Helens National Volcanic Monument, the Windy Trail makes it possible for hikers to loop up a variety of trails in the blast zone. 

The mile-long Windy Trail provides a connection from Truman Trail to Loowit Trail. It is the most direct access for hikers from the Windy Ridge Viewpoint on Forest Road 99 to the Loowit Trail and Loowit Falls Trail. Along the way to these sites, hikers will pass the former sites of the Timberline Campground and Viewpoint that were destroyed in the 1980 eruption. If you look closely you can still see traces of asphalt from the road and parking lot.

Note: This is not the Windy Ridge trail, which climbs high above the Windy Ridge Viewpoint to gorgeous, sweeping views of Mount St. Helens and the surrounding landscape. 

Windy Trail

Map & Directions

Trailhead
Co-ordinates: 46.2499, -122.1361 Open in Google Maps

Before You Go

FR 99 is closed beyond Wakepish Sno-Park for the winter season.

See weather forecast

Parking Pass/Entry Fee

Northwest Forest Pass

WTA Pro Tip: Save a copy of our directions before you leave! App-based driving directions aren't always accurate and data connections may be unreliable as you drive to the trailhead.

Getting There

From the north, drive I-5 to the exit 68 (for Highway 12 east), then drive 17 miles to Randle. From there, turn south (right, if coming from the west) onto State Route 131 south, and drive it for two miles to where it becomes Forest Road 25. Continue on this sometimes-rough road for 17.7 miles, and turn right onto FR 99. Drive Highway 99 to 17 miles to its end at Windy Ridge viewpoint. A pit toilet is available here. 

To approach from the south (Woodland), take exit 21 from I-5 and drive Highway 503 east to Cougar (this is about 29 miles). SR 503 turns into FR 90, and you'll stay on it for 19 miles before turning left onto Forest Road 25. Drive FR 25 for 25 miles to the junction with Highway 99. Drive Highway 99 to 17 miles to its end at Windy Ridge viewpoint. A pit toilet is available here. 

More Hike Details

Trailhead

South Cascades > Mount St. Helens

Windy (#216E)

Mount St. Helens National Volcanic Monument

Learn

Mount St. Helens — 40 Years After the Blast

Learn

Clearing a Path to Angry Mountain

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Windy Trail

13 Trip Reports

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