Mount St Helens Visitor Center

Operating hours

Beginning Oct. 15, Mount St. Helens Visitor Center will be open daily 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Beginning Nov. 10 and running through Mar. 31, 2026, the Visitor Center will be open Wed. through Sun., 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Rules

• Day-use only
• Dogs not allowed
• Fires not allowed
• Horses not allowed

See all other general park rules

Pet policy

Per a 2019 WAC revision, animals, including pets and emotional support companions, are not permitted to enter the building. Trained service animals are permitted upon satisfactory clarification of training as per State and Federal regulations.

Tour groups

Please contact park staff at (360) 274-0962 or Silver.Lake@parks.wa.gov if you are planning a tour, so we can accommodate your group and approve a date to visit. Please follow the steps to obtain a Commercial Use Permit to register your group with Washington State Parks.

School trips

Thank you for your interest in planning a field trip to the Mount St. Helens Visitor Center. A school visit includes access to the exhibits and films (10-minute feature film and shorter featurettes), a half-mile walking trail and 20-minute ranger talk, per request.

We follow a 5:1 ratio of students to adults and waive the fee for students completing an assignment during their visit. Our newly renovated educational displays and offerings are a great opportunity for students to experience Mount St. Helens. New curriculum coming Fall 2025, stay tuned!

All school programs/visits must complete the registration form, ensure you provide a first and second choice date of visit. Please remember we have a daily school visitation cap, so the sooner you register your school the better to secure your first choice. Download the registration form here (PDF, 112KB). Thank you in advance, please contact staff with any questions.

Virtual Programming

We offer educational opportunities online. You can check out one of our Mount St. Helens inspired YouTube videos or schedule a virtual program with a park ranger September-May. Please complete a school registration form and reach out to us at Silver.Lake@parks.wa.gov to inquire into possibilities and schedule a virtual experience. 

Our three-part mini-series “Motion of the Mountain” and “Earthquake Shake” is geared towards K-4th grade and is often paired with a Q/A session with a park ranger. Teachers can share the videos in their classroom/remotely and follow up with park staff live to create a complete experience. 

• Motion of the Mountain Part 1
• Motion of the Mountain Part 2
• Motion of the Mountain Part 3
• Earthquake Shake!

Completed in summer 2025, the Mount St. Helens Visitor Center underwent extensive renovations that included updating the displays. Enjoy Have a Blast at our Mt. St. Helens Visitor Center to view the previous center.

Outdoor school opportunities

We have partnered with the Mount St. Helens Institute (MSHI) to design a self-guided educational excursion on our half mile, accessible Wetland Haven Trail. This alternate field trip opportunity requires advanced preparation/planning for teachers, and support from chaperones and available park staff.

Follow this link to learn more: Landscapes of Change: Free curriculum for the Washington State Parks Mount St. Helens Visitor Center. Scroll down to the “How?” section of the page and click on “Free Curriculum” to access this opportunity.

Teachers are encouraged to download various sections of the program they plan to use, which could include the pre-trip activities, student journal pages, facilitator activity guide and the post-trip activity. Teachers are welcome to contact us directly if they have any questions or would like to check out supplies to support their field trip.

If you would like to invest in this field trip opportunity, please reach out in advance so we can register your visit on our calendar and plan accordingly.

Neighboring visitor centers

Located at milepost 33 is the Forest Learning Center operated by Weyerhaeuser. For additional information, visit Weyerhaeuser’s Mount St. Helens webpage.

U.S. Forest Service operates currently shares the Science and Learning Center with the Mount t Helens Institute at milepost 43. The building is open to the public seven days a week 10 a.m. - 4 p.m., June 13 - Oct. 31. For additional information, visit The Science and Learning Center’s webpage. 

The Mount St. Helens Institute is a nonprofit partner that operates school programs, events and rentals at the Science and Learning Center. For more information, visit the Mount St. Helens Institute website or email info@mshinstitute.org.

Due to a landslide in May 2023, the Johnston Ridge Observatory is closed until road repairs are completed in 2027. They are not accepting school visits at this time. Johnston Ridge Observatory operated by the U.S. Forest Service is located at the end of highway 504. For more information about their facility, please visit the Mount St. Helens National Volcanic Monument site. 

Overnight accommodations

Connected by a short pedestrian tunnel is Seaquest State Park. Reserve a campsite, group camp or yurt to enjoy more of the area. 

Amenities

The park offers Wi-Fi service, in limited coverage areas. For more information, visit our Wi-Fi in the Parks page.