The Windy Ridge/Spirit Lake side of Mt. St. Helens makes a great day trip. The drive is about 2 hours each way, and this area gives you the best views of the crater. During the summer, rangers give talks about the eruption throughout the day. The devastation is amazing, as is the way life is slowly coming back. 

This is the perfect year to visit Mt. St. Helens as it’s the 30th anniversary of the 1980 eruption.

Click here for more information about the Windy Ridge viewpoint.