Spirit Lake Memorial Highway

A 45th Anniversary Road Trip to Mount St. Helens

A 45th anniversary road trip to Mount St. Helens in the summer of 2025 is a unique opportunity to experience one of the most iconic volcanic landscapes in the United States, marking 45 years since the historic 1980 eruption

In 1980, a Washington mountain’s fiery blasts incinerated and flattened the landscape sending forth mudflows of ash and splintered trees and wiping out entire communities. The 45th anniversary of Mount St. Helens’ massive eruption makes this summer excursion an excellent bet, even for those who want a less-crowded summer exploration of the Northwest’s natural and human history.

Summer is also when the mountain’s three visitor centers are open daily including one that reopened with brand-new exhibits. But you’ll likely encounter few tour buses and most parking lots and walking paths are relatively empty and quiet.

That’s because the road’s last seven or so miles—terminating at the 4,200-foot elevation Johnston Ridge Observatory—are closed as a washout undergoes multiyear repairs. Many regional and international visitors misunderstand this situation as a general road closure, depressing the tourism market.

Mount St. Helens Visitor Center *© Rex Vogel, all rights reserved*

Driving the Spirit Lake Memorial Highway

A scenic byway through the area affected by the 1980 eruption of Mount St. Helens

Driving the Spirit Lake Memorial Highway (State Route 504) offers a unique opportunity to witness the dramatic aftermath and ongoing recovery of one of the most famous volcanic eruptions in U.S. history. The highway provides access to educational centers, hiking trails, and stunning vistas, making it a must-visit for nature lovers, history enthusiasts, and those interested in geology.

If planning a trip, allow 1-2 hours for the drive and consider stopping at the visitor centers for a fuller understanding of the area’s natural and human history.

Mount St. Helens Visitor Center

Address: 3029 Spirit Lake Hwy, Castle Rock, WA 98611
Phone: (360) 274-0962
Hours: Summer, 10 am-5 pm; winter, 10 am-4 pm
Fees: $5; family, $15; ages 6 and younger, free

Turn off the Spirit Lake Memorial Highway (State Route 504) at milepost 5 for the newly renovated Mount St. Helens Visitor Center within Seaquest State Park to walk the 0.6-mile Wetland Haven Boardwalk Trail or enjoy the just-refreshed interior.

The center’s $1.1 million gallery renovations are devoted to the people, science, environment, and events before and after the eruption including the local Cowlitz Tribe. Look for the “breadcrust bomb” (a volcano-baked rock resembling a loaf of bread) or descend a short flight of stairs to peer into roiling, recreated magma within a volcano.

An 11-minute, placid film about the events and aftermath is appropriate for young children and four more films share the Cowlitz Indian Tribe harvesting camas and discussing lamprey and fishing. Another small display showcases cultural mementos inspired by the eruption, from 45 records to pottery.

Seaquest State Park

Address: 3030 Spirit Lake Highway, Castle Rock, WA 98611
Phone: (360) 644-5235
Hours: 8:00 am-dusk year round
Fees: $10 per vehicle per day

Seaquest is a 475-acre, year-round camping park set among lush pines in the shadow of the storied Mount St. Helen’s volcano. Seaquest Park boasts forested campgrounds, great hiking trails, and stunning mountain panoramas. Next door to the campground is Silver Lake. The park is connected to the popular Mount St. Helen’s Interpretive Center and Silver Lake by a pedestrian tunnel which leads you to a boardwalk trail over the wetland where ducks and other wildlife thrive.

The park has 52 standard campsites, 18 partial hookup sites, 15 full hookups sites, three hiker/biker sites, one dump station, and five restrooms (one ADA). Maximum site length is 50 feet (may have limited availability). The north, south, and mid-camp loops are in forest settings. Full hookup sites are available in the T-loop only.

Then, drive past manicured homes and gardens, log cabins being reclaimed by the earth and lily pad-filled ponds. If you want to round out your picnic supplies, stop at the just-reopened Drew’s Grocery store in Toutle for crackers, cheese and fruit, cold sandwiches, wraps and salads, or fried chicken and jojos. This is also your last chance to get gas on the drive.

The original 1980 blast destroyed the nearby Harry Gardner Park but the quiet campground has been restored and contains a small playground.

Hoffstaf Visitor Center *© Rex Vogel, all rights reserved*

Harry Gardner Park

Address: 121 Fiest Road, Toutle, WA 98649
Phone: (360) 577-3030)

Harry Gardner Park is a 65 acre park along the South Toutle River. This Cowlitz County park was destroyed by the Mt. St. Helens eruption and has been recently brought back to life with similar amenities to pre-eruption.

The camping area offers 11 RV sites and 11 tent campsites. RV sites are equipped with electricity and water connections. Each site includes a picnic table and fire pit. There are two ADA accessible RV sites and two tent sites. A sewer dump station is available on site for your use.

The park also offers hiking trails, playground equipment, and easy access to the South Toutle River for fishing and swimming.

Not far from the park, Spirit Peaks Raceway offers an intriguing destination twice monthly—at the raceway’s “drifts,” visitors are welcome to set up chairs and watch drivers play on a racetrack in souped-up vehicles.

Around 19 miles up Spirit Lake Memorial Highway, a 28-foot-tall carved wooden bigfoot welcomes you to the tourist attraction stop of North Fork Survivors. Outside, you’ll also find the rusted, twisted shells of vehicles and an A-frame building sunken in the eruption. The small curiosity-gift shop displays unusual items including plaster footprints purportedly gleaned from a Sasquatch.

Looking for more on Mount St. Helens & Spirit Lake Memorial Highway?

Toutle River Bridge *© Rex Vogel, all rights reserved*

Peak exploration

This area represents the western edge of the Mount St. Helens blast zone

At around milepost 21, the valley floor falls away. You’ll have to use your imagination for the previous century’s devastation as forest, fields, and wildflowers have reclaimed the landscape.

Ascend the mountain’s foothills framed with Weyerhauser-planted timber stands, purple lupins, and brilliant orange Indian paintbrush. A series of stunning bridges span gaps and gorges. A wildlife viewing area sign reminds you to watch for small families of deer that may appear along roadside hills. Other animals in the area include elk herds.

The view at Forest Learmming Center *© Rex Vogel, all rights reserved*

Forest Learning Center

Address: 17000 Spirit Lake Highway, Toutle, WA
Operating schedule: 10 am-4 pm daily May 17 through Sept. 28, 2025
Fee: Free

After 33 miles along State Route 504, at a 2,650-foot elevation, find the Forest Learning Center. This modern Weyerhauser-operated center offers excellent views, a modern playground (with a volcano slide), and a paved loop where you’ll still see snapped trees and upturned roots.

Inside the center, sleek exhibit galleries focus on forest sustainability, harvesting, and management along with eruption survivors’ stories. The center’s short film made up of 1980 news clips shows within a small theater strewn with recreated debris, amplified with cracking thunder and lightning.

Two more viewpoints at milepost 37 (Elk Rock Viewpoint) and milepost 40 (Castle Lake Viewpoint Observation Site) offer bird’s-eye, panoramic perspectives on scarred swaths—though little debris remains. You’ll likely want to bring binoculars for a better view. Stop at either to see the mountain’s crater and lava dome and look down into the valley strewn with massive pillars of volcanic rock and gray debris.

Mount St. Helens *© Rex Vogel, all rights reserved*

Elk Rock Viewpoint

On State Route 504, at milepost 37, Elk Rock Viewpoint marks the western entrance to Mount St. Helens National Volcanic Monument. View the volcano and crater and the once desolate blast zone, now green with returning vegetation. Below, see the gray, debris-avalanche deposit from the 1980 eruption which still fills the Toutle River Valley. On clear days, glimpse the snow-covered peak of Mount Adams in the distance.

Key features incude:

Views: It offers panoramic views of Mount St. Helens’ crater, the Toutle River Valley filled with the 1980 eruption’s debris-avalanche deposits, and the recovering blast zone now greening with returning vegetation. On clear days, visitors can also see the snow-capped peak of Mount Adams in the distance.
Accessibility: The viewpoint has a parking area with about 20 spaces and 3 RV sites. There are no restrooms or potable water available at the site.
Improvements: Recent upgrades include parking improvements, an information kiosk, and a natural stone wall to enhance the visitor experience while preserving the natural scenic character of the area.
Historical note: Near the viewpoint is the site of the former Elk Rock Lookout, an 80-foot fire lookout tower built in 1941 and abandoned after damage in the early 1960s. The lookout foundation ruins remain and can be accessed by a short hike east from the viewpoint parking area.

Castle Lake Viewpoint Observation Site

Views of Mount St. Helens, Castle Lake, and the landslide debris deposit from the eruption of Mount St. Helens in 1980. There are benches, interpretive signs, ample parking, and a short trail available.

Castle Lake Viewpoint Observation Site is a scenic overlook located about 40 miles east of Castle Rock along State Route 504 (Spirit Lake Memorial Highway) within the Gifford Pinchot National Forest. It offers visitors panoramic views of Castle Lake, a sub-alpine lake formed by the 1980 Mount St. Helens eruption when a massive debris avalanche dammed the South Fork of Castle Creek.

Key features include:

Views: The viewpoint provides spectacular vistas of Castle Lake, the surrounding volcanic landscape shaped by the eruption, and distant views of Mount St. Helens’ crater. The lake itself covers just over 250 acres and is surrounded by steep volcanic ridges.
Access: The site has a parking area on the right side of SR 504, making it accessible for travelers driving the Spirit Lake Memorial Highway.
Recreation: Nearby hiking trails including the Castle Lake Trail (Forest Trail 221) provide access to the lake and surrounding areas. The trail passes through areas affected by the eruption and offers opportunities to observe wildlife such as elk and waterfowl.
Ecological importance: Castle Lake is a barrier lake created by volcanic debris, with a constructed spillway to prevent sudden flooding. It has a self-sustaining trout population and is an important site for studying volcanic recovery

Science and Learning Center at Coldwater

Elevation: 3,100 feet
Parking: There is a large parking lot with RV parking spots available

The Science and Learning Center at Coldwater is a hands-on education facility operated by the Mount St. Helens Institute (MSHI) in collaboration with the U.S. Forest Service, located at milepost 43 on State Highway 504, approximately 7 miles from the crater of Mount St. Helens and 10 miles west of Johnston Ridge Observatory. Situated in the heart of the 1980 eruption blast zone, it offers stunning views of Mount St. Helens, Coldwater Lake, and the Toutle Valley, making it a prime location for immersive learning about volcanic processes, ecological recovery, and the natural history of the area.

Outdoors, an interpretive trail’s benches invite you to rest and enjoy disparate panoramas of bright buttercups, vivid grasses, once-massive tree stumps and views toward the mountain and valley floor.

A 0.25-mile ADA-accessible Winds of Change Trail and the Elk Bench Trail connect to Coldwater Lake, Coldwater Peak, and Johnston Ridge, offering opportunities to explore the volcanic landscape.

The MSHI’s 2021 master plan aims to expand the center by 2030, increasing overnight program capacity from 500 to 5,000 students annually, adding a public campground with 40 RV/tent sites, improving trails, and remodeling the facility for sustainability and modern educational needs.

Lowitt Viewpoint *© Rex Vogel, all rights reserved*

Coldwater Lake Recreation Area

At milepost 45, Coldwater Lake Recreation Area, you can go boating, swimming or fly-fishing in Coldwater Lake. Or simply hike the accessible half-mile Birth of the Lake Interpretive Trail’s impressive boardwalk to learn more about this new lake, formed by the volcano.

The trail is approximately 0.5 miles round trip and has no elevation change making it an ideal destination for families and individuals looking for a leisurely walk. Visitors can enjoy the serene environment with opportunities to observe wildlife and take in the scenic views of the lake and surrounding mountains

As an alternative, the 2.4-mile Hummocks Trail only gains 100 feet in elevation and can provide a closer glimpse of the mountain while the road is closed.

Interpretive signs describe features along the first quarter mile of trail as the loop meanders through these hummocks which have been mapped by scientist to their respective spots on St. Helens’ former summit.
You may even spot resident wildlife as the area is habitat for elk, waterfowl, and frogs and newts. Keep an eye out for these little critters but remember the area is still recovering from the eruption, so please stay on the trail and respect the habitat here.

This is the furthest you can travel up, for now—turn around to descend the mountain.

Please note: State Route 504 is gated at mile marker 45.2—just passed the Coldwater Lake area and Hummocks trail parking lot due to the May 2023 landslide. Johnston Ridge Observatory and Loowit viewpoint remain closed. For more information on the landslide: South Coldwater Landslide Information.

Notes: Buy the Mount Saint Helens NVM/RD Northwest Forest Day Pass in advance which you can either print or download to your phone.

You also need a Washington Discover Pass or day pass to explore Seaquest State Park beyond the visitor center.

Worth Pondering…

Each volcano is an independent machine—nay, each vent and monticule is for the time being engaged in its own peculiar business, cooking as it were its special dish, which in due time is to be separately served.

—Clarence Edward Dutton, American geologist (1841-1912)

Mount St. Helens Erupted 44 Years Ago Today: Here’s How It Unfolded

After the eruption, ash poured into the atmosphere for nine hours

Washington’s Mount St. Helens erupted for nine hours on this day in history, May 18, 1980, killing 57 people and triggering the largest landslide in recorded history.

Prior to the eruption, Mount St. Helens stood at 9,677 feet, says the website for the United States Geological Survey (USGS). It was the fifth-tallest mountain in the state of Washington.

“It stood out handsomely, however, from surrounding hills because it rose thousands of feet above them and had a perennial cover of ice and snow,” said the site.

That changed on May 18 when the volcano erupted for the first time in more than a century. Instead, there was a horseshoe-shaped crater in its place. The crater’s highest point located on the southwestern side of the mountain is 8,365 feet. The eruption came almost exactly two months after seismic activity began on the long-dormant volcano.

On March 16, 1980, a series of small earthquakes began to shake the area. Eleven days later, on March 27 following hundreds of small earthquakes, Mount St. Helens had a relatively small eruption—it’s first since 1857.

In that eruption, steam explosions blasted a 200- to 250-foot wide crater through the volcano’s summit ice cap and covered the snow-clad southeast sector with dark ash.

These eruptions continued through April 22.

After about a two-week stop in volcanic activity, smaller eruptions and earthquakes continued from May 7 through May 17.

By that time, more than 10,000 earthquakes had shaken the volcano and the north flank had grown outward about 450 feet to form a prominent bulge.

This bulge was strong evidence that molten rock (magma) had rose high into the volcano and was growing at a rate of up to five feet per day.

At 8:32 a.m. on May 18, a 5.1 earthquake with no immediate precursors struck Mount Saint Helens triggering a rapid series of events.

At the same time as the earthquake, the volcano’s northern bulge and summit slid away as a huge landslide—the largest debris avalanche on Earth in recorded history.

A small, dark, ash-rich eruption plume rose directly from the base of the debris avalanche scarp and another from the summit crater rose to about 650 feet high.

The volume of the avalanche was the equivalent of one million Olympic-sized swimming pools.

Following the landslide, the destruction continued.

The landslide had removed part of the cryptodome which was a very hot and highly pressurized body of magma. With the cyptodome removed, Mount St. Helens’s magmatic system depressurized, triggering powerful eruptions that blasted laterally through the sliding debris knocking 1,000 feet off the height of the mountain.

The cloud of tephra or rock fragments reached 15 miles within 15 minutes.

The aftermath of the initial eruption was devastating.

Virtually no trees remained of what was once a dense forest in the six-mile radius of the former summit and other trees were knocked to the ground and seared.

The eruption then became a Plinian eruption defined as as one that produces a sustained convecting plume of pyroclasts and gas rising more than 15 miles above sea level.

The Plinian eruption lasted for nine hours sending 520 million tons of ash into the air.

The ash was so thick that the city of Spokane, Washington, located 250 miles from Mount Saint Helens was plunged into complete darkness. Over four inches of ash covered Yakima, Washington.

Major ash falls occurred as far away as central Montana and ash fell visibly as far eastward as the Great Plains of the Central United States more than 930 miles away.

The ash cloud spread across the U.S. in three days and circled the Earth in 15 days.

The blast also triggered something called a lahar which is an Indonesian term that describes a hot or cold mixture of water and rock fragments that flows down the slopes of a volcano and typically enters a river valley.

In Mount Saint Helens’ case, the snowy peak melted in the initial eruption. That rush of water combined with the rock flow created a lahar.

In the weeks leading up to May 18, people who lived near Mount St. Helens were evacuated.

The area immediately surrounding Mount St. Helens was divided into a red zone and a blue zone.

Of the 57 people who died in the eruption, only one Harry Randall Truman did not have express permission to be near the mountain the day it erupted and most of the deaths actually occurred outside the boundaries of the blue zone.

Truman, an 83-year-old man who had lived near Mount St. Helens for 54 years refused to comply with evacuation orders and leave the red zone.

In a colorful interview with National Geographic prior to the eruption, Truman said, “I’m going to stay right here because, I’ll tell you why, my home and my (expletive) life’s here.”

“My wife and I, we both vowed years and years ago that we’d never leave Spirit Lake. We loved it. It’s part of me and I’m part of that (expletive) mountain,” he said.

Truman’s remains were never found.

Mt. St. Helens eruption 44^th anniversary

Mount St. Helens erupted on May 18, 1980 at 8:32 am

The volcano, located in southwestern Washington used to be a beautiful symmetrical cone about 9,600 feet above sea level.

Vancouver! Vancouver! This is it!

On March 1, 1980, a new system of seismographs at the University of Washington went into operation to monitor earthquake activity in the Cascades. On March 20, it recorded a magnitude-4.2 earthquake deep beneath Mount St. Helens inaugurating a round-the-clock watch that was to save many lives. From March 25 to March 27, quakes of magnitude 4.0 rocked the mountain as many as three times a day and smaller quakes occurred several times every hour.

At 8 a.m. PST on March 27, the U.S. Geological Survey issued an official Hazard Watch for Mount St. Helens; around noon, the first eruption of steam from the summit sent a column of ash and steam 6,000 feet into the air. Twin fissures opened on the mountain’s north face.

On the morning of May 18, USGS volcanologist David A. Johnston camped on the ridge with his lasers, radioed in his regular 7 a.m. report. The changes to the bulging mountain were consistent with what had been reported several times daily since the watch began. At 8:32, a magnitude-5.1 earthquake registered on the seismographic equipment. His excited radio message, “This is it!” was followed by a stream of data. It was his last transmission; the ridge he camped on was within the direct blast zone.

By the numbers

57: Lives lost
$1.1 billion: Damage costs
9,600 feet: Height before eruption
8,300 feet: Height after eruption
200: Homes destroyed
90 mph: Mudflows speed
5,400,000 tons: Estimated ash
2,200 square miles: Ash covered
185 miles: Roads destroyed
15 miles: Railways damaged

Go deeper

Worth Pondering…

—Clarence Edward Dutton, American geologist (1841-1912)

20 Scenic Road Trips to Take This Summer in Every Part of America

No matter where you are, an unforgettable road trip is never far away

Sometimes it’s more about the journey than the destination. For these 20 road trips, that is definitely true.

America is one of the most geographically diverse countries in the world, it is home to mountains, prairies, canyons, deserts, lakes, beaches, forests, and just about any natural landscape you can imagine. If you like road trips, a lot of these incredible landscapes are accessible by road with tons of sights to see and other adventures waiting around each bend. If you’re not a fan of road trips, well, this list might change your mind.

Every corner of the United States has some incredible sights to see and whether you’re looking for history, nature, interesting small towns, or anything in between, there’s a scenic drive for you. Take advantage of the warm weather and check out these summertime drives; the adventures won’t disappoint.

Best Scenic Road Trips in the Northwest

Spirit River Memorial Highway *© Rex Vogel, all rights reserved*

Washington: Spirit Lake Memorial Highway

The Spirit Lake Memorial Highway is the only scenic byway in the U.S. that penetrates a fresh volcanic blast zone. This scenic and historic route is a 52-mile journey into the scene of epic destruction that Mount St. Helens caused when it erupted on May 18, 1980. Along the route are four distinct interpretive and tour centers: Silver Lake, Hoffstadt Bluffs, the Weyerhaeuser Forest Learning Center, and Johnston Ridge. Each one tells a different part of the story from the natural history before the May 1980 eruption, the aftermath, reforestation efforts, and the natural recovery of plants and animals.

Best Scenic Road Trips in the Northeast

Trapp Family Lodge *© Rex Vogel, all rights reserved*

Vermont: Green Mountain Byway

The Green Mountain Byway travels from Stowe to Waterbury between mountain ridges. Little River, Smugglers Notch, Waterbury Center state parks, and Mount Mansfield and Putnam state forests are along the route. Stowe is a premier four-season resort destination particularly known for its alpine and Nordic recreation, mountain biking, and hiking. Here, the Von Trapp family (of Sound of Music fame) attracted worldwide attention more than 50 years ago. Along with beautiful scenery, a large variety of attractions for all ages and tastes including Ben & Jerry’s ice cream factory, Cold Hollow Cider Mill, and Vermont Ski Museum.

Ocean Drive *© Rex Vogel, all rights reserved*

Rhode Island: Ocean Drive

This loop around the island’s coast is full of seaside views, charm, and historic homes to excite the imagination. Along Harrison and Ocean Avenues, a plethora of 1865-1914 mansions from the Gilded Age come into view that were once summer homes and getaways for the financially and socially elite but now many of the Newport Mansions are open to public tours. For outdoor fun, stop at Brenton Point State Park to enjoy the water or a nice picnic spread.

Lancaster County Amish Country Drive *© Rex Vogel, all rights reserved*

Pennsylvania: Lancaster County Amish Country Drive

A visit to Amish country is a worthwhile addition to your summer drive plans. When all else fails and you’re looking for the idyllic peacefulness of a pure country drive, circle around the city of Lancaster and see some of the gloriously beautiful landscapes. Unplug and experience communities of people who aren’t affected by the hustle and bustle of modern life, instead keeping their treasured traditions alive and strong to this day.

Best Scenic Road Trips in the Midwest

Heritage Trail Driving Tour *© Rex Vogel, all rights reserved*

Indiana: Heritage Trail Driving Tour

The 90-mile Heritage Trail Driving Tour winds through Amish Country taking you down rural highways, country lanes, and charming main streets. Stop in Shipshewana to stroll the shop-lined streets where you’ll find handcrafted items, baked goods, and the Midwest’s largest flea market. Enjoy a delightful Amish meal at Das Dutchman Essenhaus in Middlebury or Amish Acres in Nappanee.

Peter Norbeck Scenic Drive *© Rex Vogel, all rights reserved*

South Dakota: Peter Norbeck Scenic Byway

Embracing South Dakota’s pastoral landscapes, the Peter Norbeck Scenic Byway winds its way from Rapid City terminating at Mount Rushmore. This 70-mile route graces travelers with landmarks like the intriguing Needles Eye and the monumental Rushmore Presidents. En route, small towns like Keystone and Custer dot the journey lending aid if a leg stretch is overdue. Amidst this, Sylvan Lake, a man-made marvel provides a serene break. Its creation is attributed to Peter Norbeck and his predecessors. Norbeck was the byway’s namesake as well as South Dakota’s former governor in the early 20^th century. Lastly, the annual Sturgis Motorcycle Rally the first week in August (August 4-13, 2023) showcases the byway’s lively side, drawing motor enthusiasts nationwide.

Amish Country Byway *© Rex Vogel, all rights reserved*

Ohio: Amish Country Byway

On a map, routes 39, 62, 515, and 60 form a sort of eyeglasses shape throughout Holmes County in Ohio. That’s fitting because exploring these four roads is a great way to explore Amish Country. These routes make up the Amish Country Scenic Byway, designated in June 2002 as a National Scenic Byway. These 72 miles of roadways are recognized for their unique cultural and historic significance. Along these roadways, you will be treated to the typical, yet breathtaking sights of Amish Country: teams of huge, blonde Belgians pulling wagons of hay, farmers working in the fields, and of course, beautiful views of lush, green farmland, large white houses, and red barns.

Best Scenic Road Trips in the Southwest

Gold Rush Highway *© Rex Vogel, all rights reserved*

California: Gold Rush Highway

Follow in the footsteps of miners and prospectors through California’s Gold Country along Highway 49—a road named after the gold seekers or 49ers who made their way to the state during the 1849 Gold Rush. Plan for five days to provide time to strike its rich panning for gold in the region’s rivers. You’ll also want to spend time exploring the rocky meadows and pine-covered foothills of the Sierra Nevada.

Apache Trail *© Rex Vogel, all rights reserved*

Arizona: Apache Trail

This historic road covers some of the most rugged terrains in Arizona. The land surrounding the road rises steeply to the north to form the Four Peaks Wilderness Area and to the south to form the Superstition Wilderness Area. Steep-sided canyons, rock outcroppings, and magnificent geologic formations are all along the road. Water played a major role in creating the beauty of the area, and it also provides numerous recreation opportunities. Fish Creek Canyon is perhaps the most awe-inspiring section. The road hangs on the side of this high-walled canyon and winds its way along tremendous precipices that sink sheer for hundreds of feet below.

Scenic Byway 12 *© Rex Vogel, all rights reserved*

Utah: Scenic Byway 12

An All-American Road, Highway 12 is one of the most scenic highways in America. It winds through canyons, red rock cliffs, pine and aspen forests, alpine mountains, national parks, state parks, a national monument, and quaint rural towns. On your 119 mile drive, you’ll discover the vast Grand Staircase–Escalante National Monument and the beauty of Boulder Mountain.

Palms to Pines Highway *© Rex Vogel, all rights reserved*

California: Palms to Pines Highway

The Coachella Valley is known for its beautiful scenery and warm weather but just a few miles to the south is a scenic drive that offers high mountain wilderness—a two-hour journey (to Mountain Center) provided you don’t stop to admire the gorgeous sights along the way. Palm trees give way to piñon pines and firs as the byway climbs into Santa Rosa and the San Jacinto Mountains National Monument.

Oak Creek Canyon Scenic Road *© Rex Vogel, all rights reserved*

Arizona: Sedona-Oak Creek Canyon Scenic Road

The Sedona-Oak Creek Canyon Scenic Road was designated by the Arizona Department of Transportation in 1984. This route follows US 89A through the scenic canyon made popular in the 1920s when it was discovered by Hollywood. This scenic road offers a rare opportunity to study a variety of elements within a short distance. The road traverses seven major plant communities as a result of elevation changes, temperature variation, and precipitation. It begins near the town of Sedona and runs in a northerly direction through Oak Creek Canyon to the top of the Mogollon Rim, traveling areas rich with geologic formations similar to the Grand Canyon

Scenic Highway 28 *© Rex Vogel, all rights reserved*

New Mexico: Scenic Highway 28

Roughly paralleling the Rio Grande River, New Mexico Highway 28 travels from Mesilla to Canutillo (at the New Mexico-Texas state line). Along the drive, the Stahmann Farms pecan trees have grown over the roadway making for a sight straight out of a fairytale. Highway 28 is also home to Chopes Bar & Café, known for its tasty New Mexican food. Rio Grande Winery Vineyard & Winery and La Viña Winery are also hot spots along the roadway and very much a testament to New Mexico’s thriving, the centuries-old wine industry.

La Sal Mountain Scenic Loop *© Rex Vogel, all rights reserved*

Utah: La Sal Mountain Loop

From the alpine ridges of the La Sal Mountains to the red rock desert and sandstone pinnacles of Castle Rock, this back road is an adventure. This 60-mile route is paved and starts about 8 miles south of Moab off US-191 and loops through the mountains down to Castle Valley and SR 128 where it follows the Colorado River back to Moab. It takes about 3 hours to complete this drive. The narrow winding road while suitable for passenger cars is not suitable for large RVs. The La Sals are the most photographed mountain range in Utah, providing a dramatic background to the red rock mesas, buttes, and arches below.

Best Scenic Road Trips in the Southeast

Colonial Parkway *© Rex Vogel, all rights reserved*

Virginia: Colonial Parkway

The Colonial Parkway, a scenic roadway that spans 23 miles serves as a time machine transporting visitors to the colonial era of Virginia. Connecting three significant historic sites, Jamestown, Williamsburg, and Yorktown, this picturesque drive offers a glimpse into the region’s rich history and cultural heritage. The Colonial Parkway winds along the Virginia Peninsula linking three pivotal sites in American history. This well-preserved roadway takes travelers on a journey through time, immersing them in the story of America’s colonial beginnings. With its carefully designed architecture, stunning views of the James River, and access to iconic landmarks, the Colonial Parkway provides a unique opportunity to explore Virginia’s colonial heritage and gain a deeper understanding of the nation’s roots.

Jim Beam American Stillhouse *© Rex Vogel, all rights reserved*

Kentucky: Lincoln Heritage Scenic Highway

Here’s a must-do for every American history buff. Explore the land of Honest Abe’s youth as well as several significant Civil War sites. Learn what Lincoln’s log cabin life was really like at the Lincoln Museum in Hodgenville, Kentucky; then visit Lincoln’s birthplace and the original Lincoln Memorial at the Abraham Lincoln Birthplace National Historic Park. If you’re so inclined, you can pair these educational adventures with a stop or two at one of the many breweries and distilleries the area is famous for such as Jim Beam’s American Stillhouse.

Creole Nature Trail *© Rex Vogel, all rights reserved*

Louisiana: Creole Nature Trail

One place in Southwest Louisiana that never ceases to amaze is the Creole Nature Trail, a 180-miles-long scenic byway where natural wonderlands abound. Affectionately known as Louisiana’s Outback, the Creole Nature Trail is a journey into one of America’s Last Great Wildernesses. The Creole Nature Trail features four wildlife refuges, three national and one state: Sabine National Wildlife Refuge, Cameron Prairie National Wildlife Refuge, Lacassine National Wildlife Refuge, and Rockefeller Refuge While there are five entrances to the Creole Nature Trail, the most popular entrances are off I-10 in Sulphur (Exit 20) and just east of Lake Charles at Louisiana Highway 397 (Exit 36).

Newfound Gap Road *© Rex Vogel, all rights reserved*

Tennessee: Newfound Gap Road

When you get on Newfound Gap, you won’t believe the wealth of overlooks, picnic areas, and trails to explore. Take this spectacular road through Great Smoky Mountains National Park to experience the pristine wilderness that drives millions of Americans to this wildly popular park year after year. The views get more and more breathtaking, putting a lifetime’s worth of astonishing natural eye candy into a couple gallons of driving.

Blue Ridge Parkway *© Rex Vogel, all rights reserved*

North Carolina and Virginia: Blue Ridge Parkway

A meandering road snaking for 469 miles along the crest of Blue Ridge Mountains from Great Smoky Mountains National Park in North Carolina to Shenandoah National Park in Virginia, the Blue Ridge Parkway provides access to more than 100 trailheads and over 300 miles of trails. It passes through a range of habitats that support more plant species than any other park in the country: over 4,000 species of plants, 2,000 kinds of fungi, 500 types of mosses and lichens, and the most varieties of salamanders anywhere in the world.

Skyline Drive *© Rex Vogel, all rights reserved*

Virginia: Skyline Drive

This stunning drive runs a length of 105 miles north and south through Shenandoah National Park along the crest of the Blue Ridge Mountains. Despite its lower latitude, in the winter driving conditions can be rather sketchy, with its altitude bringing in more snow, ice, and cold.

In the summer this ice gives way to views of green rising high out of the Shenandoah Valley. While driving through the elevated winding road, you’ll feel tucked away in the green forest at the top of the ridge and then be rewarded with expansive views of the valley far below at the many scenic viewpoints along the road. In the fall and winter, though, you’ll see even less crowds and even better colors.

Bayou Teche *© Rex Vogel, all rights reserved*

Louisiana: Bayou Teche Byway

For a road trip that boasts both scenery and history, this is the perfect route. From its southernmost point in Morgan City to its northern end in Arnaudville, the byway crosses beautiful marshes and fields of sugar cane connecting small towns with well-preserved historic districts. Cafés and dance halls serve up Cajun and zydeco music along with boiled crawfish and étouffée.

Road trip planning

Road trips take a little planning. Here are a few tips that will help make your scenic road trip a success:

Worth Pondering…

The journey not the arrival matters.

—T. S. Eliot

10 Scenic Drives that are Not National Scenic Byways…but should be

What exactly do you mean by a “scenic” drive?

There’s nothing quite like packing up your car or recreation vehicle and heading out onto the open road. With over four million miles of roads crisscrossing the country, how do you choose where to travel?

In much the same way Congress set aside lands to be protected as national parks, the Department of Transportation has designated a network of spectacular drives that are protected as part of America’s Byways collection. Currently, the collection contains 184 National Scenic Byways and All-American Roads in 48 states. To become part of America’s Byways collection, a road must-have features that don’t exist anywhere else in the United States and be unique and important enough to be destinations unto themselves.

Here are 10 scenic and culturally significant roadways in America that have not been designated as National Scenic Byways…but should be.

Gold Rush Highway

Location: California

Length: 295 miles

Gold Rush Highway through Angels Camp *© Rex Vogel, all rights reserved*

Follow in the footsteps of miners and prospectors through California’s Gold Country along Highway 49—a road named after the gold seekers or “49ers” who made their way to the state during the 1849 Gold Rush. Plan for five days to provide time to strike its rich panning for gold in the region’s rivers. You’ll also want to spend time exploring the rocky meadows and pine-covered foothills of the Sierra Nevada.

More on scenic byways: Get in your RV and Go! Scenic Drives in America

Green Mountain Byway

Location: Vermont

Length: 71 miles

Cold Hollow Cider Mill *© Rex Vogel, all rights reserved*

Heritage Driving Trail through Ligonier *© Rex Vogel, all rights reserved*

Heritage Driving Tour, Indiana

Location: Indiana

Amish Acres *© Rex Vogel, all rights reserved*

Length: 90 miles

Apache Trail Historic Road

Location: Arizona

Length: 41 miles

Travel Advisory: In 2019, the Woodbury Fire burned several areas on the Apache Trail, and a 7-mile section of the road from Fish Creek Hill Overlook (milepost 222) to Apache Lake Marina (Milepost 229) remains closed.

More on scenic byways: America’s 10 Best Scenic Byways for your Next Road Trip

Spirit Lake Memorial Highway

Location: Washington

Length: 52 miles

Palms to Pines Highway

Location: California

Length: 67 miles

The Coachella Valley is known for its beautiful scenery and warm weather but just a few miles to the south is a scenic drive that offers high mountain wilderness—a two-hour journey (to Mountain Center) provided you don’t stop to admire the gorgeous sights along the way. Palm trees give way to piñon pines and firs as the byway climb into Santa Rosa and the San Jacinto Mountains National Monument.

Sedona-Oak Creek Canyon Scenic Road

Location: Arizona

Length: 14.5 miles

Oak Creek Canyon *© Rex Vogel, all rights reserved*

The Sedona-Oak Creek Canyon Scenic Road was designated by the Arizona Department of Transportation in 1984. This route follows US 89A through the scenic canyon made popular in the 1920s when it was discovered by Hollywood. This scenic road offers a rare opportunity to study a variety of elements within a short distance. The road traverses seven major plant communities as a result of elevation changes, temperature variation, and precipitation. It begins near the town of Sedona, and runs in a northerly direction through Oak Creek Canyon to the top of the Mogollon Rim, traveling areas rich with geologic formations similar to the Grand Canyon.

More on scenic byways: Take the Exit Ramp to Adventure & Scenic Drives

Mesilla *© Rex Vogel, all rights reserved*

Scenic Highway 28

Location: New Mexico

Length: 28 miles

Rio Grande Winery *© Rex Vogel, all rights reserved*

La Sal Mountain Loop

Location: Utah

Length: 60 miles

Ajo Scenic Loop

Location: Arizona

Length: 10 miles

With its rich tradition as a former copper mining hub, Ajo is a casual town with relaxed charm. Enjoy its mild climate, low humidity, and clear skies. Take in the historic Spanish Colonial Revival architecture in the Downtown Historic District, Sonoran Desert flora and fauna, and panoramic views. Ajo is surrounded by 12 million acres of public and tribal land waiting to be explored. Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument and Cabeza Prieta National Wildlife Refuge offer expansive hiking, camping, and birding places.

More on scenic byways: America’s 10 Best Scenic Byways for a Fall Road Trip

Ajo Historic Plaza *© Rex Vogel, all rights reserved*

This 10.4-mile-long scenic drive starts at the Historic Plaza in downtown Ajo and loops around the gigantic open pit copper mine, then through a wonderland of saguaro, organ pipe, and other diverse cacti and back to downtown Ajo where you started. The scenic loop is mostly gravel and travels through BLM land and is popular for boondocking.

Worth Pondering…

Our four simple rules: No Interstates, no amusement parks, no five-star accommodations, and no franchise food (two words which do not belong in the same sentence!)

—Loren Eyrich, editor/publisher Two-Lane Roads

On the Road to Mount St. Helens

Before Mount St. Helens blew its top it was a beautifully symmetric rounded snow-capped mountain that stood between two jagged peaks, Mt. Hood and Mt. Adams

The tranquility of the Mount St. Helens region was shattered in the spring of 1980 when the volcano stirred from its long repose, shook, and exploded back to life. The local people rediscovered that they had an active volcano in their midst and millions of people in North America were reminded that the active—and potentially dangerous—volcanoes of the U.S. are not restricted to Alaska and Hawaii.

The eruption of Mount St. Helens caused the largest landslide in recorded history, sweeping through the Toutle River Valley and removing 1,306 feet from the top of the volcano. The powerful lava flow, savage winds, and deadly heat destroyed much of the previous landscape. What the mountain left behind is the history of a violent eruption that shook the surrounding region and left many with stories of that tumultuous day on May 18, 1980.

On the road to Mount St. Helens *© Rex Vogel, all rights reserved*

Mount St. Helens, located in southwestern Washington, is one of several lofty volcanic peaks that dominate the Cascade Range of the Pacific Northwest; the range extends from Mount Garibaldi in British Columbia to Lassen Peak in northern California. Geologists call Mount St. Helens a composite volcano (or stratovolcano), a term for steep-sided, often symmetrical cones constructed of alternating layers of lava flows, ash, and other volcanic debris.

Most people visit the area around Mount St Helens by leaving Interstate 5 in Washington state at exit 49 and traveling East along a road called Spirit Lake Highway. The road is so-called, because, before 1980, it used to terminate at Spirit Lake. The lake is no longer accessible by road from the West, and even from the East, a substantial hike is required. So, I like to refer to Spirit Lake Highway as the Road to Mount St Helens.

Four visitor centers tell the story of the mountain and the people living in the region surrounding it. The awesome views from each of the centers bring you face to face with a monumental natural event. These centers are located along the 52-mile-long Spirit Lake Memorial Highway, the only scenic byway in the United States that penetrates a fresh volcanic blast zone.

Like a book with four chapters, each visitor center tells a different part of the story: the mountain as it was before the blast at Hoffstadt Bluffs Visitor Center; first-hand accounts from survivors who experienced the explosion at Johnston Ridge Observatory; the recovery of the mountain and the region at the Forest Learning Center; and its present state at the Silver Lake Visitor Center. Each center offers a unique experience that brings visitors face-to-face with one of the most memorable natural phenomena of our era.

Mount St. Helens Visit Center *© Rex Vogel, all rights reserved*

Mount St. Helens Visitor Center

Located 5 miles from I-5, Silver Lake Visitor Center is a world-class facility located on the western shore of Silver Lake. With its high ceilings and massive windows, the outdoors becomes a part of the architecture. Your senses will come alive as you enjoy the interactive exhibits, a step-in model of the volcano, and theater programs. Outside, a mile-long trail takes you into marshy plains surrounding Silver Lake where you can see waterfowl and picture-perfect views of the mountain.

Hoffstadt Bluffs *© Rex Vogel, all rights reserved*

Hoffstadt Bluffs Visitor Center

Located 27 miles from I-5, Hoffstadt Bluffs Visitor Center offers an up-close view of the mountain and the flood plain where mud rushed down into the valley, raising it a mile higher than it was prior to May 18, 1980. Take a short walk to another viewing point where a grove was dedicated in 2000 in memory of the 57 people who perished during the eruption.

Hoffstadt Bluff Visitor Center *© Rex Vogel, all rights reserved*

A large post-and-beam structure, Hoffstadt Bluff houses the “Memories of a Lost Landscape” exhibit, which provides an excellent depiction of the mountain prior to the blast, when the area was full of youth camps and visitors enjoying the outdoors.

Forest Learning Center

The Weyerhaeuser Forest Learning Center, at milepost 33, describes the work of foresters before, during, and after the eruption, with an emphasis on the rebirth of the forest.

Walkthrough the forest, hearing the sounds of the birds and animals on the mountain prior to May 18, 1980. Enter the “eruption chamber” to view a video of what the forest looked like immediately after the eruption. Breathtaking photographs and life-size models of loggers working in the blast zone bring the experience to life.

Johnston Ridge Observatory

At the end of the scenic byway, 52 miles from I-5, Johnston Ridge Observatory is tucked into the side of Johnston’s Ridge, a mere 5 miles from the north side of the mountain. Providing visitors the opportunity to come within a stone’s throw of the crater, the observatory is unparalleled. Walkout on the viewing deck or take a stroll along one of the trails and feel the energy of the mountain as it continues to puff steam into the sky.

The 16,000 square-foot structure offers a fully-equipped theater where visitors can watch a video about the eruption. Just as the mountain surprised the world with its blast, the movie does likewise as the show concludes and the screen rises to deliver a picture-perfect view of the mountain.

View the many exhibits and read through personal survival stories from that fateful day in 1980. For more detailed information, catch a formal talk or join a guided walk led by one of the observatory’s volunteers.

Worth Pondering…

Looking back across the long cycles of change through which the land has been shaped into its present form, let us realize that these geographical revolutions are not events wholly of the dim past, but that they are still in progress.

—Sir Archibald Geikie, Scottish geologist (1835-1924)

Spirit Lake Memorial Highway: Scenic Byway to Mount St. Helens

Spirit Lake Memorial Highway takes travelers through land shattered by Mount St. Helens’ eruption in 1980

Along the way, experience the enormous geologic, economic, and personal impact the eruption had on this area, and witness the region’s recovery.

Mount St. Helens © Rex Vogel, all rights reserve

Rebuilt and reopened in 1992, the byway continues to carry its original name but no longer leads to Spirit Lake. Rather, it ends at Johnston Ridge and affords a striking view of the post-eruption lake and the volcano’s crater.

Mount St. Helens Visitor Center © Rex Vogel, all rights reserve

Along the byway are four distinct interpretive and tour centers: Silver Lake, Hoffstadt Bluffs, the Weyerhaeuser Forest Learning Center, and Johnston Ridge. Each one tells a different part of the story from the natural history prior to the May 1980 eruption, the aftermath, reforestation efforts, and natural recovery of plants and animals. Above all, the devastated landscape is an extraordinary lesson about our planet’s ferocious power and miraculous powers of regeneration.

Five miles east of I-5 is the Mount St. Helens Visitor Center at Silver Lake. The center describes each chapter of the mountain’s history from pre-eruption years to today. It also features exhibits about the region’s history and culture as well as offering geological background on the volcano and the surrounding area’s slow but steady recovery.

Nature trail at Mount St. Helens Visitor Center © Rex Vogel, all rights reserve

Look down the valley where the bleached remains of a blown-down forest are in view. See the evidence of an unimaginable force that flattened 150 miles of old-growth timber as if the trees were toothpicks.

Nature trail at Mount St. Helens Nature Center © Rex Vogel, all rights reserve

A nature trail at the Mount St. Helens Visitor Center leads to beautiful Silver Lake and its wetlands.

Five miles past the visitor center is the Toutle River, which the byway parallels for the remainder of the route. The river became a nightmarish mudflow during the eruption as massive amounts of sediment poured into the water.

Toutle River Bridge © Rex Vogel, all rights reserve

You can find some of that mud today on the walls of the North Fork of the Toutle River, and you can get a closer look from a viewpoint on Stewart Dam Road (turn right just before the Toutle River Bridge).

Spirit River Memorial Highway © Rex Vogel, all rights reserve

A small, spirited community that survived the blast, Kid Valley was once a town of logging camps and mining claims. When Mount St. Helens blew up, many families in Kid Valley’s outlying areas lost their homes. Mudflows buried logging camps and the Green River Fish Hatchery.

Hoffstadt Bluffs Visitor Center © Rex Vogel, all rights reserve

Today, Kid Valley has reestablished its character and charm. A local family turned one of the original homesteads into the Kid Valley Campground, a convenient base for sightseeing, hiking and biking the Mount St. Helens area.

About 27 miles along the byway, Mount St. Helens becomes spectacularly visible. The Hoffstadt Bluffs Visitor Center, the second of four visitor centers, offers an opportunity to take a good look at the volcano and surrounding valley. Large elk herds can often be seen in the mudflats below the parking lot.

A memorial trail through a nearby grove pays tribute to 57 people who lost their lives in the eruption.

Forest Learning Center © Rex Vogel, all rights reserve

Continue east over the half-mile-long bridge over Hoffstadt Creek, and enter the blast zone. The Weyerhaeuser Forest Learning Center, at milepost 33, describes the work of foresters before, during, and after the eruption, with an emphasis on reforestation and conservation projects. One of the interesting goals of the learning center is to not interfere with the destruction caused by the eruption and let nature take its course as much as possible.

At the end of the Spirit Lake Scenic Byway is Johnston Ridge Observatory, where visitors are only five miles from the crater and lava dome of Mount St. Helens. Stands of dead trees, stripped of their bark, and the remains of Spirit Lake, its surface still covered by a mat of logs, leave a lasting impression. The entire lake was tossed 800 feet up the opposing mountainside during the blast and now rests where it returned, half as deep and with twice the surface.

Mount St. Helens from Lowitt Viewpoint © Rex Vogel, all rights reserve

Experience the power of this place by taking a short hike. The Coldwater Lake Trail is an easily navigated boardwalk leading to a lake that was formed after the eruption. The Hummocks Trail—hummocks are mounds of volcanic debris—takes an hour to walk and is moderately strenuous, winding through lupine fields and beaver ponds on what was once the site of the largest landslide in recorded human history.

Johnstone Ridge Observatory © Rex Vogel, all rights reserve

Worth Pondering…

—Clarence Edward Dutton, American geologist (1841-1912)