Silver Creek (19)

The Volcano View lodge is near one of the Mt. St. Helens' beautiful visitors centers and a great homebase to explore the other sections of the mountain, as well. I would suggest starting with the Visitor's Center near the lodge to gather information about all of the trails and viewpoints. Depending on the time of year and snow level, not all trails are open at all times. Paddy and Steve were very welcoming and accommodating and their pets are friendly and adorable. The lodge was very comfortable. We loved the old piano and the peace and quiet of the location. We really enjoyed the view off of the back. It was overcast every day we were at the lodge (until the afternoon after we checked out), so we didn't get to see Mt. St. Helens from the lodge, but we loved sitting towards the back windows or outside watching and listening to the birds. We saw deer every morning, too. We took a day to drive (60-90 minutes one way) down and hiked the Ape Cave, Lava Canyon, Trail of Two Forests, and June Lake. They were all spectacular and I highly recommend them. (I suggest bringing warm clothes, sturdy footwear, a jacket, and a headlamp if you are going into Ape Cave.) All of these trails took a full day for us. We stopped at the Cougar Bar and Grill on the way back and I loved my Volcano Burger. Another day, we went towards Johnson Observatory and stopped at several viewpoints along the way, including Coldwater Lake. It was stunning. I would recommend doing this on a clear day and bringing a camera because the views are majestic. This took from about noon to 5pm, but we could have spent longer if we'd had the time. There are also some beautiful lakes for paddling and a ziplining company (about $100 per person) nearby. Castle Rock has a decent grocery store and some restaurants, and the lodge has a nice kitchen for making your own food. Woodland is a town you go through in order to get to the South Side trails. If you happen to be going through when the lilacs and tulips are blooming, I would suggest stopping at the Hulda Klager Lilac Gardens and the Tulip Festival. Both are on the same road not too far from the exit for Woodland and don't take a long time to see, but are worth the trip if you love flowers and old houses. Before we left, we decided we are already going to go back and bring the canoe and see more of Mt. St. Helens and we will definitely try to rent either the Elk Inn or Volcano View Lodge and stay with Paddy and Steve again!