Reviews of Johnston Ridge Observatory (Tourist Attraction)

Nicholas Neville

Five star wow factor. You feel like you are looking at a painting. Witness the result of the power of nature.

Ron Stacy

Excellent daytrip for a visit to Johnston Ridge. Light breeze, warm, hazy clear and minimal crowd. Friday before school start.

Stew Sherman

Still beautiful, amazing recovery! Very informative and terrific videos and still shots from 1980

Robert Hockemeyer

Seeing is believing The power and force from a volcano is just breathe taking

Larry Swanson

What can one say, a trip of a lifetime. Observatory was wonderful, and the views are spectacular.

the one and only Brayden Siebsen

Great views. Decent hiking trails. Recomend stopping by the forest learning center a few miles before Johnston. Free entry with amazing views and an elk viewing areas.

EMS

This is a must see. The exhibits and movie presentations - all included in the entrance fees - give a detailed description and explanation of the eruption in May 1980. Outside are hiking trails of various difficulties. The area is lush, green and full of life. Amazing to see how nature has healed so fast. The view into the caldera of Mt. Saint Helens is stunning. I believe the observatory is about 5 miles from it, so binoculars are recommended, and stationary ones are provided, I think for a quarter or so like many tourist places have. Children and adults of all ages love this place; it is awe inspiring. Plenty parking, and some refreshments are available right off the parking lot. If you have a federal park pass, you get free admission. I forgot mine last time we visited, and we had to pay $8 per adult. Children are a bit less, I believe. Next time, that pass is coming with! It:s a long drive up the mountain from I-5, but the views are great, and there are several places to stop to enjoy and take photos. We drove up last May on a very foggy day; bad views, yet a fun trip anyway to explore the exhibits inside. We are planning another trip this summer. Well worth the 250 or so miles round trip from our house. This time, we are going on a sunny day, federal park pass in hand. It will be our fifth trip up there. It never gets old. Enjoy!

Svyatoslav Liashedko

Awesome! Definitely worth the $$, just try going on a Sunday day

Chrystal Cargill

You cannot beat the views from this vantage point. It is a must stop to learn details about Mt. St. Helen’s. The park rangers are very friendly. Once you have made it here, you are not to far from the mountain.

Priscilla Romero

I had a good experience there! I loved it and it's a great place to take your family to!

Estel Meeks

Plenty of parking! Food truck on premesis but expensive! Bring your own food and drink! The views are stunning and plenty of history to read and explore! Nice trails too!

Eedyn Monger

Great Ranger led program for kids. Films every 30 min about the eruption and the natural recovery.

Diane Malone

It is an informative important learnings & knowing all about the history of historical event & people & USA that they provided.

Amy Anderson

If you're going to view Mt. St. Helens, this is the place to do it from! This is the most beautiful view in my opinion. Plus, love the educational center and the gift shop.

Bob Herchick

Always love taking out of town visitors here. The history and lives lost is humbling. We normally take a picnic lunch to eat while we’re here. Only complaint is they only have two picnic tables to sit at and they’re always take. Please add more picnic tables around the parking lot.

Keith Kuniyasu

Beautiful drive with spectacular scenery. Helpful staff and rangers.

Mark VanMaren

If you can only visit one of the three viewpoints at the mountain, this should be the one. It has a fabulous educational exhibit, lots of hiking trails, and the most amazing view into the crater. That said...I recommend seeing the mountain from all three sides eventually.

Lynn Zachow

The clouds cleared so we had a great view.

Randall Heaps

If you want to feel like a speck of dust in the universe go here. Beautiful drive to a place of total devastation and rebirth. This makes the A-bomb look like a joke.

Johnny Culp

Wonderful place to observe Mount St. Helen. As everyone else noted it gets cold and windy. It was 65F in Vancouver, WA and 34F here. The entire family enjoyed it, as we brought layers of jackets and warm hats. Plan to return for some hiking as the trail from here looks enjoyable if prepared for the conditions.

Thomas McElwee

This is a great area to begin some spectacular hiking. Coldwater Peak, Harry's Ridge are among my favorites.

Jason Dreier

Great visitors center. Exceptional view.

Krystal King

I have always enjoyed coming up here since 1998. The movie is great, all the Rangers have such great knowledge, and are always willing to answer any and all questions. And seeing her new growth is wonderful

Amber Dry

This place has an amazing view of the part of Mt Saint Helens that blew out. It is totally different from the south side as the south side is covered in forests. The north side is where the actual eruption occurred and still to this day you can see the first hand effects.

Soumyodipta Mukerjee

Rugged but beautiful landscape. A good experience to see how a volcano can destroy a beautiful place.

Christina Hoffas

This place makes learning fun for the kids and the adults. So educational. Definitely be going back. Amazing view!

Nelson Turner

Amazing views on a sunny day!! Take the family.

Terrence Cook

Perhaps the worst movie I've watched at a National Park Unit, for being such a remarkable event and excellent location the visitors center film was terrificly low quality and un-inspiring. The exhibits and information is excellent but for god sakes make a new film !

sameer swain

It is most scenic drive, I had in the western Washington, better than Olympic National park as well as Mt Rainer. The drive is so amazing here. Observatory center shows a movie about 80’s volcanic eruption and the life after that. Much informative centre. Parking is ample and free. $8fee is worth for trails and hikes. Though the center dont have a cafe inside, outside there is a food truck.

Michael Smith

Great views of the volcano and the surrounding area. Really gives you perspective of what nature can build and destroy and rebuild. Rangers at the observatory are very friendly and informative. Little shop is great. Come prepared, there is NO food available there.

Rames El Desouki

Great views from.up there. Not a must-go but a should-go. Watch the movie and listen to the lively ranger story.

Joseph F DeBartolo

There is a fee to visit. So make sure the weather allows for a view of the mountain. You can always check the webcam before making the long drive. But when it is clear, the views are breathtaking and the movie will blow you away.

Mike Young

Johnson observatory is a great place to learn about Mt St Helens and what happened in 1980. The weather can be unpredictable and you might not get the best overall view but there are educational movies and many photos and even interactive displays to help. There is also a trail that you can take to give a better feel of the destructive power of that volcano

R Smith

Every visiting friend and relative who ever visited me wanted to go up there. It was great every time and each time I saw and learned something new. This trip was no exception. Stopped at BOTH observation points for the first time. That is worth doing too!

Lisa Mayner

Beautiful spot. I hiked Harry's Ridge from here was was about 13km(8miles) in about 2 hours and 40 minutes. Beautiful hike.

Jim Nunya

Great weather today. We were able to see the mountain clearly. Added bonus of a herd of elk in the valley.

Psychology Zhou

Enjoyed the short educational video about the eruption of Mt St Helen’s, which ended with a great window view of the mountain. Tons of trail options here. But if you want to submit the mountain (which is only a day hike), you will need to do your homework and apply for the climbing permit ahead. Permits in the summer time are very competitive - only 100 per day and sold out months ago!

Mary Taylor

Absolutely breathtaking view. It is something you have to see for yourself. No pictures can do it justice. Well worth the drive.

mommyrenee

Look at two mountains. See the crater. Learn sciencey geology stuff. Buy some books. Great trails and views, good place to learn the local history.

Vivek Pillai

Nice movie show on the volcano. Make sure you are seated for the big reveal at the end of it.

Laura Domic

Beautiful building with beautiful views all around. Very informative!

carol joyner

Great place to view Mt St Helens. Nice gift shop.

Michele Waite

Wonderful views of the mountain on a great weather day.

Kyrie Shetterly

There's a lot of information here. It was cloudy and freezing rain when we went so we couldn't actually see Mt. St. Helens, but we still enjoyed the movies and the adventures and stops along 504.

Bf Dog

This is a great place to visit in the spring through fall time frame. They close in the winter. A perfect place to observe and learn about Mt. St. Helens and the 1980 eruption and the circumstances surrounding it. The views are breathtaking and there are tons of trails to hike here.

Nichole Pas

The observatory was beautiful outside and filled with history and information that I couldn’t get enough of. There were even fun activities for kids to enjoy. The wildflowers were amazing.

Debra Wilson

Amazing displays and shop! A beautiful building.

Harry Culp

Beautiful place to visit. Fresh crisp air with an amazing view of Mt. St. Hellens. I'll be back ... in the spring. The Park Rangers and staff were extremely friendly and made you feel welcome. See you in the spring.

Samuel Kent

Beautiful. Fun. Educational. Stunning. Anmerent miles away from Mt St Helens. This observatory is steeped with history. When it is clear it provides stunning views of the volcano.

Rick Rose

Great views of Mt. St. Helens. Well done displays detailing the geology, people and history of the volcano.

H Rodriguez

Great place to find out about the history of mt. St, Helen's. I recommend this place to everyone, young or old!

Bill Backer

An amazing view in history. Informative and entertaining. Even if you did not experience the eruption first hand, the presentations would bring it to life.

Marc Arnold

Beautiful views of the North slope of Mount Saint Helens. The Observatory has a wonderful display and will teach you all about the 1980 eruption.

Dean Madden

Well put together information center that is both awe inspiring to children and also interesting for adults. The views of the mountain and near by lakes are beautiful from the lookout. The drive is beautiful with great places to pull off and enjoy the views and or stretch your legs and breath in the wonderfully fresh air. I'd recommend this as a weekend adventure the whole family will enjoy and remember for years to come.

Anna O

What a view! Never disappointed...at least when there's no clouds

Dan Willette

Amazing spot to see St. Helen's. Plenty of parking and the sunset was incredible. Check it out!

Helga Kash

Beautiful observatory. It was worth the trip

Deann Murphy

No picture does the justice of portraying the magnitude & raw beauty of the drive up to and breathtaking views of what the eruption of Mt St Helen's did to alter this area. You just have to see it in person!

James Wray

Great learning center. The two videos that play in the theater were pretty well produced and informative. It was socked in, so we didn't see the mountain.

Kavitha Lingamoorthy

Go and see it! I have seen pictures and heard friends describe it, but nothing comes close to the feel when you stand in front of the sleeping giant. It is a humbling experience. And a reminder in life being resilient - wonderful to see vegetation and animals thrive in a recently desolate landscape. It is a 3.5 hour drive from Seattle without traffic. In reality, you need 5 hours to get there.

Jim Yang

Very informative. And the view is spectacular. It also provides hides tours. Highly recommend.

Nathan Harold

One of the best-run modern visitors centers I've seen. The staff were friendly and knowledgeable, and there was a bevy of helpful volunteers to help. While this is the furthest stop on the road, go here first to get your bearings and a sense of the other things to do.

James buege

Nice beautiful place to see Mount St. Helens from. Didn’t get to see it all due to overcast and cloudy skies. But a lot of beautiful pics. And some very nice locals. Would recommend this stop to anyone traveling through.

The Schmutzer

Best view you can get. Breath taking. Imagining what happend 38 years ago is fascinating we stood there for hours. There are a few different places you can walk to with different views. Amazing place. The mountain speaks to you. The energy that comes from her is something everybody should experience.

Scott Hutcheson

This is a bigger than life experience for me!!!!! Growing up in Alabama during the time of the eruption. It was well worth the trip to see this marvel of nature!!!!!

Pam Shudy

Interesting, informative... dont go on a rainy cloudy day, though .. we missed the mountain view driving up, and the view of Mt St Helens

Stan Thomas

Fascinating! Great views and information about the eruption. Bring the camera and patience. It's crowded on nice days. Plan to spend some time and listen to the presentations.

Teauna Young

I live so close, yet this is my first visit here. Very informed and interactive! There was a group of children who seemed very engaged with the Ranger and what they were talking about. We watched one of the movies. Well worth the time. Simply BEAUTIFUL views!

Norm Ngim

A 50 mile drive from I-5, but worth it I think to get a good view of Mt. St. Helens. Be aware that clouds can obscure the volcano. There are two other visitor centers on the way up.

nodreffahs

It's a long way out and a long way back, but so worth it! We were blessed on the day we went. Rainy on the way out, but after we got there, the weather cleared up and we got some great pictures!

Erik Peterson

Great information about the event and how much has changed since 1980. Hikes galore

Kristy Waller

Absolutely a beautiful place to view Mt. St. Helen's. There are hiking trails and an observation area. There is a great indoor educational area and a small theater. A fun place to spend the day.

Sandra Oldemeyer

33 degrees out and snow on the ground. Always love visiting and seeing the changes.

Thomas Kenji Melot

There are two films shown on a staggered schedule, a geology focused one and a biology focused one. As a geologist, do not watch the geology film. It's an abomination and should be removed, thrown in the trash, and scrubbed from the United States archives. Whoever made it should be ashamed of themselves, as should be the government employee who signed off on it.

Gary Shuhart

Very informative and a great place to start your hiking. The trail from there to see Spirit Lake is about 2.3 miles. Not too difficult of a trail. They had a good truck in the parking lot which we took advantage of.

Timothy Kesner

Amazing views of Mt. Saint Helens. Long drive to get there and make sure you fill-up in Toledo before heading out since it's almost 100 mile round trip with no facilities.

Dom DAltilio

Good exibits, knowledgeable ranger gave a good presentation presentations. take the trail to the left for good views

Julia Pavey

this is a great place to visit and learn about Mount Saint Helen's. loved the video about the eruption that happened. beautiful day even with the clouds.

Robert Pahlow Jr

Spectacular views of Mt. St Helens and the area around it "recovering" from the big eruption of May 18, 1980. Lots of parking and fabulous views. The interpretive center really works well to tell the story of what happened that day. The day we were here there was a good truck selling burgers, hotdogs and drinks. Plenty of hiking but do your pet a favor and don't bring them

Mary Louise Lyons

Last weekend of the year! Glad we had a chance to see and hear the stories and research behind this powerful site. Definitely worth the drive, but bring food/snacks if planning a day trip.

Roberta Jindra

Was perfectly clear day - photo ops galore - hot, but not oppressive - great info in observatory - $8 per adult unless you have a national park pass - but great stories and a film about eruption.

Alexis Fay

Beautiful place. Can be a bit windy so bring some layers. Try to go on a clear day and you will not be disappointed. The air is so fresh and it’s a great place to spend the day. The drive up is so scenic with many vistas and places to stop along the way. Pack a picnic and enjoy a very lovely like up here. The rangers are great. If you have children ask about the free Junior Ranger program. The kids get an activity book and after completing age appropriate activities they get to “swear in” and get their very own ranger badge and it’s all free!!

Eric Buckman

Beautiful place to rest and Enjoy the views and bring your friends dog and kids Beautiful

JEFF MCNEESE

Excellent plays excellent program I wish we could sing the mountain but too much fog

A. Evans

Beautiful, don’t bring your pets they are not welcome or safe on the trails. Amazing views. Excellent parking, bring a jacket due to elevation it can be a bit chilly

Trista Delperdang

Nice pictures and info! The weather was good, so in time, we got to see the entire mountain to the peak. The drive up is fascinating! It is beautiful and the way some of the trees grew back look somewhat pixelated. Loved it!

Chuck Lewis

This is the best place to see Mount St Helens. I highly recommend it. The View is awesome and they are happy to discuss all the details of the eruption and the recovery. There are lots of good hiking trails around there also.

Karen N Cricket

So worth the drive! Holy mackerel! Amazing, knowledgeable staff and volunteers. Absolutely loved our time here. From utter devastation to new life.

Jeffrey State

This is truely an amazing place to visit and understand the story of the 1980 eruption and what has followed. If you get a chance to see the mountain as we did a few years back it is breath taking. Well worth the visit.

Neil Graham

This place is tremendous. However, the drive there seems endless and at times scary with the height you end up getting to. It is well set out and has ample parking a short walk away. In the car park is a van selling food and coffee at high prices really, which is a shame. There is a shop inside the Observatory but there is no food or drink on sale here. The toilets very clean. A 10-15 minute film is shown in the theatre, which is excellent. There are easy to read and interesting posters/photos there also, explaining what happened in 1980 when Mount St Helens erupted. Also there is a talk outside explaining more re the eruption. This place is well worth a visit. The staff are tremendous.

Teresa Gallion

Interesting place to learn all about the volcano. Great view of the mountain.

Robert Relyea

Must see. This is an amazing view of the north side crater and the debris field. There is a great visitors center and some trails to different views. Don't miss the movie. Wonderful theater with a nice surprise behind it's curtain. We expected to spend about half an hour and ended up spending 3 hours.

Chandra Mohan

Beautiful views. Good Ranger talks and 20 minutes video

Thomas H.

Really freaking beautiful! Have to pay to use the regulated trails. They do npt like it if you walk off path! There are many viewpoints before this pne that have a great view of the mountain. If you are not wanting to pay about 8 dollars a piece then just stop at those. Not bad looking though! Loved it!

Gary Arita

Great place to learn about the weapon of Mount Saint Helen. Bring food and water, you can go on a hike too.

Richard Jackson

Great views when not clouded over. Very informative, just seeing for yourself the devastation is amazing.

Marissa Patterson

The observatory was lovely and informative. It was a cloudy day so we couldn't see much of the mountain, but that's Washington for you. The movie they showed was awesome and I learned a lot.

David Hampton

Nice motorcycle ride to reach the sometimes crowded visitors center/viewpoint providing a view of the North side of Mount Saint Helen's.

Rick Woolsey

It is well maintained and the staff is knowledgeable. The day we came we were not able to view Mt. Saint Helens because we were walking in the clouds. We need to see 5 miles and could only see about 5 meters. Even though we traveled about 5000 miles for the trip, it is still a wonderful place to visit. Maybe the next time weather will be better.

Susan Pratt

$8 admission fee, well worth it for the views. Has a lovely paved walkway that was wonderful for an impromptu hike, plenty of parking, and lots of helpful staff there to give you information about the eruption.

Dennis James

Awsome view of the crater great visitor center.

Russ ScrewYouGoogleYouCantHaveMyLastName

Awe inspiring. The magnitude of what happened here can not be imagined accurately through pictures. Four stars is only cuz I can't bring my dog.

Linda Evans

This is my second visit. Our first visit was 2013. We were surprised how much Nature has changed the site since we drove up last time. It's the end of the road so when you get in there do go in and watch the movie. Don't leave your seat until the curtains open. Hope you're there on a sunny day. It happened to be a misty rainy cloudy day when we were there this last time. We made the best of it and took the best pictures we could when the sun was out for seconds. We stopped at every stop along the way. The first trip in 2013 I don't know what made it scary but it was. Maybe it was the movie we saw at the first stop and all the exhibits and the things we read about the volcano. On the way up the land was still scarred and looks like the moon to us and certain places in 2013. This time all of that had changed and for some reason we had absolutely no scary feelings or fear.

Joseph Fincher

Fantastic place to learn about this active volcano. Amazing to think it was still irrupting in 2005! Staff are super friendly and beautiful road to drive up. It's seasonal so check before you commit.

Brian

If you are going to see Mt St Helens make sure you stop here for at least half a day if not the entire day. Drive straight up the road and do not stop so that you will have ample time to hike one of the many trails in the area. There is a food trailer in the parking lot and a very nice visitor center. Wrist bands are given once the $8 per person is paid. They also accept the national park pass which cost $80. The parking lot is huge and even has around 100 spots for RVs.

Chris Hansen

I took a group of kids on school bus, they had a great time.

Denise Riggs

Beautiful weather, awesome scenery, great information..very fun day.

JN K

You need to buy pass - it is 8 dollar per adult - kids are free. You can use National Park Annual Pass, too.

Joshua Olson

Johnston Ridge Observatory is a great place to go if you want information on the history of Mt. St. Helens and an easy photo op from the North. The video inside the building ends with opening huge curtains behind the screen, unveiling the mountain through a windowed wall. There is a short trail outside of the Observatory leading back to the parking lot that provides great views.

Steve Hirjak

Adequate parking. Center is air conditioned. Large theater that runs alternating 20 minute documentaries. The theater is pretty nice. The exhibit center is somewhat boring. The ranger staff is helpful and puts on hourly trails outside. There is a very crowded trail just off the center with a couple of decent viewpoints. Very nice bathrooms and refrigerated water fountains that you can tell bottles at.

Byron Vasecka

Great facility with an amazing view of Mt. St. Helens. It's well worth the trip. The Observatory is only the beginning however. The Observatory is the starting point for numerous trails throughout the area. One of my favorite trails, "Harry's Ridge" is an 8 mile out and back trail that offers phenomenal views of the mountain where the devastation of 39 years ago occurred and the dramatic recovery since then.

Sharon Slawter

We were so close to the crater. The ranger outside was so informative it was great! The price was a bit high for what we saw I felt ($8) but the views were great!!! I can only imagine how amazing it would be on a sunny day

Jenn Etherton

Sign said you were supposed to buy a ticket just to look from the viewpoint outside. I had to wonder what public lands really means. Minus 1 star imo. The building is nice and it's well staffed. This is a state park, but since it's also a national monument, they will accept the National Parks pass. Veterans are free and can admit 4 with their pass, don't know if that includes the veteran. Adults $8. Call first or use their online sky cams to check the weather. It was thick fog when we got up there. That also makes driving awful. The distance from the parking lot to the building is an incline if you have a walker or breathing problems.

Calypso O'Reilly

The indoor facility provides informative displays to help visitors understand volcanic processes and how Mount St. Helens has changed over time, especially the recent dramatic eruption and its consequences. A short trail leads to informational placards as well as the memorial site, and the views are amazing. Be aware that hiking is restricted, as there are hazards. Permits are needed on some trails. Other routes, especially those approaching the mountain itself, are accessible only to researchers and others with special permissions. Check maps carefully and be safe. This is an active volcano.

Johnny Chan

Johnston Ridge Observatory is about an hour drive from Castle Rock. Unfortunately the day I was at Johnston Ridge Observatory it was cloudy and raining at Castle Rock. However, after the hour drive to Johnston Ridge Observatory it cleared up a bit but some clouds hang around the top of Mt St Helens. There are plenty of parking spot available but if it was a hot and sunny day then there might not be that many spot. I didn't get a good picture of the volcanic mountain :( The building at Johnston Ridge Observatory is a newer building with theatre. View is great here even though I wasn't able to see the entire mountain. From here you can see after the volcano erupted 39 years ago the environment has re-grow with new trees and wild flowers. The volcanic ash and pieces of Mt St Helens top have transformed the land.

Jasen Gilmore

Such an amazing location to reflect...I couldn't imagine going thru all that. A heartfelt tribute to those who experienced and sacrificed so much! I highly recommend you put yourself in this space for a time, it will change you. Also, the Forest Learning Center, founded by Warehouser offers a similar experience...the views are incredible! One more is Mt. St. Helens Visitor Center, operated by the Washington State Parks, very cool 1 mile plus loop on the wetlands, part of the loop is an old railroad right of way, worth the visit! Enjoy your History!

Paul Dean

Travelled to this sight many times. It is a wonder, seeing how the land is recovering from the eruption. Besides, where else in the lower 48, would you be able to get a "selfie" in front of a growing volcano?

Average Shmo

Wow! Reading about this place in books is just like the Grand Canyon--until you're looking at it for yourself, it's hard to appreciate the grandeur. I have returned several times now because it's that good. I enjoy visiting and taking lots of pics each time. Some people actually back pack the rim of the volcano. I may someday but for now, I enjoy the little trails around the observatory and bringing family here.

Jimmy Kim

Even with the clouds and rain, we loved this place. It's well worth the drive out there. Learning about the history of this massive eruption puts into perspective how well forested the area is now.

J H

Great place to take the family for a day trip. Beautiful view and cool guide type thing. Wrist bands are $8 for anyone over 15 years old. You need a wrist band to hike up a small trail or hike to Spirit Lake. We didn't pay and didn't have any trouble walking the trail lol. Would recommend going to Cold Water Lake (it's also free). The water isn't even very cold. It is nice clean water and there are lots of shallow parts to hang out in. You will need shoes or sandals in the water though since the bottom is all large rocks that are uncomfortable to stand on.

Eric Hines

Beautiful facilty with easy access. Large, clean restrooms. Spectacular views and excellent explanations of what your looking at.

Chris Martinis

Incredible views of an amazing piece of history and nature!

Brent Zenkner

A little too crowded for my liking. There are many more places around Mount saint Helens where you can have more fun with a lot less crowds. probably won't go back just because of all the other things I can do on the other side of the mountain. Although it's worth one trip maybe

Tracie Brown

It is beautiful. Very neat place to visit. I learned a lot while here.

D.J. Black

Great place to see a landmark of an amazing event.

Heart

Beautiful overlook facing Mt St Helens. It's a long drive to the observation area but well worth the drive. You have a front view of the volcano (Facing the direction of the blast and flow) with a wide view of the valley below. There is a information / ranger station which you must pay to enter for any reason. There are videos shown and a gift shop. Friendly staff. Plenty of parking. Well worth the drive up.

Crystal Batey

Great view of Mt St Helen's. Be sure to watch the film in the theater. Eruption of Life is a great depiction of the event and life after.

Kirk VanGelder

Well worth learning about the history of Mt St Helens. Also plan to stop at the Wherhouser museum on the way up here....Also give yourself plenty of time. It takes awhile to drive up here.

Rakesh .Vallabhaneni

It was awesome observatory and you can watch Mt St.Helen and history about how earth quake effected and why is it like that today. I would definitely recommend watching the movie which is free the some run every 30 minutes or so. Definitely worth the time.

Dillon O Henschen

This place has an incredible view of Mt St Helen. It is well worth the drive

TJ H Art Studio

It was awesome looking to be that close to the mountain. The only problem was the top part was under cloud cover. Other than that I had a great time

Allison Frye

A great visitor center! There was a theater with a movie about eruption of 1980 as well as lots of information. There were several trails with awesome views!

Chantel s

It was a nice place, but really sad that you cant even have your dogs on a leash. And the dog area they said they had was not clear only a cement walkway. Right when we parked and got my dogs out I already saw the no dog sign but of course a young park ranger had to say something to me. It was to hot to walk my dogs on the hot pavement. We were camping so I couldn't leave our dogs at the campsite or in the car. If there is going to be no dogs than at least have a descent area with grass for dogs. The look out was pretty but very touristy. Also the sign of even a foot step in the grass area and you get a 100 dollar fine is a bit extreme. I understand about conserving the environment but it's to controlling and nature will come back either way.

Jeff Kersting

This is a must see. Absolutely stunning views of the mountain, that are so close you can almost reach out and touch it. What an amazing Observatory, this is. And named after an amazing human being

Chris Sotraidis

Beautiful observatory and ample parking. Takes some time driving up, and cell service is limited, so keep that in mind. Some trails and a great view. Plenty of park rangers to ask questions about volcanic activity...

Jared Scofield

Amazing experience. Watching the event occur and then seeing the mountain is truly awe inspiring.

ismail arslangiray

A great place to visit. We are lucky that we live close by to be able to visit. This is a great place for motorcycle riding. Twisty roads and not too crowded. Food and drink is limited. So be sure to take some extra with you. Also fuel up

chris sternagel

Excellent view of the mountain as long as it's not cloudy. Also great trails to hike not too difficult and decent distance, like 8 Miles round-trip to Harry's Ridge Siri

Keegan Olson

Beautiful Views! And neat hikes close to the mountain. Saw quite a few Elk in the distance. Easy to spot with binoculars.

Scott Henderson

Great spot to have a look at the North side of Mt St Helens. A couple of excellent films and other educational material. All for only $8 or free if you have an interagency pass. The best part though is that the parking lot also allows access to a trail system with even better views of St Helens and also Spirit Lake and Mt Adams without too much hiking. Highly recommended on a sunny day!

Aussie Allen

I visited and they are a deaf friendly place! I just did not like the red cc on the movie. It is both beautiful and breathtaking in was more impressed by the scenery than the tourist trap! If you have a acesspast the n four of you get in free.

Kurt Preston

Great views, friendly rangers, nice trails and clean bathrooms.

Sesar Urcaregui

Mount St. Helen's is coming back to life. At least all the greenery is. The Johnston observatory has a great view and very knowledgeable staff willing to share there knowledge with all who care to listen. It's a great drive down and the views are worth it. Enjoy.

JC 2MM

Very educational and interesting. Make sure to call and check on visibility. The view is at the mercy of the weather.

Monika Rumpf

Visited almost 18 years ago, amazing to see how the area has changed and keep changing. Very educational and interesting. I really liked that the rangers were giving short lectures of the different aspects of the event.

Bob Bruse

So amazing! Worth the visit for sure! Need to see windy ridge next

James Townsend

Visitors center was great. Watched 2 shows in the theater and took many great photos. Will return in the future.

John Webber

This is one of the rare places on earth where you can get up close to an active volcano. And this is such a historic place. It is amazing to see the power of nature that formed this place post-eruption in 1980. The observatory has some great educational exhibits to show all that has been learned from this eruption. The views from the observatory and the trails around the observatory are breathtaking. This place is definitely worth the drive. Make sure to stop at the Elk viewpoint along the way - saw several herd of elk grazing in part of the valley created by the lahars and mudflows from the 1980 eruption.