Yes, Mt St Helens is definitely worth it! You are in luck too since we are having fantastic weather right now. There are a few places to eat on the way up to Johnston Ridge, but nothing exciting and so I would stop at a grocery store and get a styrofoam cooler and some snacks. If you are staying in downtown, there is a Whole Foods in the Pearl District or a Fred Meyer up on Burnside around 20th or so. Fred Meyer is MUCH cheaper, FWIW.

At Johnston Ridge there is a short film that is an absolute must see!!! After that head out on the trail from the far end of the parking lot.

It would be a stretch to do the gorge in the same day, but it can be done. Just get a very early start. You wouldn't be able to stop at many of the sights in the gorge, but you could do Multnomah Falls and possibly Crown Point Vista House and Portland Woman's Forum.

If you wanted to see the east side of Mt. St. Helens without the visitor center this is the route I would follow: East on I-84 to Multnomah Falls (left exit to the parking lot in the median). Hike up the paved path/steps to the top of the waterfall for a great look at the Columbia Gorge. From there east on I-84 to Hood River and cross "the Bridge of the Gods" to WA Rt. 14. Head west on 14 to Carson. Turn north on Forest Service Rd. #25 (paved all the way). This will take you to a spur road over to the Windy Ridge viewpoint. Return to FS 25 and head north to Randle on US 12. Take US 12 west back to I-5. If you wanted a glimpse of the ocean, you could continue on US 12 to Aberdeen and Grays Harbor.

Thanks both of you for your quick replys!! Will we need to buy any parking/hiking passes in advance, if there are any still available?

For first time visitors, Johnston Ridge is much better than the east side, IMO. Living here when the mountain blew, I remember that day, and the visitors centers give you a glimpse of that.

As for the passes, we have an annual NW Forest Pass, but they have day passes as well. I think the day passes are still $5, but not positive. We use the pass for the trails in the gorge, but you don't need it for places such as Multnomah Falls, Vista House, and the Woman's Forum.

I liked Mt. St. Helens, and the history of the eruption - but now - Mt. Hood is actually much more beautiful, and easier/closer to get to.

Drive out along 84 by the Gorge and take the frontage road - to see the 7 main waterfalls. Multnomah Falls is the highest and the lodge http://multnomahfallslodge.com/ has a see through ceiling in the dining room - and it's only a half hour or so from the Portland airport, whereas Mt. St. Helens is closer to 2 hours away.

Then a little further at Hood River (where you might see some windsurfers out on the mighty Columbia) turn south and you can be at our favorite - Timberline Lodge - on snow capped Mt. Hood http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mount_Hood within an hour so. http://www.timberlinelodge.com/

Have lunch and/or beverages in the 2nd floor bar and enjoy the view looking up at the glacier, and on the other side of the lodge - from the front porch - you can look down the Cascades all the way to Bend - and see Mt. Jefferson and the Three Sisters, etc.


You can go for a hike at Mt. Hood if you like - and find Mirror Lake - and
there is also a pristine little lake on the south side of the road/26 - called Trillium Lake - which is worth a look see. http://www.flyfishusa.com/about-our-waters/lakes/trillium-lake/trillium-lake.html

Heading back 26 - from Mt. Hood - into Portland - which will take about an hour and 20 minutes or so - if you have time - stop at the fish windows/walk by Welches (Wildwood Recreation Site) - which is just amazing. http://www.recreation.gov/campgroundDetails.do?contractCode=NRSO&parkId=74082

Oops. Mt. St. Helens is about an hour from Portland, but I stll say the drive to Mt. Hood is much prettier - as is Mt. Hood.

Tomsd--Well right now there is a wildfire burning in the gorge, so the haze might affect the views from Timberline.

Thank you all so much for your input... sounds like Mt. St. Helens is the better option. Don't want to drive all that way and not be able to see much - plus we're excited to see/be on the volcano!! I think we'll head up to Johnston Ridge and play it by ear - perhaps stop at Multnomah falls if we have time in the evening on the way back!

You're not going to be on the Volcano - but looking at if from a distance. BTW - all the remaining cindercones (Mt. St. Helens if a shell of it's former self) - in the Northwest - are former Volcanos.