If you are planning to visit Gifford Pinchot National Forest in 2025, stop and read this carefully. The “standard” itinerary has changed.

Due to a massive landslide on State Route 504, the famous Johnston Ridge Observatory remains closed for the entire 2025 season (reopening estimated for 2027). Most visitors will drive 2 hours to the wrong gate if they don’t know this. But don’t cancel your trip—2025 is also the 45th Anniversary of the Mount St. Helens eruption, and the forest is hosting special events that make this the perfect year to explore the “wilder” sides of the park.

Here is how to visit like a pro, avoid the road closures, and find the best views.

1. The “Roadblock” & The Alternative

The upper Spirit Lake Highway is blocked at milepost 45.2. You cannot drive to the main observatory.

• The Pro Move: Head to the Science and Learning Center at Coldwater. It is open, accessible, and offers incredible views of Coldwater Lake and the blast zone.

• Best 2025 Viewpoint: Drive to the Windy Ridge Interpretive Site on the east side of the mountain (accessible via Forest Roads 25 and 99). It’s more rugged, has fewer crowds, and gets you closer to the crater than the main tourist center did.

2. Must-Do Hikes (That Are Actually Open)

With the main tourist hub closed, these trails will be the stars of 2025:

• Ape Cave (South Side): A 2.5-mile lava tube you can walk through. Warning: You strictly need a timed reservation ticket (recreation.gov) during the summer season. No ticket, no entry.

• Lewis River Falls Trail: A relatively flat trail passing three spectacular waterfalls. It’s the “Instagram spot” of the forest.

• The Hummocks Trail: Since you can’t get to the ridge, this loop puts you right in the debris field of the 1980 eruption. It is geologically fascinating and currently open.

3. Camping: Where to Stay

Camping here is competitive. Booking opens 6 months in advance on a rolling basis.

• Best for Views: Takhlakh Lake Campground. It offers the “postcard shot” of Mount Adams reflecting in the water.

• Best for Families: Iron Creek Campground. Huge old-growth trees and easy river access.

• Best for Waterfalls: Lower Falls Campground. You can walk from your tent to the falls in 5 minutes.

4. 45th Anniversary Events (May 2025)

May 18, 2025, marks 45 years since the major eruption. Expect:

• Ranger-led talks at the Coldwater Science Center.

• “Eruptiversary” online events if you can’t make it in person.

• Pro Tip: If you visit in May, bring heavy rain gear. The “shoulder season” weather in the Pacific Northwest changes rapidly.

Know Before You Go

• Passes: You need a Northwest Forest Pass ($30 annual) or an America the Beautiful Pass.

• Cell Service: Non-existent in 80% of the forest. Download offline maps on Google Maps or Gaia GPS before you leave the I-5 corridor.