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Trip Report    

Day Hike - Mount Margaret via Norway Pass

Beautiful views and wildlife sightings on a sunny day in Mt. St. Helens National Monument.

  • Road suitable for all vehicles
  • Route: Your map device may suggest 14 miles on forest road 26. Instead, I suggest take paved FR 99 and only do one mile on unpaved FR 26.

    There is a serious section of trail past Norway Pass on the way to MT. Margaret. The taller members of our group made it look easy. But the shorter members doubted they could make one particular step. The consequence of a fall would be to land hard on rock.   We followed a reroute others had made before us. It would be better if there was a chain rail or something of that sort there to keep people on the trail.Section of trail with difficult crossing

It was a beautiful day. The temps didn't get too high, but it seemed hotter as this is a very dry trail with little shade. The view of Mt. St. Helens and Spirit Lake just past Norway Pass is spectacular. The flowers are in full bloom on the lower trail right now and in early bloom higher up. As we hiked up, we had good views of Mt. Rainier, Mt. Adams and Mt. Hood. Mt. Jefferson was visible too. There were Elk and mountain goats. Bear Camp was a good resting spot and still has some water, once the snow melts, it will be dry. From Mt. Margaret, we could see into the crater. There were snow patches to cross on the way up - traction devices advised at this time.

four people on summit  of Mt Margaret with Mt. St. Helens behind.