Day Hike - South Coldwater Ridge

Meet at 9 AM at the Coldwater Lake Boat Launch parking lot, reached by taking Exit 63 eastbound from I-5, onto SR 505 through Toledo to its T junction with SR 504, where you turn left and continue to the left turn into the Coldwater Lake parking lots.  Continue around the loop to the second parking lot, by the boat launch.  A Northwest Forest Pass, or the equivalent, must be displayed by each car parked there and at the South Coldwater Ridge trailhead parking lot.

This is a loop hike with a car shuttle.  At the Coldwater Lake Boat Lauch parking lot we will use the nice restrooms located there and then caravan in half our cars to the nearby trailhead for the South Coldwater Ridege hike, leaving the other cars at the meeting place for the car shuttle at the end of the hike.  Withcooperative weather, this hike has multiple attractions:  1.  a spectacular view of Mt. St. Helens from the ridge top, 2. several relics of logging equipment destroyed by the eruption, 3. a lunch stop with a panoramic view of Coldwater Lake, 4. a rest stop at a sandy beach at the north end of the lake providing swimming opportunities, 5.  passing a beaver pond and 6. finishing on a lakeside trail with continuous views of the lake  and 7. observing the impact of the eruption throughout the hike.

After the hike, we will have time to drive to the Johnston Ridge Observatory to see exhibits and presentations there before they close at 6 PM.  Entrance to the Observatory requires presenting a Northwest Forest Pass or National Park Pass for each four people, but no pass need be displayed by cars parked in the parking lot there.  On the drive home we will have an optional dinner stop at the Fire Mountain Grill, which received good reviews from a prior hiking group stopping there.

If you participate in all the above activities, plan to arrive home late in the evening.