Loowit Falls Hike from Harry's Ridge at Mt St Helens

 Although it was wet and windy today, we wanted to go hiking! We decided to go to Loowit Falls, starting from Windy Ridge on the northeast side of Mt St Helens. From Loowit Falls, we took the trail down into Pumice Plain, making a loop, before returning up to Windy Ridge. We would hike about 10 miles with an overall elevation loss/ gain of 1,775 ft. Beautiful hike, even with very limited views.

The trail starts from the south end of the parking lot (the Truman Trail) and follows a service road for 2 miles down the hill, with view of the Smith Creek  drainage.
We had some glimpses of the east rim of Mt St Helens

There were lots of wildflowers along the way.

Below Windy Ridge lies Spirit Lake

Rain drops create beauty

 From the end of the road, we headed southwest on the Windy Trail, climbing up towards Mt St Helens. After 0.8 of a mile, this trail joins the Loowit Trail (which goes all around Mt St Helens). Turn right towards the west.

 This trail goes up and down through meadows of lupine and

 across rocky gullies and creeks.  I hear there are excellent views on a clear day.

















After 1 mile, there is a 0.6 mile spur trail to the south, leading up to Loowit Falls.

We saw a herd of mountain goats in the distance to the west.

View of 186 ft Loowit Falls from the end of the trail. The source of Loowit Falls is Crater Glacier (located in the crater, its snout less than 1 mile from Loowit Falls)

 zoom of Loowit Falls

 After rejoining the Loowit trail, we continued north for 0.8 mile to the Willow Springs Trail.

 The Willow Springs Trail is a short 0.9 mile that links back to Truman Trail and eventually back up Windy Ridge (seen in the distance) in 3.4 miles.

We saw so many wildflowers down in the Pumice Plain!  Pano looking east: Spirit Lake, Windy Ridge, Mt St Helns

 Lots of wildflowers!

 We would cross a creek where the trail had been washed away.

















We took our time, enjoying the flowers,

and the peek-a-boo views of Mt St Helens:

 more wildflowers:

   

  

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