Coldwater Peak

On a beautiful sunny day after a week of rain, we were ready to go hiking. We headed down to Johnston Ridge at Mt St Helens Volcanic National Monument to hike up to Coldwater Peak, (about 11.7 miles round trip with 2,400 ft of gain overall). The views were fabulous, but the wind gusts were much stronger than what was predicted.

View of Mt St Helens from the Boundary Trail on our way towards Harry Ridge.

On the boundary  trail heading up to St Helens Lake, below is Mt Adams, Spirit Lake, Mt Hood, Harry's Ridge and Mt St Helens.

We saw several groups of elk along our hike and a large herd. I was able to get one "decent" zoom photo of this bull elk (it is fuzzy).

We saw quite a bit of hoar frost on the trail today, Mt Hood and Mt St Helens 

View of St Helens Lake, Mt Rainier beginning to peek out over the ridge

View of Coldwater Peak from the trail above St Helens Lake

I love that a the trail goes through this rock arch high above St Helens Lake

View of Mt Adams through the rock arch. There were some icicles hanging down from the arch.

On the boundary trail, after the junction with the Coldwater Lake Trail, looking across St Helens Lake towards Mt Adams

From the boundary trail, a .75 mile spur trail leads up Coldwater Peak. I love this view of Mt St Helens between these pointy ridges. Mt Hood in the distance

There was some snow on the trail up Coldwater Peak, it was beginning to melt as we hiked back down.

We saw large ice chunks falling of these cliffs on Coldwater Peak, we made sure to hike quickly by when we were underneath them.

View of Mt Hood and Mt St Helens as we neared the top of Coldwater Peak

View of Mt Rainier as we neared the top of Coldwater Peak

On top of Coldwater Peak: view to the west, Coldwater Lake below, we also saw some distant snow capped Olympic Mountains to the northwest.

View of Mt Rainier (left) and the Goat Rocks (right) from on top of Coldwater Peak.

zoom of Mt Rainier

There were some icy plants and tree limbs on Coldwater Peak today.

The views coming back on this trail are as gorgeous as coming up! Mt Adams, St Helens Lake and Spirit Lake 

zoom of Mt Adams

At one of the switchbacks coming down from Coldwater Peak, we saw two mountain goats (right center of photo) in this view of Mt St Helens

zoom of the mountain goats

Mt Rainier as we continue down Colwater Peak

It was so windy on top of Coldwater Peak, we waited until we were almost back to the junction with the Coldwater Lake Trail to find a spot off trail to take our lunch break. Looking up at Coldwater Peak from the boundary trail.

View of Mt Adams through a hole in a stump

More views as we continue hiking back down the trail:

 

Coldwater Peak

 Drove to Johnston Ridge at Mt St Helens National Monument to hike to Coldwater Peak, an 11.7 mile round trip hike with 2,400 ft of overall elevation gain. It was slightly hazy today. Less than 10 cars in the parking area when I arrived and the lot was mostly empty when I returned in the afternoon. Very few people here today. View of Coldwater Peak (middle background) and the hole in the rock the trail goes through (on the far ridge to the right) as seen from the parking area.

Hiked along  Boundary Trail #1, the first 2.5 miles follows Johnston Ridge towards Harry's Ridge. For the majority of this section, there are wonderful views of Mt St Helens. The trail has been rerouted away from the west side of Devil's Elbow as that part of that section of the trail has eroded away.

This chipmunk kept dashing to and fro across the moss.

While this ground squirrel was busy munching on wildflowers.

There are still some wildflowers in bloom along the trail, the paintbrush are the most prolific besides the pearly everlasting and the dandelions .

After passing the turn off to Harry's Ridge (at 3 miles), the Boundary Trail starts to climb up a ridge to St Helens Lake, on the way there are great views of Spirit Lake and Mt Adams.

Lots of lovely fall color here.

Wide angle photo from further up this ridge. Mt Adams, Spirit Lake, Mt St Helens and Harry's Ridge below.

From the top of the ridge is a nice view of St Helens Lake, The Dome and Mount Margaret along the ridge line, Mt Rainier peaking over the ridge.

The trail then switches back and goes through this hole in the rock.

Mt Adams viewed through the hole in the rock.

The Boundary Trail continues and meets with the connector trail to the Coldwater Lake Trail, continue along the Boundary Trail to the north for 1/2 mile. Lots of fall color on the side of Coldwater Peak.

View of St Helens Lake with Mt Adams in the background. The spur trail to Coldwater Peak is 3/4 mile of switchbacks.

Pano to the east from the south end of Coldwater Peak: St Helens and Spirit Lakes below, Mt Adams and Mt St Helens in the distance. Only saw the hazy base of Mt Hood today.

View of Mt Rainier to the north from the north end of Coldwater Peak.

zoom of Mt Rainier

I love this trail, because it is all in the open with endless views! Enjoying the views and fall colors hiking down the switchbacks on Coldwater Peak.

Returning to the hole in the rock and the view to the west.

View of Spirit Lake, in the afternoon there was a herd of elk resting down near the shore.

View of Mt St Helens on the way back to the parking area. Lovely day!

some of the wildflowers seen along the trail today: