Mt St Helens Visitor Center at Silver lake

Adjacent to the center, visitors can explore the mile long Silver Lake Wetlands Trail. This trail  includes boardwalks over wetlands where you can learn about the formation of Silver Lake and the plants and animals that live there. A diverse variety of waterfowl  may be viewed. Mount St. Helens can be seen in the distance.

The Mount Saint Helens Visitor Center at Silver lake is located on SR504 five miles from I-5 exit 49 at Castle Rock. Built in 1986 in the Cascade architectural style, the Silver Lake visitor center won a design award from President Ronald Reagan in 1988.  Its large windows and sweeping, upward lines contribute to the feeling of magnificence surrounding the mountain. Inside, visitors may enjoy a variety of interpretive displays that set the scene for all the visitor centers at Mount St. Helens. There are comprehensive presentations on the cultural and historical significance of the area, a chronology of events leading up to the volcanic blast on May 18, 1980, local geology, and the re-growth and recovery of the area in the years since the eruption. Displays include several interactive exhibits, life-size manikins, a large, step-in model of the volcano and two working seismographs. The center also offers a fine book and map shop, and the staff are available to answer your questions.

Open: November through March Daily 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. April through September Daily 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

volcanic plume welcomes visitors

Seaquest State Park is a 475-acre park located directly across the highway from the Mount Saint Helens Visitor Center at Silver Lake. .This  beautifully forested park claims over a mile of Silver Lake shoreline, eight miles of woodland trails for hiking and bicycling, and spectacular views of Silver Lake and the surrounding area. There are children's play areas, playing fields for team sports and great seasonal fishing for trout, salmon and spiney ray.