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Marvel at the sublime magnificence of Mt. St. Helens, hike through an oldgrowth forest, spelunk through a lava tube, and enjoy waterfalls on this small group tour through the Gifford Pinchot National Forest.

Highlights

• Visit a viewpoint into the crater of sublime Mt. St. Helens
• Gaze at crystalline waterfalls
• Spelunk through one of the longest lava tubes in North America
• Hike through enchanting oldgrowth forest
• Relax with an all-inclusive excursion

Description

Spend a full day crawling, climbing, and hiking with your professional guide as you experience Oregon's natural surroundings up close. Travel north of Portland along the lower Columbia River, known for 18th-century Spanish, American, and British explorers, and the Chinookan people. Crawl through a lava tree mold during a 20-minute hike in a landscape reminiscent of a fairy-tale amusement park, before beginning your descent into Ape Cave, one of the longest continuous lava tubes in North America. Spend 1-2.5 hours exploring this cave, named for a purported Sasquatch attack. Weather permitting, you will spend an hour at the closest viewpoint into the crater of the volcano, where you will eat a picnic lunch, overlooking Spirit Lake. Here, if there are no clouds, walk up the 437-step staircase to get a photo of Mt. Hood, Mt. Adams, Mt. Rainier, and of course, Mt. St. Helens. Before returning to Portland, you'll make additional 5-to-30-minute stops to enjoy vistas, hike through oldgrowth forest, and admire a waterfall. Throughout the day you'll learn about the geological history that shaped Mt. St. Helens and the Cascadia region.

Includes

Hotel pickup and drop-off within Portland PA system to hear the tour guide clearly Snacks Bottled water Lunch Headlamps Gratuities

Important Information

• • This tour operates in all weather conditions, and the cave is 42F (5.5C). Please dress in layers • Please wear shoes that are suitable for minor rock climbing (i.e. scrambling/bouldering) • Wear long pants, as there will be opportunities for crawling • If weather does not allow mountain visibility, a modified itinerary will take you to bonus stops • Visibility of the volcano cannot be guaranteed

Easy cancellation

Cancel up to 24 hours in advance for a full refund