At 8:32 on 18 May 1980 the north face of St. Helens collapsed in the largest landslide ever recorded, and the lateral blast flattened two hundred square miles of forest in minutes. The summit dropped from 9,677 feet to 8,363.
Forty-five years later the blast zone still reads clearly from the road: grey trunks lying in parallel rows, all pointing away, with young forest growing up between them. It is close to three hours each way, which makes it a genuine full day and an early start.
What you see
- The view into the open crater from the ridge
- The blast zone and the standing dead forest
- Coldwater Lake, created by the landslide in a single afternoon
- The Toutle River valley, still filled with debris
Worth knowing before you book
- Access to Johnston Ridge has been affected by road damage in recent years. We confirm what is open before we quote the day, and we will route to the best viewpoint that is actually reachable.
The price, whole vehicle
| Vehicle | 10 hours | Per head* |
|---|---|---|
 SUV6 seats · 6 bags | $1,350 | $225 |
 Van · up to 1010 seats · 16 bags | $1,650 | $275 |
 Sprinter · up to 1414 seats · 20 bags | $1,950 | $325 |
*If you fill it. The vehicle price does not change with your party size — this column is only there so you can compare us with a per-seat coach.
In the price
- ✓The whole vehicle for the whole window — nobody else aboard
- ✓A driver-guide who stays with you all day
- ✓Pickup at Pier 91, Pier 66, your hotel, an address or Sea-Tac
- ✓Fuel, tolls, parking and the vehicle's ferry fare
- ✓Luggage space — cruise-day bags travel with you, at no charge
- ✓Bottled water, and a charging cable that fits your phone
- ✓Child seats on request, free
- ✓Free cancellation up to 24 hours before pickup
Not in the price
- ✗Mount Rainier / Olympic park entry — $30 per vehicle, seven days
- ✗Boeing Future of Flight — $14 admission · $42 factory tour, each
- ✗Space Needle, Chihuly, MoPOP — Timed tickets, book them yourself
- ✗Tasting fees in Woodinville — Usually $15–35, often waived on a bottle
- ✗Meals — Yours — we will stop wherever you like
- ✗Gratuity — Appreciated, never expected, never added
Where this day goes
