Loowit Falls

Mt St Helens National Volcanic Monument / Gifford Pinchot National Forest / Cougar, Washington, USA

About Loowit Falls

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Waterfall Safety and Common Sense

Loowit Falls is a nearly 200ft plunging waterfall sitting in the heart of the blast crater resulting from the Mt St Helens eruption in May 1980.

As a result of its position, I suspect that this is a waterfall that’s relatively new since I don’t think it existed prior to the eruption.

Loowit_Falls_183_06252021 - Loowit Falls
Loowit Falls

Erosion is continuing to change the height and appearance of Loowit Falls since the current landscape is still in its infancy as far as geologic timescales are concerned.

Heck, we noticed a protruding (and growing) lava dome in the heart of the Mt St Helens crater so it might erupt and change the landscape yet again!

By the way, I felt that Loowit Falls is aptly named because Loowit is the Native American name for Mt St Helens, and the hike to reach this waterfall is always in the presence of the imposing nad volatile mountain.

Logistics of Hiking to Loowit Falls

If you know where to look, you might already notice Loowit Falls looking puny within the massive blast crater of Mt St Helens from the Windy Ridge Lookout at the end of the Windy Ridge Road (see directions below).

Loowit_Falls_243_06252021 - Looking at Loowit Falls and a large extent of its downstream cascades as seen from the end of the Loowit Falls Trail
Looking at Loowit Falls and a large extent of its downstream cascades as seen from the end of the Loowit Falls Trail

However, in order to get a more satisfying experience with the falls, I had to earn my visit because it involved doing a 9.2-mile round-trip hike with 500ft net elevation gain.

Due to the landscape still recovering after 40+ years since the major eruption in 1980, the whole hike lacked shade so I definitely needed to liberally apply sunscreen while bringing plenty of water.

It’s also possible to hike from the Johnston Ridge Observatory via the Boundary Trail to Loowit Falls, but you’re looking at over 14 miles round-trip, which would take most people the whole day.

Overall, my hike from the Windy Ridge Lookout to Loowit Falls and back took me nearly 5.5 hours total.

Loowit_Falls_087_06252021 - Hiking the unshaded Loowit Trail with Mt St Helens looming in the background while wildflowers bloomed besides the trail
Hiking the unshaded Loowit Trail with Mt St Helens looming in the background while wildflowers bloomed besides the trail

That said, if I didn’t allow for rests and spontaneous conversations with other hikers on the trail, I probably could have completed the hike in about 4 hours.

Loowit Falls Trail Description: The Truman Trail

Starting from the Windy Ridge Lookout at the end of the public portion of the Windy Ridge Road, I started walking past the gate onto the unpaved part of the Windy Ridge Road.

This is actually a service road that is not for the public to drive as only staff with the means to open the gate and drive past it could keep driving.

Therefore, my Gaia GPS map also referred to this unpaved road section as the Truman Trail (named after another person who lost his life after opting to stay on Mt St Helens when it was about to erupt).

Loowit_Falls_415_06252021 - Looking from the service road or Truman Trail towards some of the cascades tumbling beneath a drainage towards an east-flowing basin
Looking from the service road or Truman Trail towards some of the cascades tumbling beneath a drainage towards an east-flowing basin

Anyways, during this relatively easy two-mile section, it was pretty much like hiking on an oversized wide trail so it wasn’t surprising to share it with mountain bikers.

Yet during this stretch, in addition to getting an in-your-face view of Mt St Helens, it also provided me with views of Mt Adams to the east, some attractive cascades beneath Windy Pass, and even Mt Hood way in the distance to the south.

At about a half-mile into the hike, I encountered one of those Geostation Earth Observatories where seismic activity is monitored.

It looked like there was a bomb shelter-like structure that I’d imagine might be there for an employee to escape to should another eruption and pyroclastic flow should occur.

Loowit_Falls_028_06252021 - Looking back at a Geostation Earth Observatory measuring the seismic activity of Mt St Helens
Looking back at a Geostation Earth Observatory measuring the seismic activity of Mt St Helens

In addition to the scientific infrastructure here, I also noticed that it had a nice view towards Spirit Lake.

At roughly 3/4-mile from the trailhead (or 1/4-mile from the observatory), I reached a bend in the road where I could look towards some cascades tumbling into a drainage flowing east.

Then, at about 1.7 miles from the trailhead, I reached a junction where the unpaved road (or Truman Trail) descended to the right while the so-called Abraham Trail ascended to the left.

I kept right to take the road to its end in another 0.3-mile.

Loowit Falls Trail Description: The Windy Trail and Loowit Trail

Loowit_Falls_068_06252021 - There was actually still a forest service vehicle parked at the end of the unpaved road right where the Windy Trail began and the Truman Trail portion was about to end
There was actually still a forest service vehicle parked at the end of the unpaved road right where the Windy Trail began and the Truman Trail portion was about to end

At the end of the service road, there were reassuring signs mentioning Loowit Falls so I knew I was in the right place so far.

Behind the sign, I continued straight to cross the first of a handful of lahar zones (basically drainages prone to destructive mud flows and flash flooding should the volcano erupt) as I now embarked on the Windy Trail.

At about 0.8-mile along the Windy Trail, I encountered another signed trail junction, where I kept right to go across another drainage and onto the Loowit Trail.

Going left at this junction would have taken me up to Windy Pass.

Loowit_Falls_377_06252021 - Context of one of the drainages with enough water in it to have a refreshing cascade next to the Loowit Trail. This crossing actually required nifty rock hopping or use of trekking poles to get across without changing shoes or ruining expensive hiking boots
Context of one of the drainages with enough water in it to have a refreshing cascade next to the Loowit Trail. This crossing actually required nifty rock hopping or use of trekking poles to get across without changing shoes or ruining expensive hiking boots

The Loowit Trail would continue to move west across the northern slope of Mt St Helens for the next 0.9 miles.

This involved crossing at least four more creeks or lahar-prone drainages, and each of the crossings involved some degree of going down and up steep embankments with rather sketchy footing.

Some of the drainages had interesting small cascades or waterfalls, which may also serve as useful cooling off spots.

Anyways throughout this 0.9-mile stretch of trail, I continued to get imposing views of the caldera of Mt St Helens while witnessing mats of wildflower blooms as well as impressive views towards Spirit Lake.

Loowit_Falls_138_06252021 - The Loowit Trail offered panoramic views towards Spirit Lake, where Mt Rainier could even be seen poking its peak above the Norway Peaks in front of it
The Loowit Trail offered panoramic views towards Spirit Lake, where Mt Rainier could even be seen poking its peak above the Norway Peaks in front of it

After around 0.9-mile beyond the Windy Pass Junction, I then reached another signed trail junction where I then kept left to follow the trail towards Loowit Falls.

Loowit Falls Trail Description: The Final Approach

Although the trail signage suggested that it was only 1/4-mile to get to the Loowit Falls Viewpoint, my GPS logs indicated that it was more like a 1/2-mile in each direction.

It also felt longer because nearly this entire spur trail was uphill.

Nevertheless, after around 1/4-mile from the signed trail junction leaving the Loowit Trail, I started to get tantalizing views of Loowit Falls watched over by Mt St Helens’ imposing crater.

Loowit_Falls_197_06252021 - Following the final spur leading up to the overlook of Loowit Falls
Following the final spur leading up to the overlook of Loowit Falls

The closer I got to Loowit Falls, however, the less of the crater rim and lava dome that I was able to see.

Eventually, I would arrive at the a big rock cairn marking the end of the Loowit Falls Trail, but I did manage to climb a little more to get an even more satisfying view of the Loowit Falls itself.

During my late June 2021 visit, I happened to see a family of mountain goats around Loowit Creek, which blended in quite well with the bright volcanic surface supporting both the falls and its watercourse.

Speaking of the watercourse, it looked like Loowit Falls was sourced by a combination of the Crater Glacier (I’ve also seen it referred to as the Crescent Glacier) along with any additional snow accumulations.

Loowit_Falls_239_06252021 - This was one of a handful of mountain goats that I noticed at the lookouts for Loowit Falls
This was one of a handful of mountain goats that I noticed at the lookouts for Loowit Falls

What’s remarkable about this glacier is that it’s arguably one of the few left on earth that’s actually “growing”.

I suspect the reason why is because it sits completely at the foot of the lava dome, which itself protrudes and grows from the heart of the crater of Mt St Helens.

I was content with my look-but-don’t-touch views of Loowit Falls and its extensive string of cascades further downstream, because I’d imagine you’d need abilities like those mountain goats that I saw to get up and down the steep cliffs.

This was my turnaround point, and fortunately, the remainder of the hike was pretty much downhill most of the way.

Authorities

Loowit Falls resides in the Mt St Helens National Volcanic Monument, which is within the Gifford Pinchot National Forest near Cougar in Skamania County, Washington. It is administered by the USDA Forest Service. For information or inquiries about the area as well as current conditions, visit their website.

Maps and Routing Content are for annual subscribers. See Membership Options.
Content is for subscribers. See Membership Options.
Tagged with: cougar, mt st helens, blast zone, crater glacier, windy ridge, skamania county, gifford pinchot



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Loowit Falls, Mt St Helens, Washington October 4, 2009 6:21 pm by Art Shapiro - Picture of Loowit Falls, Mt St. Helens, Washington. ...Read More

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Johnny Cheng

About Johnny Cheng

Johnny Cheng is the founder of the World of Waterfalls and author of the award-winning A Guide to New Zealand Waterfalls. Over the last 2 decades, he has visited thousands of waterfalls in over 40 countries around the world and nearly 40 states in the USA.
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