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USGS/Cascades Volcano Observatory, Vancouver, Washington

Mount St. Helens and Vicinity -
Points of Interest

Johnston Ridge and
Johnston Ridge Observatory
Image, Mount St. Helens from Johnston Ridge

View of Mount St. Helens (5 miles away), from Johnston Ridge Observatory.
USGS Photo by Lyn Topinka, March 1987



Driving Directions
  • From Interstate 5 -- take Exit 49 (Highway 504 Exit)
  • Travel east on Highway 504 (Spirit Lake Memorial Highway) to end of road, approximately 50 miles. Park where appropriate. (Elevation approximately 4,300 feet.)
  • The Johnston Ridge Observatory will be open daily, including holidays, during Summer. Winter hours and schedules are to be determined. Call ahead.


Johnston Ridge and the Johnston Ridge Observatory

Johnston Ridge Observatory

The Johnston Ridge Observatory (JRO) is located at the terminus of the Spirit Lake Memorial Highway, on the Gifford Pinchot National Forest in Southwest Washington State. This vantage point brings visitors within five miles of the north side of the volcano and offers spectacular views of the still-steaming lava dome, crater, pumice plain and landslide deposit. JRO is located on Johnston Ridge which was named in honor of U.S.Geological Survey (USGS) volcanologist David A. Johnston who was on duty at the USGS, Coldwater II observation post during the May 18, 1980, eruption. David Johnston was one of 57 people who lost their lives in the eruption. JRO is the third visitor center to be constructed by the Mount St. Helens National Volcanic Monument and it's completion marks the end of a 12-year $100 million capital investment program. The one-story, 16,000 square-foot concrete and glass structure is set back into the ridge and has special, non-refective glass to blend into the surrounding blast zone terrain. The building was constructed at a cost of $8.9 million with $1.65 million of interpretive exhibits for a total cost of $10.5 million. Of this amount, $5 million was contributed by the State of Washington. The observatory will house seismic, deformation, and other monitoring equipment that will be relayed to the USGS Cascades Volcano Observatory in Vancouver for analysis.

Johnston Ridge Observatory features:

  • 280-seat theater
  • 10,000 square-foot exhibit hall
  • terminals to access volcano info on the world wide web and video disk
  • staffed information desk
  • interpretive sales area
  • restrooms, public phones, and administrative offices
  • parking for 350 cars, 50 RV's and 20 buses
  • viewing plaza
  • trailhead access to the Boundary Trail #1 leading east and west
  • interpretive staff will offer a variety of formal talks and guided walks.

-- Excerpts from: U. S. Forest Service, Johnston Ridge Observatory Fact Sheet: April, 1997.



Other Nearby Points of Interest

Map, Mount St. Helens Points of Interest - Interactive Imagemap, click to enlarge Mount St. Helens
Points of Interest -
Interactive Imagemap

Click button for Coldwater Ridge Coldwater Ridge (west)
Click button for Debris Avalanche Debris Avalanche (south)
Click button for Harrys Ridge Harrys Ridge (east)
Click button for Lava Dome Lava Dome (south)
Click button for Pumice Plain Pumice Plain (south)


Other Menus of Interest


Useful Links
Click button to link to the USFS National Monument Website Link to: USFS Mount St. Helens National Monument Website

  • VolcanoCam -- "Live" view from Johnston Ridge Observatory. -- Link courtesy U.S. Forest Service, Gifford Pinchot National Forest, Mount St. Helens National Volcanic Monument

    • ButtonBar
    URL for CVO HomePage is: <http://vulcan.wr.usgs.gov/home.html>
    URL for this page is: <http://vulcan.wr.usgs.gov/Volcanoes/MSH/NatMonument/PointsInterest/johnston_ridge.html>
    If you have questions or comments please contact: <GS-CVO-WEB@usgs.gov>
    09/28/04, Lyn Topinka