Boundary West Trail

Boundary West Trail is a quiet hike through the Mount Saint Helens National Volcanic Monument area. This hike begins in the same area as Johnston Ridge, so you can easily pair it with a stroll through the observatory if you’d like to learn a bit more about Mount Saint Helens.

This trail can be a touch hard to follow in some places, especially if there’s snow. Download your GPS track ahead of time.

Beginning from the end of the road before the observatory, head west. This trail can be started from the Loowit Viewpoint as well, which you’ll pass shortly into your hike. After the lookout, you’ll start to traverse the end of the cliff, following its line before descending down to flatter ground. The hike soon splits, and you can complete the lollipop portion either way, passing by small lakes as you use the Hummocks Trail. From the end of the loop, retrace your steps to the trailhead back up by the observatory.