Boundary West Trail Route Guide

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Table of contents

Route description
Getting there
Route information
Elevation graph
Weather forecast

Boundary West Trail is a hike near Mount Saint Helens that doesn’t see much traffic, making it a nice pick for a day where you want more trail to yourself. This hike is rated as hard and is 9.5mi long. You may wish to download the GPS track for this route ahead of time as parts of the trail can be a bit harder to follow. Try to come on a clear day for the best view.

Route Description for 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.

Getting to the Boundary West Trail Trailhead

The trailhead for the Boundary West Trail is near the end of Spirit Lake Highway.

Route Information for Boundary West Trail

Backcountry Campground:
No
When to do:
June-November
Pets allowed:
No
Family friendly:
No
Route Signage:
Average
Crowd Levels:
Low
Route Type:
Lollipop

Boundary West Trail Elevation Graph

Weather Forecast

Check Area Weather

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