Ape Canyon (Plains of Abraham)

Activity Notes

About the trail:

We will hike the Ape Canyon Trail on Mount St. Helens to the Loowit Trail junction.  From there, we go a little further to see the stark contrast of landscape on the Plains of Abraham. We saw a herd of 20 mountain goats here last week - very exciting. 

The trail is overall 10.5 miles and 2125 feet of elevation. If the day is clear, we will have views of Hood, Adams and Rainier. The trail is a very gradual, easy uphill slope. 

The pace will be slow to medium. If you are speedy, you may be frustrated. This will be very casual pace with lots of time for pictures and lunch at the top.

https://www.alltrails.com/trail/us/washington/ape-canyon-trail

Meeting place:

8:00 AM - Fred Meyer on 117th Avenue in Vancouver. We will meet on the garden center side to form carpools. From here, we follow 503 to Cougar, WA. 

https://www.google.com/maps/dir/45.7015296,-122.5555968/Fred+Meyer,+7411+NE+117th+Ave,+Vancouver,+WA+98662/@45.6883198,-122.5777389,14z/data=!3m1!4b1!4m10!4m9!1m1!4e1!1m5!1m1!1s0x5495b03da965b84b:0x6e9db1874c4b0b2a!2m2!1d-122.5510161!2d45.6759419!3e0?entry=ttu

9:15 AM: Alternatively, you may choose to meet the group at the public rest stop in Cougar, WA. 

Parking at Trailhead:

Parking at the trailhead is quite limited, so please do carpool. A Northwest Forest Pass is required to park.

Pitching in for gas:

The recommended contribution to your driver is 10 cents per mile. The roundtrip from Vancouver will be about 100 miles.