Coldwater Lake Loop

Activity Notes

Hike description:

This is a hike in the Mt St Helens area, with views of Coldwater Lake, the surrounding jagged peaks, and a few glimpses of MSH itself too.  We will be taking the loop counterclockwise and keep a pace of 1.5 to 2 mph.  

Our route will begin with a roadwalk (about 1 mile) from the Coldwater Lake Boat & Picnic Area to the South Coldwater Trailhead, where our hike will begin in earnest at the ridge on the south side of the lake.  

• The roadwalk is safe as this part of the road has been closed to vehicles since the 2023 landslide.

We will have an initial ascent of about 1900 over 2.5 miles then a matching descent.  There are several areas on the descent of vegetation overgrowth with accompanying bugs, other than this the trail is well-maintained.  

Once we’ve descended, we’ll have lunch at the beach along the lake.  The rest of the hike is relatively flat.  

For recent trip reports, All Trails can be a great resource: South Coldwater Trail to Lakes Trail Loop.

Carpooling: 

Meeting time & place: Salmon Creek Park & Ride in Vancouver, WA by 7:10 AM.  We will depart at 7:15 AM.     

Round trip mileage from the Park & Ride to the trailhead is about 180 miles.  The Mazamas suggested gas contribution is 10 cents per mile, or $18 per person, payable to the driver 

We will park at and start our hike from the Coldwater Lake Picnic and Boating Area at 9 AM.

Trailhead Access & Parking:

The trailhead is easily accessible by all vehicles - the road and the parking lot are both paved. 

The trailhead has flushing toilets and potable water on the boat launch side. 

Valid parking passes: Digital Day Pass, Northwest Forest Pass, and Interagency Recreation Passes.