June 6-8, 2017
Harry Gardner Park - Toutle, WA
We stopped at the Visitor's Center on the way to our campground.
We camped at Harry Gardner Park -
The park, located along the South Fork of the Toutle River,
was abandoned after it and six other Toutle Valley parks were buried by mudflows
from the 1980 eruption of Mount St. Helens. The park reopened in the summer of 2015.
Violet-green Swallow
South Fork of the Toutle River in the campground
Bald eagle at the Toutle River
We started out at the Johnston Ridge Observatory
One of the rangers took our pic
We decided on a couple of hikes. One was the Hummocks trail
When Mt. St. Helens erupted in 1980, more than 1,000 feet of the mountain was destroyed and deposited in areas for miles around the volcano. Those pieces, known as hummocks, are large deposits of rock, mud, ash and other pieces of the mountain that vary in size - some as large as a few hundred feet.
The 2.7 mile loop trail offered great views of the volcano
and sweeping views of the Toutle river valley.
North Fork of the Toutle River in the distance
The wild flowers along the way were beautiful!
This is a field of lupine and red paintbrush
Then we headed to Coldwater Lake
Only 37-years-old, 160-foot deep Coldwater Lake was created by the huge landslide of debris that rushed down the North Fork Toutle River and effectively dammed Coldwater Creek, one of its tributaries.
Looking for elk in the valley on the drive back to our campground.
Ended our stay in Harry Gardner Park with sunset views of the Toutle River
Mount St. Helens
The roof of the observatory is covered with ash and trees
We watched two movies in the observatory theater. Once the movies were over, the screen lifted to reveal this amazing view of Mt. St. Helens.
This is a field of lupine and red paintbrush
A boardwalk trail with interpretive signs offered glimpses of
Mt. St. Helens and views of Minnie Peaks.
Also stopped on the way home for a photo with Bigfoot :)
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