Friday marks the 27th anniversary of Mount St. Helens's violent eruption that killed 57 people and captured the world's attention in 1980.

USGS

Mount St. Helens woke up in time for its 25th anniversary.

After more than two decades of slumber, the mountain began quaking in September of 2004 and steam and ash signaled the beginning of the latest eruption that October.

Recent Mt. Saint Helens activity

Soon, hot lava was seen in the crater and once again tourists started returning in droves.

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Mt. Saint Helens Live Cam

People from all over the world are once again traveling to southwestern Washington to catch a close-up view of North America’s most active volcano.

Planning a visit

To be part of this historical event, treat yourself to visit.

The visitor centers or information stations are a good place to begin. There, interpretive staff can answer questions, inform about interpretive walks and talks, and help plan your visit.

Theater presentations also give good insight into the geologic, biologic, and cultural history of the area and just traveling through the area lets visitors be a part of this fascinating living laboratory.

Try to spend at least one full day driving east on Highway 504 and include stops at visitor centers and viewpoints along the way. And don't forget to sample a trail or two.

Two or more days in the area will let you experience the mountain from all sides and enjoy various outdoor recreation opportunities.

As you get closer to the volcano, you'll be able to still see the devastation from the 1980 eruption, but at the same time you can witness nature's amazing recovery.

Most viewpoints on the north, east, and south sides can be accessed from Memorial Day until usually in late October when snow closes the roads.

Trails are generally open from June through October, although some lower elevation trails can be hiked all year.

Visitor centers

Make the Mount St. Helens Visitor Center at Silver Lake your first stop. Located 5 miles off Interstate 5, it offers excellent exhibits and a 16-minute film about the 1980 eruption.

The focus at the Coldwater Ridge Visitor Center, located at milepost 43, is the recovery of plant and animal life within the blast zone. The short Winds of Change Interpretive Trail explains the devastating effects of the eruption.

USGS

At the Johnston Ridge Observatory, a wide-screen theater presentation concludes with the drapes opening revealing the view of the real mountain.

Geology is the focus at the Johnston Ridge Observatory, which lies only 5 miles from the crater and is the closest center to the volcano. A wide-screen theater presentation concludes with the drapes opening revealing the view of the real mountain. Exhibits show geologic events and include eyewitness accounts of the eruption.

Both the Coldwater Ridge Visitor Center and the Johnston Ridge Observatory offer stunning views into the volcano's crater.

The Charles W. Bingham Forest Learning Center, sponsored jointly by Weyerhaeuser, the Washington Department of Transportation, and the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation, teaches about timber salvage and forest recovery activity since the eruption. There also is an elk viewpoint and a volcano-themed playground.

At Cowlitz County's Hoffstadt Bluffs Visitor Center, you'll find various tourist activities, such as helicopter tours and llama rides.

The Memorial Grove at milepost 27, which honors the 57 people who died in the 1980 eruption, is a peaceful area for relaxation and reflection. There are good views of the Toutle River Valley mudflows.

On the south side of the mountain, along SR503, you can pass through the three communities of Ariel (where people still search for infamous D.B. Cooper's money), Yale and Cougar – the starting point to the Ape Caves, a labyrinth of lava tubes.

More information

Remember that views of the volcano depend on the weather, but even if you can't see the mountain, the experience of spending time in the blast zone is still worth the visit.

KGW file photo

Ash and steam shoot out of Mount St. Helens.

Trail heads and interpretive centers in the northeast section of the monument require a Northwest Forest Pass.

The Ape Cave is open year-round and the interpretive programs and lantern rentals will resume in June.

The Pine Creek Information Station will reopen in June.

For detailed information on permits, call 360-449-7800.