ROUTE: From the Norway Pass TH begin N from the traffic circle at the end of the parking lot on Boundary Trail 1, then hike steadily up W and then S, traversing the slope well within the blast zone. Climb a few steeper turns, staying right on narrow Boundary Trail 1 after a mile from the TH instead of continuing S on Trail 227A. See tiny Meta Lake below across tons of bright wildflowers July into August as you undulate NW somewhat easier. Mount Rainier comes into view just before Norway Pass where mostly downed trees (without limbs or leaves), blanketing the surrounding hills and valleys, all lie in the same direction indicating the path of the pyroclastic blast!
The otherworldly landscape from Norway Pass to Mount St. Helens.
One of the floating fallen tree islands favoring the Harmony Falls area on Spirit Lake.
Ignore old Trail 227 (usually closed due to slides) to the left (S) at the pass and also the continuation of Boundary Trail 1 to Mount Margaret, Coldwater Peak, or Mount Whittier to hang out near Norway Pass and return by the same route. Soak in the amazing shot across Spirit Lake (with many downed trees still floating as islands) to the volcanic pumice, rock, and debris up Mount St. Helens’ open side of the crater!
From Harmony Falls Viewpoint begin NW gradually down Harmony Trail 224 with plenty of low shrubs, bushes, and trees making quite a comeback. Traverse an Indian paintbrush-covered plain (in late July) with Mount St. Helens coming into full view as you descend the creek with its many little cascades near Spirit Lake. Please remain on the trail at all times while enjoying the sights and do not contemplate stepping onto the logs floating since 1980. Return somewhat steeply the same way when you have had your fill.
| 12 | MOUNT MARGARET |
ELEVATION: 5858 ft, with 2300 ft vertical gain
DISTANCE: 5¾ mi, 11½ mi round-trip
DURATION: 2½ hours to the saddle (near 5600 ft) with Mount Whittier, up to another ½ hour to the summit, 5–6 hours round-trip
DIFFICULTY: Strenuous. Long, wide, gently graded, obvious, more difficult with snow covering steep slopes near saddle and top until late summer, traction devices necessary with snow
TRIP REPORT: After graduating from the previous hike (Norway Pass and Harmony Falls) this surprisingly sleepy summit is the next likely progression to get a bird’s eye view, above St. Helens Lake and Spirit Lake, unobstructed to Mount St. Helens. For those with decent hiking skills, skipping ahead to attempt Mount Whittier (hike 13) and then finishing with Mount Margaret for dessert might make better sense. Northwest Forest Pass required, and an outhouse is present.
TRAILHEAD: Norway Pass TH. See hike 11 for directions.
Early season trilliums line the path to Norway Pass.
ROUTE: See Norway Pass (hike 11) for further description taking Boundary Trail 1 WNW 2¼ mi fairly easily up to Norway Pass. Wildflowers surround you quickly July into August and a rather large and log-filled Spirit Lake below Mount St. Helens pops into view as you approach the pass. Magnificent perspective! Continue N near the juncture up the slope on Trail 1 a couple long turns toward Bear Pass steeper but without difficulty, then traverse almost 2 mi W with improving vistas. There are excellent views unfolding down right (NE) to Grizzly Lake and then we have Mount St. Helens behind Mount Margaret with Mount Rainier farther N behind Boot Lake en route to the intersection on the Mount Whittier-Mount Margaret saddle (5600 ft, 5 mi up).
At the saddle intersection, look to the right (N) for the faint route to the more difficult Mount Whittier, but for Mount Margaret you will head left (S) instead on a straightforward traverse path across somewhat steep and grassy and/or snowy slopes more than ½ mi to the right-hand turn onto Trail 1F off of Boundary Trail 1 (which continues past The Dome and Coldwater Peak 8 mi to the Johnston Observatory). You will finish ¼ mi NW then N steeper to the top of Mount Margaret.
For this in more detail you hike left (S) from the Mount Whittier-Mount Margaret saddle narrowly and well below (E) of the nearby large pillar to another saddle under Mount Margaret’s steep and mostly open NE ridge. Without a ton of snow and ice remaining this area is quite colorful and easy to navigate around the summit block to the S. Take the narrow spur Trail 1F on the right traversing higher in the same direction (WNW). Even with some snow the final 200 ft of elevation gain should still be doable over the slope of least resistance winding up to the nearby high point (above most of the trees), finishing from the W with exquisite 360-degree views.
Be careful near the high boulders and return the same way when you are good and ready. More courageous types continue a bit more directly down the NE ridge super-steeply under various conditions bushwhacking to the main trail at the saddle before the main saddle and intersection. From there stay right (E) on Trail 1 down to Norway Pass TH.
Lingering snow on the summit block of Mount Margaret near Mount St. Helens.
| 13 | MOUNT WHITTIER |
ELEVATION: 5883 ft, with 2600 ft vertical gain plus 300 ft with Mount Margaret
DISTANCE: 5 mi to the Mount Whittier-Mount Margaret saddle; 6¼ mi to the summit 12½ mi round-trip; 14 mi round-trip with Mount Margaret
DURATION: 2½ hours to the Mount Whittier-Mount Margaret saddle, up to another hour to the summit, 5–7 hours round-trip; 6–8 hours round-trip with Mount Margaret
DIFFICULTY: Mix of strenuous for Mount Margaret (gently graded, obvious, more difficult with snow covering steeper slopes near saddle with Mount Whittier) and very challenging for Mount Whittier (nearly impossible with too much snow/ice covering a very thin section of trail along a cliff band under the summit block, ice axe and crampons recommended before late summer otherwise mostly navigable with care, narrow rocky ridgeline, steep, fairly solid, some exposure near peak, Class 3)
TRIP REPORT: Less frequented but wonderfully captivating to more advanced hikers, with its relatively easy late summer access and equally easy to access TH, is this prodigal summit. Check ahead as always for road and trail conditions (www.fs.usda.gov/detail/giffordpinchot/alerts-notices/?cid=fseprd492501). Northwest Forest Pass required, and an outhouse is present.
TRAILHEAD: Norway Pass TH. See hike 11 for directions.
ROUTE: See hikes 11 and 12 (Norway Pass and Mount Margaret) for the description to the Mount Whittier–Mount