Mount St. Helens Drive

Join us for a back country run to Mount St. Helens! Stage 1 We’ll meet at Cathedral Park, adjacent to the St John’s Bridge, in the large parking lot by the boat put in (approximately 8940 N Bradford St, Portland, OR 97203) for our Drivers’ Orientation and to form our driving groups sharply at 9am. We’ll depart promptly and wind our way through the twisty back roads on the Oregon side of the Columbia River, avoiding Hwy 30 as much as possible. We’ll cross the river at Longview and begin a leisurely cruise through beautiful countryside heading north to Castle Rock for a bite to eat. Stage 2 After “filling our tanks”, we’ll re-group and head up Hwy 504 to Johnston Ridge Observatory. The panoramic scenery of this drive is amazing, and gliding along the big sweepers is pure bliss for any auto enthusiast. We’ll stop for a group car photo in the Observatory’s parking area and enjoy the awesome display of nature’s power at the volcano interpretive center. Details You can do one or both stages. There will be a 15-minute restroom break about halfway through each stage. Note: There are *no* gas stations between the start and Longview, and then none after Toutle on Hwy 504. So make sure you tank up before you arrive at Cathedral Park in the morning! Join us for a great drive, awesome scenery, and a glimpse at nature’s amazing power.