May 14, 2023
Mother Nature has given us an unexpected surprise just to prove that the Mt St Helen’s National Volcanic Monument remains a “Living Laboratory” showcasing the evolution of the Blast Zone.
The road to the Johnston Ridge Observatory has washed out after a landslide.
Washout of Spirit Lake Highway
Washout of Spirit Lake Highway overview
Map of washout location and proposed rest stop locations
Timelines for a repair all fall beyond the ride date. The ride will be shortened this year, exactly the same as our inaugural ride 30 years ago before the road to Johnston Ridge was completed.
What does this mean for the ride?
The ride must go on!
We will be providing the same world class support as always. The highway will be hard closed at the turn down to Coldwater Lake for the duration of the repairs. We have repositioned our Johnston Ridge rest stop to the Coldwater Lake Visitor’s Center. The total distance will be 66 miles with 4,350′ of elevation gain. We will be sending any updates via email (join the mailing list at the bottom of this page) and our Facebook page.