Circle Hike of Spirit Lake

September 1997

Spirit Lake Close-up View

Trail Description:

The trail south side of Spirit Lake offers a hike through a desertlike pumice plain and a climb up landslide knolls to the spillover. To the north the trail pass St Helens Lake and Coldwater Peak and follows east along the spectacular ridge to Mount Margaret. This offer for exceptional views of St. Helens and Spirit Lake to the south and Mt. Rainier and the Mt. Margaret Backcountry to the north. I like this hike better than the Loowit Trail. There is drinking water at the Norway Pass Trail head.

Tephras Pinnacle and Spirit Lake >>>

The Spillover on the left and Spirit Lake on the right

Trails used to circle hike Spirit Lake: Boundary Trail #1, Truman Trail #207, Independence Pass Trail #227 and Forest Road 99

Trail Facts:

• Trails #1, #207, #227 and Forest Road 99 Total Length: 27.5 miles One Way
• Side Trails Length: 11.4 miles Loop
• Total Distance Hiked, Trails #1, #207, #227 and Forest Road 99, Side Trails Length, and Feeder Trail: 38.9 total miles
• Hiking days: 2.5 days
• Total Elevation Gain: 4,000 feet plus
• Lowest Point: 3640 feet
• Highest Point: 5883 Feet

View of Mt. Adams from Bear Pass

Trail Segments:

Boundary Trail #1 Norway Pass Trail head to Truman Trail #207 segment

• Length: 13.2 miles One Way
• Elevation: 3640 to 5850 feet above sea level
• Difficulty: Difficult

Truman Trail #207 Windy Ridge Trail head Forest Road 99 to Boundary Trail #1

• Length: 6.5 miles One Way
• Elevation: 3600 to 4200 feet above sea level
• Difficulty: Moderate

Independence Trail West Windy Ridge Trail head Forest Road 99 to Smith Creek Trail head Forest Road 99

• Length: 1.5 miles One Way
• Elevation: 4200 to 4320 feet above sea level
• Difficulty: Easy

Smith Creek Trail head Forest Road 99 to Independence Pass Trail #227 Independence Pass Viewpoint, Forest Road 99

• Length: 2.8 miles One Way
• Elevation: 4000 to 4320 feet above sea level
• Difficulty: Easy

Independence Pass Trail #227 Independence Pass Viewpoint, Forest Road 99 to Norway Pass on Boundary Trail #1

• Length: 3.5 miles One Way
• Elevation: 4000 to 4500 feet above sea level
• Difficulty: Moderate

Spirit Lake from Independence Trail West

Spirit Lake Side Trails:

Harmony Trail #224 to Spirit Lake

• Length: 1 miles One Way
• Elevation: 3400 to 4000 feet above sea level
• Difficulty: Easy

Harry’s Ridge Trail #208 to Harry’s Ridge

• Length: 0.6 miles One Way
• Elevation: 4752 feet above sea level
• Difficulty: Easy

Boundary Trail #1 to Johnston Ridge Observatory

• Length: 2.5 miles One Way
• Elevation: 4200 feet above sea level
• Difficulty: Difficult

Lakes Trail 211 to Bear Pass

• Length: 0.3 miles One Way
• Elevation: 4980 feet above sea level
• Difficulty: Easy

Coldwater Peak Trail to Coldwater Peak

• Length: .8 miles One Way
• Elevation: 5727 feet above sea level
• Difficulty: Moderate

Mt. Margaret Trail to Mt. Margaret Peak

• Length: .3 miles One Way
• Elevation: 5883 feet above sea level
• Difficulty: Easy

Looking up a Mt St Helens hillside

|| Return to backpacking at Mount St. Helens National Volcanic Monument ||

|| Circle hike Spirit Lake || Circle hike Mt. St. Helens || The Maps || Mountain Biking ||