HIKE ON A VOLCANO
Mount Rainier
Ascending to 14,410 feet above sea level, Mount Rainier is the highest mountain in Washington and the entire Cascade Mountain range. Standing as an icon in the Bellevue landscape, an active volcano, Mount Rainier is the most glaciated peak in the contiguous U.S.A., spawning five major rivers, subalpine wildflower meadows ring the icy volcano while ancient forest cloaks Mount Rainier’s lower slopes. Wildlife abounds in the park’s ecosystems.
Mount Adams
At an elevation of 12,276 feet, Mt. Adams is the second highest peak in Washington State, with an 18-mile wide diameter it is the largest volcano by bulk in the state. Its glaciers, along with adjoining ridges and permanent snowfields, sport many wonderful hiking trails and climbing routes of varying difficulty.
Mount Baker
Mount Baker is a spectacular volcano in the North Cascades that offers excellent hiking and mountaineering for beginners and experts, alike. Mount Baker is the 3rd highest mountain in the State of Washington and the iciest mountain in the Cascade Range and sustains more than 100 square kilometers of glaciers and permanent snowfields. Mount Baker is an excellent volcano for hiking and those learning to climb on snow and ice.
Mount St. Helens
Mount St. Helens is most famous for its major eruption in 1980, the deadliest and most economically destructive volcanic event in U.S. history. Fifty-seven people were killed; 200 homes and 185 miles of highway were destroyed. A massive debris avalanche, triggered by an earthquake of 5.1 magnitudes, caused an eruption that reduced the elevation of the mountain's summit from 9,677 ft to 8,363 ft, leaving a 1-mile-wide horseshoe-shaped crater. Prior to the 1980 eruption, Mount St. Helens was the fifth-highest peak in Washington State. The mountain is 6 miles across at its base. Mount St. Helens is a popular climb for both beginning and experienced mountaineers. Though Mount St. Helens is accessible to climbing year-round, late spring through early fall is the most popular season.
