ABOUT THE LEARNING CENTER

Our forest learning center is located just inside the blast zone on the Spirit Lake Memorial Highway in Washington State. It tells the story of Mount St. Helens and the remarkable recovery of forests, fish and wildlife following the eruption. The center is a partnership of Weyerhaeuser, Washington State Department of Transportation and the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation.

Admission to the learning center and surrounding grounds is free. The center is designed to accommodate disabled visitors (except the forest trail) and wheelchairs are available.

2020 OPERATING SCHEDULE

The Forest Learning Center's exhibits are closed for 2020 and scheduled to reopen in the spring of 2021.

DIRECTIONS

From Interstate 5 in Western Washington, take Exit 49 and continue east on Highway 504 to Milepost 33. The forest learning center is located at 17000 Spirit Lake Highway, Toutle, WA. The center’s location can be found here in Google Maps.  Large groups are asked to make reservations at least two weeks in advance. All visitors: please watch for wildlife on roadways.

FOR EDUCATORS

We welcome school groups and field trips of all ages. Please download our field trip planner to learn more. Please keep in mind, weather is unpredictable in the mountains; visitors should bring warm clothes including coats, hats, rain gear and sturdy shoes.

YOU MAY ALSO BE INTERESTED IN:

• The exhibits and amenities at our Learning Center
• How we managed our forests after the blast