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Windy Ridge Scenic Highway Road Trip

Road Trip

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Seasonal route: The road is subject to closure in winter. In May 1980, Mount St. Helens erupted, shooting ash and smoke 80,000 feet into the air and causing a mile-wide avalanche. FR 99 takes you deep into Mount St. Helens National Monument to see the aftermath of nature’s fury - as well as its rebirth. Flowers and trees have begun to cover the mountain’s barren shoulders, and Spirit Lake is still a scenic spot.
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FR 99 branches west off FR 25 within Gifford Pinchot National Forest, passing Meta Lake before ending at Windy Ridge Viewpoint, just 5 miles from Mount St. Helens. From the overlook you’ll have a broad view of the devastation stretching from the volcanic crater to Spirit Lake. Travelers should contact the Forest Service for updates about seasonal road closures.