Toutle Area
Recreational Opportunities
Toutle is an unincorporated community located 10 miles east of Castle Rock along Washington State Route 504. The Toutle community takes its name from the Hullooetell, a Chinookan tribe.
Toutle is known as a gateway to Mount St. Helens National Monument and its visitor centers, trails, and recreational areas. The community offers walking, jogging, and biking trails, parks, boating, fishing, hunting, hiking, tourism, and camping opportunities.
Boating & Fishing
HARRY GARDNER PARK: Cowlitz County’s Harry Gardner Park on the South Toutle River offers overnight camping, river access, playgrounds, fishing, and areas to explore the mud flows.​
Includes: Toutle River access, fishing, day use, campsites, playground, swimming​, trail
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SILVER LAKE BOAT LAUNCH is located off of I-5, exit 49 on Kerr Road.
Includes: fishing dock, concrete boat launch, parking, restrooms, handicap access​
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TOUTLE COWLITZ MERGER is located at the junction of the Toutle (left bank) and Cowlitz (left bank) Rivers
Includes: fishing, hatchery steelhead and salmon
Camping
ECO PARK RESORT offers the closest accommodations to Mt St Helens.
Includes: log cabins, yurts, RV & tent sites, cafe, trails
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HARRY GARDNER PARK: Cowlitz County’s Harry Gardner Park on the South Toutle River offers overnight camping, river access, playgrounds, fishing, and areas to explore the mud flows.​
Includes: Toutle River access, fishing, day use, campsites, playground, swimming​, trail
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KID VALLEY CAMPGROUND is located along Spirit Lake Highway and set in a quiet forest on an old homestead. The park offers a convenient base for sightseeing, fishing, hiking and biking the Mt. St. Helens area.
Includes: tent and RV sites
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SEAQUEST STATE PARK is located at 3030 Spirit Lake Highway across from the Mt. St. Helens Visitor Center. Seaquest State Park is a day use and camping facility that offers a variety of activities, including 12 miles of trails.
​​Includes: campsites, restroom, shower, trails, hiking, bird watching, playground, volleyball field, horseshoe pits, Mount St. Helens Visitor Center, amphitheater, yurt rentals
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SILVER COVE RESORT is located less than 10 minutes from Castle Rock off Spirit Lake Highway and borders on Silver Lake.
Includes: RV sites, cottages, cabins, lodges, campsites, boat launch, boat/kayak/peddle boat rental, disc golf, horseshoes, laundry
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STREETERS RESORT is located on Lake Road, Streeters Resort is a campground that offer fun outdoor activities that engage friends and family.​
Includes: RV Park, cabins, tent sites, kayaks, pontoon boats, boat launch, store
Motorsports
TOUTLE MOTORSPORTS PARK has six outdoor motocross tracks that run year-round. All levels of riders from kids on 50cc bikes to experienced riders will find tracks both fun and challenging!
​​Includes: motocross tracks, classes, open practice
Parks
HARRY GARDNER PARK: Cowlitz County’s Harry Gardner Park on the South Toutle River offers overnight camping, river access, playgrounds, fishing, and areas to explore the mud flows.​
Includes: Toutle River access, fishing, day use, campsites, playground, swimming​, trail
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SEAQUEST STATE PARK is located at 3030 Spirit Lake Highway across from the Mt. St. Helens Visitor Center. Seaquest State Park is a day use and camping facility that offers a variety of activities, including 12 miles of trails.
​​Includes: campsites, restroom, shower, trails, hiking, bird watching, playground, volleyball field, horseshoe pits, Mount St. Helens Visitor Center, amphitheater, yurt rentals
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Trails
BOUNDARY WEST TRAIL is an 8.9 mile difficult out-and-back trail that starts off the Hummocks Trail, traveling through open meadows to Johnston Ridge, offering views of Mt. St. Helens, small lakes, wild flowers and wildlife.
​​Includes: trail, wildlife, wild flowers, mountain views
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COLDWATER LAKE TRAIL is an 8.7 mile moderate in-and-out trail with views of Coldwater Lake and Mt. St. Helens. Connects to the South Coldwater Trail for a longer loop, or to the Mt. Margaret Backcountry.
​​Includes: trail, boat launch, picnic area, wildlife​
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​HUMMOCKS TRAIL is a 2.4 miles easy/moderate loop trail off of Spirit Lake Highway. It offers wildlife, river, and mountain views.
​​Includes: trail, interpretative signs, wildlife, wildflowers​​​
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​MOUNT ST. HELENS FOREST LEARNING CENTER tells the story of Mount St. Helens and the remarkable recovery of forests, fish and wildlife following the eruption. It is located just inside the volcanic blast zone on Highway 504 at milepost 33. Learn about the massive destruction caused by the eruption and the amazing return of plants, fish and wildlife. Take a virtual helicopter tour to soar above Mount St. Helens and the surrounding forests. Experience salvage, recovery and reforestation efforts through hands-on displays and interactive exhibits.
​​Includes: free, exhibits, walking paths and 1/4 mile interpretive loop trail, views of Mt. St. Helens and wildlife
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​MOUNT ST. HELENS VISITOR CENTER BOARDWALK TRAIL is located east on Highway 504 at milepost 5, across from Seaquest State Park. The Visitor Center is currently closed through May 2025 for renovation, but the trail and outdoor areas are open.
​​Includes: movie, displays, gift shop, 1-mile boardwalk trail, mountain and lake views, wildlife​​
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SEAQUEST STATE PARK is located at 3030 Spirit Lake Highway across from the Mt. St. Helens Visitor Center. Seaquest State Park is a day use and camping facility that offers a variety of activities, including 12 miles of trails.
​​Includes: campsites, restroom, shower, trails, hiking, bird watching, playground, volleyball field, horseshoe pits, Mount St. Helens Visitor Center, amphitheater, yurt rentals
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​SOUTH COLDWATER TRAIL is a 7-mile moderate hike that begins just past the Hummocks Trailhead. The road to the trailhead is currently closed, but can be accessed from the parking area to the Hummocks Trailhead. This does require an additional mile hike up the paved road. Hike uphill past logging equipment destroyed by the 1980 eruption and enjoy views
​​Includes: trail, restroom, bike access, mountain views, lake views, wildflowers, wildlife
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Visitor Centers
JOHNSON RIDGE OBSERVATORY: Due to a landslide on May 14th - Johnston Ridge Observatory will be closed until the unforeseeable future. Located at the end of State Highway 504 (52 miles east of Castle Rock), in the heart of the blast zone. The observatory hosts interpretive displays that tell the biological, geological, and human story of Mount St. Helens.
Includes: currently unreachable
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​MOUNT ST. HELENS FOREST LEARNING CENTER tells the story of Mount St. Helens and the remarkable recovery of forests, fish and wildlife following the eruption. It is located just inside the volcanic blast zone on Highway 504 at milepost 33. Learn about the massive destruction caused by the eruption and the amazing return of plants, fish and wildlife. Take a virtual helicopter tour to soar above Mount St. Helens and the surrounding forests. Experience salvage, recovery and reforestation efforts through hands-on displays and interactive exhibits.
​​Includes: free, exhibits, walking paths and 1/4 mile interpretive loop trail, views of Mt. St. Helens and wildlife
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​MOUNT ST. HELENS VISITOR CENTER is located east on Highway 504 at milepost 5, across from Seaquest State Park. The Mount St. Helens Visitor Center offers movies and display about Mt. St. Helens and what life was like before and after the 1980 eruption. The Visitor Center is currently closed through May 2025 for renovation, but the trail and outdoor exhibits are open.
​​Includes: movie, displays, gift shop, 1-mile boardwalk trail, mountain and lake views, wildlife
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​COLDWATER SCIENCE AND LEARNING CENTER is located on State Route 504. The Coldwater Science and Learning Center provides great views and interactive exhibits.
​​Includes: gift shop, interactive exhibits, group tours, amazing views, trail, restrooms
Live, Work, Play
The CEDC creates opportunities to foster success and economic growth in Cowlitz County. With thriving communities, a strong business environment, and diverse recreational opportunities, Cowlitz County has everything and more.
CEDC
The CEDC promotes economic development and quality of life in our community by creating, retaining, and expanding high-quality jobs, facilitating growth, and helping provide a stable tax base and thriving economy.
Do Business
Cowlitz County has a strong business environment, conveniently located in SW Washington, with access to a range of transportation alternatives, giving your business an affordable advantage.
Ports
As the main source of industrial property in Cowlitz County, our three ports have both the infrastructure and expertise needed for successful development.
Cowlitz Co.
Cowlitz County and its encompassing communities provide exemplary quality of life for individuals and families of all ages
Recreation
Cowlitz County has something for everyone – biking, hiking, fishing, hunting, boating, sports, festivals, arts, theater and so much more!