This is a great hike for kids, one I picked specifically for CK and Pete and their two kids (ages 6 and 8), who had never seen Mt. St. Helen's. Highlights are a bird's eye view of the mountain and the breach, volcano-blasted hillsides, log-jammed Spirit Lake, and lovely little Harmony Falls, where the kids were amazed to learn through a makeshift science experiment that large lava rocks actually float on the water. The trail descends gradually through welcome shade for the first 0.5 mile, then heads onto a sun-exposed plain. The grade, for a child, would feel moderately steep. Log-hop across some huge grey logs and enjoy Harmony Falls, then wander down towards Spirit Lake, where some flat rocky ledges provide ample space for a picnic or a nap. Wildflowers are in bloom, especially brilliant red paintbrush, purple penstemon, and pearly everlasting. Flowers were far fewer than up above on the Independence Pass Loop, but there was a smattering of lupine, sitka valerian, bleeding heart, and arnica. Flies weren't bad, as there was a nice gentle breeze blowing. We were joined at the falls by a family hiking with a yellow lab, apparently either unaware of, or unconcerned about, the "No dogs allowed" regulations in the National Monument. Please obey the rules. STATS: Total time: 2.5 hours (including lolly-gagging, snacking, and science experiments) Distance: 2 miles round-trip Elevation Gain: 700 feet (on the return) Map: Green Trails No. 332 (Spirit Lake) Permits: NW Forest Pass TO GET THERE: From Randle, take FR 25 to its junction with FR 99. Turn right onto FR 99 and drive 13 miles to the trailhead on the right (3 miles past junction with FR 26).

The Spirit Lake/Harmony Falls hike was well worth the effort to get there from Camas, Wa. We headed out at 10:00 am and figured we would be at the trailhead by noon. Nope. It seems it was a Biker Rally weekend of sorts, both motorized and pedaled bikes, all over the hills leading up to the trailhead. Two accidents with ambulance calls of bikers who laid down their hogs, not used to the sharp turns and uneven grades on the roads (NFR 23 and 99). The Harmony Falls trail is mildly steep, boarderline between tennis shoes and hiking boots. It decends into a zone where the winds of the eruption had a force of 300 mph. A few dead trees were standing on sheltered hillsides, and nothing else but wildflowers and low bushes. Indian paint brush was abundant, as was the late crop huckleberries. The lake itself with its two mile long log debris field is very impressive, especially how the log debris field flows from the wind. The name Spirit lake brings to mind the spirit of the old lake, the Boy Scout camp, the lodges and their inhabitants, now 200 feet beneath the surface. Harmony falls were just a trickle but nice anyway. The hike back was mild cardiac but we were in the parking lot in 45 minutes. Not bad for two 50 plus kids. We also stopped at Meta lake on the way back, and admired the lake view and the finely decked out mushrooms.

We took our 6 year old down to Spirit Lake on this trail. Yes, it is fairly steep at the beginning, but with rest stops he had no problem. this trail sure has changed since the last time we were here, almost 6 years ago. The whole beginning of the trail is now shaded. The pumice plane is open and it would get hot if the temp is hot. Seeing the logs on the water is a very earie and cool site. I highly recommend this hike, which is a little over 2 miles. The one thing that I do have to say is please people, STAY ON THE MARKED TRAIL!!! This is a very fragile environment and your walking off trail to take "that perfect" picture is not helping. Yes, the signs do apply to you. Please think about what you are teacing your children when you don't listen to the signs or rangers.

After the WTA Dark Divide campout my sons and I went to Mt. St. Helens. We stopped briefly by the Miner's Car, which I found sobering, before hiking the Harmony Trail #224 down to Spirit Lake. Low alder, salmonberry, devils club, mountain ash, and fireweed have grown up around the bleached bones of fallen cedar and hemlock giants. The shrubs were well brushed back from the trail. The mountain ashes were in berry, and the fireweed seed pods were nearly ready to burst open and spread their cottony fluff. Pearly everlasting was everywhere. Blueberries were ripe but small and uninteresting after this dry summer. Closer to the lake, where the brush was much thinner, clumps of lupine and penstemon abounded in the ash. A very few still had blooms. Blueberry leaves had already turned wine-color and were starting to fall. Ground squirrels boldly scampered about with their tails straight up like the masts of sailing ships. A Forest Service interpreter came by as we approached the lake. She was a fountain of knowledge about the eruption, though she must have been a baby when it happened - if she had even been born yet. Logs cover the north end of Spirit Lake by Harmony Creek flows. The creek is clear and pretty, cascading gently over a low rocky drop before feeding the lake beneath a log jam. The boys enjoyed themselves among the logs while I listened to the Interpreter describe the effects of the eruption on Spirit Lake. The hillsides are still pretty barren here where the avalanche pushed the lake hundreds of feet out of its bed and scoured away the topsoil. I contemplated Harmony Falls, Harmony Lodge and Harry Truman's Lodge, now drowned more than 200 feet beneath the surface of the lake, and thought about having camped at Spirit Lake when I was young.