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SCENIC BYWAY

Windy Ridge Scenic Highway

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.

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