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Image of June Lake

June Lake

June Lake offers an easy and popular hike, ideal for family picnicking. While the lake itself is modest, its setting is peaceful and geologically fascinating. It was formed by an old mudflow and is fed by a 70-foot waterfall cascading off basalt cliffs from an ancient lava flow.

Learn more at the USDA Forest Service.

Trail of Two Forests



Formerly known as the Lava Cast Forest, the Trail of Two Forests features three-dimensional imprints of trees in old lava beds, known as lava casts. The boardwalk trail loops through these lava formations and is both kid- and wheelchair-friendly.

One highlight along the boardwalk is a ladder descending eight feet into a lava-cast tree mold. Hikers, especially youngsters, can crawl through this tree mold. Bringing flashlights and wearing old, warm clothes is recommended for this adventure.

Approximately 1900 years ago, fluid lava flowed through a stand of trees, burning them but leaving impressions where they stood or lay. This lava was much more fluid than the sticky type forming the dome in the crater of Mount St. Helens today.

When visiting the Trail of Two Forests, please stay on the trail to protect the fragile mosses and surrounding features of the forest.



Hiking June Lake



Situated on the south side of Mount St. Helens, the June Lake hike is perfect for families seeking a short day adventure and for hikers accessing the round-the-mountain Loowit Trail. This charming hike offers both geological wonders and serene landscapes.

The trail begins at the edge of a paved parking area off Forest Road 83. An information kiosk at the parking lot provides a map of the Mount St. Helens National Volcanic Monument and other essential visitor information. If you don’t have a map, take a picture of the kiosk map for reference.

A brown sign with arrows clearly marks the start of the trail, leading toward the June Lake Ski Trail and the 1.5-mile-long Pika Ski Trail. This route provides a family-friendly hike and the shortest access to the Loowit Trail, making it popular with hikers, backpackers, and snowshoers.

The hike starts gently at June Creek, weaving in and out of second-growth forest. You’ll continue along or above the creek, which can be heard flowing in the canyon below. The trail, composed primarily of dirt, sand, and rocks, includes some roots and log steps. Along the way, depending on the season, you might see ferns, huckleberry bushes, wild strawberries, lupine, trillium, avalanche lilies, or beargrass, with glimpses of Mount St. Helens playing peek-a-boo through the trees.

After about a mile, the trail descends gradually and crosses a bridge. Just past the bridge, you’ll come to an unsigned intersection on the left for the Pika Ski Trail. Continue forward on the trail toward June Lake. As you near the lake, the trail opens into an area of pumice soils with short trees and rocks. Here, the June Lake Trail continues ahead and climbs steeply to connect with the Loowit Trail. For June Lake, turn right and head through the trees to the lakeshore.

Sitting pretty at 3,140 feet, June Lake is a small yet enchanting body of water formed by a 2,000-year-old lava flow that blocked June Creek, a tributary of Swift Creek. The cool, clear water is lovely on a sunny day, dotted with logs that support small shrubs and trees, casting reflections on the surface. A 70-foot waterfall across the lake adds a magical touch as it spills over a basalt cliff onto bright green mossy rocks. Smaller waterfalls cascade down the rocks on either side, and you might spot a bald eagle soaring above. Peer into the water along the silty lake bottom and you may see Cascade frogs, periwinkles, and salamanders. It’s a perfect place to have a picnic before returning the way you came or continuing on to other connecting

Driving Directions to June Lake


  1. Drive east from I-5 on Highway 503 as it changes to Forest Road 90.
  2. Pass the town of Cougar, and just 1 mile beyond the Swift Dam (about 35 miles from your turn off I-5), make a left onto FR 83.
  3. Proceed two miles and turn left onto FR 8303.
  4. The trailhead is on the left, a half mile away.