Mountain Project Logo
To save paper & ink, use the [Hide] controls next to photos and comments so you only print what you need.

Worm Flows

Easy Snow, Snow, 5800 ft (1758 m),  Avg: 3 from 102 votes
FA: unknown
Washington > South-W & Tacoma > Southwest Cascades > Mt St Helens Na… > Mt St Helens

Description

This is the most common route up the mountain during the Winter and early Spring. Start at the Marble Mountain Sno-Park (2680') and follow the trail through the woods. Break out above treeline near 4600' and head up the fall line (generally aiming North), and connect with the Monitor Ridge route (might not be obvious) at about 7000', with Swift Glacier to your right. A little over 1000' of uphill from here gets you to the crater rim. Turn left (West) and traverse the rim for about 0.3 miles to make the true high-point on the mountain.

Return along same route - lots of easy glissading to be had in the Winter/Spring. Also well suited to a ski descent.

Location

Trailhead Coordinates: 46.131,-122.171 (Marble Mountain Sno Park). From I5, take WA 503E and drive through Cougar, then turn left onto Forest Service Rd 83/FR8300. About a mile after the intersection with FR8100, look for a large parking area on the left side.

Protection

Ice axe and crampons are generally more than sufficient for this route. Stay at least 15' from the rim to avoid standing on potentially unstable cornices.

Photos [Hide ALL Photos]

Best sunrise I've ever seen? Worth the blasted calves.
[Hide Photo] Best sunrise I've ever seen? Worth the blasted calves.
Yes, that's a butt. No, we don't think they put on sunscreen.
[Hide Photo] Yes, that's a butt. No, we don't think they put on sunscreen.
A butt is the perfect frame!
[Hide Photo] A butt is the perfect frame!
Summit of the Worm Flows
[Hide Photo] Summit of the Worm Flows
peaking over the cornice so you don't have to
[Hide Photo] peaking over the cornice so you don't have to
Going up Worm Flows by moonlight.
[Hide Photo] Going up Worm Flows by moonlight.
Rainier to the North
[Hide Photo] Rainier to the North
Stay left of drainage below Swift Glacier
[Hide Photo] Stay left of drainage below Swift Glacier
Mt Adams from the Worm Flows
[Hide Photo] Mt Adams from the Worm Flows
Mt Adams to the East
[Hide Photo] Mt Adams to the East
A fun spring ski. You can ski from the summit all the way down to the car.
[Hide Photo] A fun spring ski. You can ski from the summit all the way down to the car.
Looking up Mt. St. Helens
[Hide Photo] Looking up Mt. St. Helens

Comments [Hide ALL Comments]

James Schroeder
Fort Collins, CO
 
[Hide Comment] A pair of friends and I skied up & down this on a perfect bluebird day in April after a spring snow. One of my best days in the mountains. Apr 16, 2017
Paul Burdick
Portland, OR
 
[Hide Comment] In winter, this can be one of the best ski days within a couple hours of Portland. Skin up to the summit and enjoy a long ski down with amazing views and if the snow is good, you can frequently make it all the way to the parking lot without taking your skis off. Jan 20, 2018
Carter Mak
Portland, OR
 
[Hide Comment] Great as an easy ski descent. Descending from the crater rim, the only committing skiing is down off Monitor Ridge back towards the worm flows. Ski crampons were very nice; boot crampons may be nice to have depending on conditions. Keep well back from the crater rim to avoid the cornice -- the page says 15 feet, but it can be bigger than that. We skied it mid/late March and had snow to the car. Wisdom from an MSHI ambassador on the mountain with us is that Swift "Glacier" is really just permanent snowfield at this point; many parties go straight up Swift instead of gaining Monitor Ridge proper. Apr 4, 2024