Truman Trail

Truman Trail (#207) is a short long-distance hike on the northern flank of Mount St. Helens in the Mount St. Helens National Volcanic Monument/Gifford Pinchot National Forest area, built to immerse you in terrain reshaped by the 1980 eruption.

Route character centers on pumice plains and avalanche/debris terrain; the trail crosses multiple streams that originate in the crater and then climbs back up toward a junction with Boundary Trail #1.

The trail begins at Windy Ridge Interpretive Site (off Forest Road 99) and follows a road segment built by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to access Spirit Lake pumping infrastructure after the eruption; after you leave the road grade, you transition onto trail across the pumice plain.

As you travel across the pumice, expect frequent wildflower patches on the recovering ground (the route passes areas noted for lupine and Indian paintbrush) and stream crossings that can make water planning important.

Truman Trail is part of a trail network: at its junction you can link toward other routes, including Willow Springs Trail #207A (a short connection that links to the Loowit Trail), creating options for loop or out-and-back combinations.

Route management is straightforward but strict: off-trail travel is prohibited, pets/stock are prohibited, and bicycles are prohibited west of the junction with Abraham Trail #216D. Day-use rules apply, and the route is marked with wooden posts to help keep you on route. Low-elevation snow typically melts by mid-May, with higher areas melting closer to mid-July.

More information: Conditions, Visitor information, Truman Trail-Pumice Plains - Washington Trails Association