A pedestrian tunnel connects lush, forested Seaquest State Park with its more well-known neighbor across the road, the Silver Lake Mount St. Helens Visitor Center. The park makes a topnotch base for an exploration of the famous Washington volcano.

The visitor center is a destination unto itself. Ranger talks, documentary film showings, naturalist-led hikes and interpretive exhibits bring to life the mountain's geology and history. It's a tour through time, from prehistory to the earth-altering 1980 explosion and the area's recovery.

Unwind from touring by strolling through Seaquest, where dappled sunlight streams through secondary old-growth trees. Hiking and biking trails abound, and a children's playground features a human-made sand dune that will keep kids occupied for hours. A trail and boardwalk around the wetlands of Silver Lake offer birding and volcano views.

If you're headed to the U.S. Forest Service's Johnston Ridge Observatory, this state park will leave you with a deep appreciation for the resilience of nature – and a new context for what you will see as you travel closer to the mountain.

State Parks Tagged With: Castle Rock