Mount St Helens Webcam – Watch the Volcano from Coldwater

The Mount St Helens Webcam looks south-southeast from the Science and Learning Center at Coldwater toward the volcano, about 11 kilometers (7 miles) from its crater as the raven flies. The broken summit sits on the skyline right of center, above a forested ridge, with a corner of Coldwater Lake in the lower left and the Toutle River valley opening out to the right. The Mount St. Helens Institute runs the camera at about 945 meters (3,100 feet) as a weather cam, with a panel of live readings down the right side of the picture. A second tab carries the USGS still from Johnston Ridge, which looks straight into the open crater.

About Mount St Helens

Mount St Helens stands in Skamania County in southwest Washington, 158 kilometers (98 miles) south of Seattle and 83 kilometers (52 miles) northeast of Portland, Oregon. Before 1980 its smooth, snow-covered cone rose to 2,950 meters (9,677 feet), and that symmetry earned it the nickname “Fujiyama of America.” At 8:32 am on May 18, 1980, the mountain erupted and tore away its north side, killing 57 people. The summit now reaches 2,549 meters (8,363 feet), about 400 meters (1,300 feet) lower, and the crater left behind is 2 to 3 kilometers (1.2 to 1.8 miles) wide and 635 meters (2,084 feet) deep.

That morning a debris avalanche poured down the North Fork of the Toutle River and buried the valley up to 180 meters (600 feet) deep. It dammed Coldwater Creek to a height of 55 meters (180 feet), and the water that backed up behind it became Coldwater Lake: about 8 kilometers (5 miles) long, 313 hectares (773 acres) in area and 55 meters (180 feet) deep at most, with its surface at 763 meters (2,503 feet). In 1982 the area became the Mount St Helens National Volcanic Monument, covering 45,000 hectares (110,000 acres).

The camera is fixed to the outside of the center, on the cliffs west of the lake, and the wooden corner of the building fills the right edge of the frame. The Institute lists South Coldwater Ridge, Johnston Ridge and the Toutle River among the landmarks in view. The Johnston Ridge tab is a US Geological Survey still taken at Johnston Ridge Observatory, looking into the north-facing crater over river valleys and the ridge itself. The volcano’s most recent eruption built a new lava dome inside that crater between October 2004 and July 2008.

Weather and Climate at Mount St Helens

Averages here are for Coldwater, at the camera’s height, from 2016 to 2025. July and August are the warm, dry months, with afternoon highs of about 21 to 22°C (70 to 71°F), nights around 11°C (52°F) and very little rain, which makes late summer the likeliest time for a clear view of the summit. By mid-October 2026 the cone stood almost bare of snow. October averages highs of 12°C (53°F) and lows of 5°C (41°F), and November through January are the wettest months.

Winter at Coldwater averages highs of 3 to 4°C (37 to 39°F) and lows just below freezing, around -3 to -1°C (27 to 30°F), and snow usually covers the mountain. Spring is slow to warm: April averages highs of 9°C (48°F) with lows near 1°C (33°F), and May reaches about 13°C (56°F). The summit stands about 1,600 meters (5,260 feet) above the camera and is far colder than these figures. For current conditions, check the panel on the stream.

Things to Do Near Mount St Helens

The Science and Learning Center at Coldwater, where the camera is mounted, sits at milepost 45.2 on State Route 504, the Spirit Lake Memorial Highway. The highway has been closed beyond that point since the South Coldwater Slide of May 2023, but the center, the Coldwater Lake day-use area and the Hummocks Trail have stayed open. From the lake’s recreation area, the Birth of a Lake Trail is a 1 kilometer (0.6 mile) boardwalk with displays on how the eruption made the lake. The Lakes Trail runs along the shore, and only non-motorized boats are allowed on the water.

Johnston Ridge Observatory, home of the USGS camera, has been closed since the 2023 slide destroyed the 26 meter (85 foot) Spirit Lake Outlet Bridge near milepost 49. Work on a replacement bridge began on April 27, 2026, and the Forest Service will restore the observatory once the road is finished, so it is not expected to reopen before 2027. Climbers can still reach the summit: a permit is required year-round above 1,460 meters (4,800 feet), and the Monitor Ridge route, the usual summer climb, gains about 1,400 meters (4,600 feet) in roughly 8 kilometers (5 miles).

Similar Webcams You Might Like

Before 1980 this volcano was compared with Mount Fuji, and these cameras make good next stops:

• Snoqualmie Pass Webcam
• Kilauea Volcano Webcam
• Mount Fuji Webcam

Frequently Asked Questions

What can you see on the Mount St Helens Webcam?

The main stream looks south-southeast from Coldwater to the volcano, over a forested ridge, a corner of Coldwater Lake and the Toutle River valley. The second tab shows the USGS still from Johnston Ridge, looking into the crater from the north.

Where is Mount St Helens located?

In Skamania County in southwest Washington, 83 kilometers (52 miles) northeast of Portland, Oregon, and 158 kilometers (98 miles) south of Seattle.

Is the Mount St Helens webcam at Johnston Ridge Observatory?

The main stream is not: it comes from the Science and Learning Center at Coldwater. The USGS camera at Johnston Ridge Observatory is on the second tab. The observatory building has been closed to visitors since May 2023.

Is this a Mount St Helens weather cam?

Yes. The Institute titles the stream the Coldwater Lake Weather Cam, and its panel shows temperature, dew point, wind, gusts, rain today, the daily high and low and the strongest gust. The readings are for Coldwater, not the summit.

What is the weather like at Mount St Helens?

At Coldwater, winter highs average 3 to 4°C (37 to 39°F) with lows just below freezing, while July and August reach about 21 to 22°C (70 to 71°F) and are the driest months. The summit is far colder.

Is Mount St Helens erupting right now?

No. Its last eruption built a lava dome in the crater between October 2004 and July 2008, and the mountain remains an active volcano.

Does the camera work at night?

The Coldwater stream runs around the clock, and its camera holds a clear picture well after sunset. The Johnston Ridge still keeps updating overnight, but its frames are dark from dusk to dawn.

Is Coldwater Lake open?

Yes. State Route 504 is closed past the Science and Learning Center at milepost 45.2 while the bridge near milepost 49 is rebuilt, but the center, the Coldwater Lake day-use area and the Hummocks Trail remain open.

Source: Mount St. Helens Institute and USGS