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nate0108
great hike, some climbing. nice break from the normal. good place to see and get outdoors. this is a beautiful part of Washington and something worth seeing if you like outdoors
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superbusylady
If you want to do something fun with the kids that is educational too, this is the place to go. It is just beautiful. It can be a little wet and slippery so be careful and wear good shoes for hiking. It is also VERY dark! But it is an amazing experience that you should not miss. You have to pay for parking. You can get a pass or you can just pay $5 to park once. If you get lucky, you might see Big foot.
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UpDownStateNYer
I went here with my teenage son and it was AWESOME! Beautiful drive to get there as well as the trail getting there. As mentioned, you must bring a really good flashlight or headlamp because it is pitch black down there. We did have lamps but had to follow another couple to get through it! You do have to have a level of fitness to get through it including climbing up a 6' rock wall, up over and down large rocks. My most memorable part was a small area of light coming through the cave and green vegetation growing through. Highly recommended and a must see!!!
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LaurriePiland
I live near a lady whose grandfather discovered the Ape Cave back in the day. If you visit SW WA state and go to Mt. St. Helens, the Ape Cave is a must-see. There are many other attractions near it, such as, The Trail of Two Forests, the Lava Canyon and many miles of hiking trails. The trail up the cave, itself, is paved and is a very easy walk. It is wheelchair accessible. My husband had never been to the cave despite him living in this area for many years. This past summer, I was able to take him up there. It was amazing. Keep in mind that in the summer, down in the cave is very cool. It is also wet down there. You, most definitely, will want to bring a second light source and extra batteries. In my younger years, I explored the cave from end to end, prior to the cave-in and after. It was a bit rougher going after the cave-in but still doable for someone who is fit. I wouldn't be able to do it now after having knee replacement surgery. There are many, many steps leading down into the cave and people using them are going both up and down. I am fortunate enough to have moved and now live within 30 minutes of the Ape Cave, so it is now a regular place to go for my family. There is a ranger station right there at the trail head and parking is $5, unless you are a disabled military veteran (such as my husband) or just disabled...that is when you get a free lifetime pass from the National Parks Service. So, I highly recommend taking your family, paying the $5 parking fee (which not only allows you to park at the Ape Cave, you can go to The Trail of Two Forests, the Lava Canyon or any of the other attractions that Mt. St. Helens National Forest has. It is worth the trip!
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reposage
Bring a headlamp or good flashlight or you will be at the mercy of fellow travelers. Lots of birds after exiting the upper end of the cave. Bring binoculars too. Kids will love trekking through the pitch black.
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W0lfTravler
I loved Ape Cave. It was amazing! The best part was walking in the cave, going from nice and bright and warm, to cold, wet and dark. You can see your breath year round! The Meatball was cool, how a rock got wedged up between to walls. It was a neat experience and would recommend to anyone.
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Foresttoday
One sunny day a logger named Johnson came into my fathers store and told a tale about finding a big hole in the ground north of the Mitchell Peak swinging bridge over the Lewis River. Harry Reese, my father, was also our Boy Scoutmaster at the time. He gathered up the boys of Troop 348 and we headed up the old mill road going North from the bridge. We bounced along in our model A's and a 1939 Chevrolet pickup until we came to the end of the road that was drivable. We followed the directions the logger had given us until we came upon a large hole with a 3 foot in diameter across the top. The older boys lead by my oldest brother got a team to put a 5\8's size manila rope over the middle of the log and we all took turns sliding down into the opening. Our father stayed on top to supervise as he was still just recovering from a bout with Polio. We moved in a Southerly direction using lanterns and flashlight into the darkness of the lava tube. Little did we know that this would become the longest unitary Lava Tube in the Lower Continental USA. Leonard our oldest brother lead off with two others and after about 40 feet into the darkness, the floor of the cave disappeared everyone stopped and once the area was surveyed it was determined that we had a 30 foot drop to the bottom of the cave. Leonard and two others were lowered down to the bottom on ropes and following them was brother Bob and two more boys. Once all six were on the lava floor, Leonard's team started out to explore the new cave. The team pulled a 100 foot long rope and signals were sent back and forth by number of tugs on the rope. After moving in a Southern direction for 30 minutes they heard a hissing sound and made a fast retreat. In just this short time they found "sand Castles" a "pale lizard", and a "Girobata Reesi" along with a lot of mildew on the walls. Eventually the troop would find stalactites, of lime (little nubbins), pencil type (4-5 inches longs the size of a ballpoint pen), pigtail (they were shaped like a curly potato about 4-5 inches long also). The Sand Castles were made by a pumas mudflow moving through the cave and over hundreds of years the dripping water landing on a pumas stone would wash away the sand on each side, leaving a tall spike standing up in the air.Our Troop 348 took interested parties of 200-250 people through the lower part of the cave over the next 5-6 years and this was a mistake in that many brought their friends back to see this Lava Tube that was so big a Gray Hound Bus would fit in many of the Chambers. However, many of those people brought their own friends back to see this tube and they were not as respectful of the cave as the original explorers had been. So Today you will not see many of the untouched sights that we saw in the early 1950's.I will end this here before you become too bored with a wonder of Mt. St. Helens.
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Beaverchamp
We are a 48 year old couple in fairly decent shape and the upper portion was an exertion. We wanted a challenge though. My husband is also a tad claustrophobic and only experienced a couple of places where he felt uneasy. The majority of the hike is pretty open. Our teenage son had no issues what-so-ever. My one big question mark was that many people were starting at the exit and we passed them along the way. When I was doing the hike it really seemed to be intended to start at the beginning. In fact getting up and over the 8 foot wall with one foothold was tough, but I can't even imagine doing it backward and having to drop down an 8 foot wall. One suggestion is to bring gloves. They really help as you scramble over the rocks. We all had headlamps and then I kept a small flashlight in my sweatshirt pocket when we were "climbing".
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96steveg
Quick notes: Ape Cave Lava Tubes and Ape Cave are the same thing. Also, this site lists them as being in Longview, but they're actually about 1-1/2 hour drive south. It's not technically a "cave" per say, rather it's an underground 'lava tube' where lava once flowed through back in the day. You get there by going through Woodland and follow the signs where the Ape Cave is located at the base of Mount St. Helens. I've been to the Ape Cave about a dozen times and have photographed it extensively. The main access that you can drive where there's a parking area. You must have an annual pass to park, or you can pay a single-visit fee there which is about $5. The pass you can purchase at the Visitors station about 12 miles down the road. The entrance is a short hike from the parking lot, which leads to a metal stairway that takes you down to the main access. This access separates Upper Ape Cave from Lower Ape Cave. Go straight at the bottom of the stairs and you're going to the lower cave. Go around behind the stairs and you're going to the upper.The lower is the easiest route and comes to a dead end. You can pretty much walk most of the way with a few areas you have navigate some rocks etc. This route is preferred by most people, especially those with small children.The upper cave is more technical. You have to do some climbing around through some rocky areas. At one point, you have to climb up a "lava fall" which is about 8' up. I'm too fat to get up this, so this is my turnaround point. This eventually leads to the upper end of the cave where you can exit and take the trail back to the parking area.Ape Cave is very safe and family friendly, but it is not for people who have any significant disabilities. ( I.E. If you're on crutches or in a wheelchair, it's not happening.) It is pitch dark and you'll need a good light source. The rangers that give tours like to use lanterns which I don't recommend. A lantern or a flashlight takes up a hand which is okay for the lower cave, but the upper cave you'll need to be able to grab on to rocks to get around. I use a head lamp which works very well.A few things I recommend: Water is constantly dripping on you, and it's always cold and damp even when it's hot outside. So, you should have a rain jacket with a hood, or a hat. I also advise having a pair of gloves, especially if you go to the upper cave. Constant climbing around through the rocks will make your hands very sore. Another good thing to have is a small backpack with some water, extra flashlight, and first-aid kit.They have free tours available. The guides are very cool and knowledgeable. But, they don't go down very far, so if you want a good adventure, plan on going down yourself.Photographers: I use several wireless speedlights when I shoot there. But remember it's wet and shooting down there is like shooting out in the rain. So, if you're planning to shoot, you should have your rain gear if you have it. Also, it's just like any other hike. What you take with you, you'll have to carry the whole time so pack as light as possible. Also remember, you'll want your hands free when traversing the rocks (especially in the upper section) so having a backpack for your gear will save you a lot of heartache and work. I made this mistake the first time I shot there. I took a big tripod and a bunch of light stands which was a huge mistake.The best time to go is early in the morning, before the crowds start pouring in. When I'm shooting photos there, I like to get there about 7:00 in the morning or earlier.There is a porta-pottie type rest room available near the parking area which is much like what you find at state parks. They're pretty stinky and not always clean. I take Wet Ones in the individual pouches (the anti-bacterial type) to wipe the seat down before using. Also, some hand sanitizer because there isn't a sink to wash your hands.My list of recommendations:Good flashlightRain jacketSturdy shoesHatCameraGlovesBottled waterWet Ones (restroom use)Hand sanitizerSense of adventureThe Ape Cave is a lot of fun, and very safe way to explore and get a very cool caving adventure.
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trimess
Went up to Ape Cave from Portland with my parents (60s-ish). There are two options for hiking: the lower portion, which is the easy route, has good footing and very little in the way of obstacles to get over (took about an hour). The upper portion is significantly more challenging and requires more balance and athleticism (took about 2 hours). You will need to get up some 4-5 foot rocks and balance over boulder fields. We ended up doing both and with some coaching and pulling we were able to get both my parts through the upper portion. Make sure you bring multiple light sources for each person (extra batteries) and dress warmly (bring layers as you will want to lose clothes as soon as you get out of the cave in the summer), as the cave is a constant 42 degrees F. In the summer this cave was not very damp, which was a nice change from most caves, and the amazing formations of rock and smooth twists and turns were just beautiful to see. The unique experience should not be missed if you are in the St. Helen's area. $5/car fee for parking is required, and you can pay at the trailhead.
