Boundary Trail (Mount St. Helens)
~4 days · 57.5 mi · strenuous · Point-to-point
Quick facts
What the Boundary Trail (Mount St. Helens) is known for
A long backcountry traverse across the Mount St. Helens blast zone and the Mount Margaret Backcountry in Washington's Gifford Pinchot National Forest. Trail 1 winds past crater viewpoints, pumice ridges, and forests recovering from the 1980 eruption, northeast of the volcano within Mount St. Helens National Volcanic Monument. It offers close views into the crater and across Spirit Lake.
Elevation profile
Elevation ranges from 2,516 ft to 5,636 ft over 57.5 mi. Measured from OSM geometry (approximate).
- Uphill 22.7 mi · 40%
- Downhill 18.6 mi · 33%
- Flat 15.9 mi · 28%
Ridgefold breaks every route into uphill, downhill, and flat — see the full per-day breakdown in the app.
How hard is the Boundary Trail (Mount St. Helens)?
On the Ridgefold Difficulty Index, the Boundary Trail (Mount St. Helens) scores 46/100, a relative rating across the 569 trails we've mapped, blending distance, elevation gain, and steepness. It is a comparison within our set, not an official rating.
Best season & permits
Season: Mid-July through September, once the high, snow-holding ridges of the Mount Margaret area melt out.
Permits: No permit to day hike; overnight camping in the Mount Margaret Backcountry requires a designated-site backcountry permit reserved through recreation.gov.
Official trail & permit info
Always confirm current conditions, closures, and permit rules with the managing authority before your trip.
Frequently asked questions
How many days does the Boundary Trail (Mount St. Helens) take?
Most backpackers hike the Boundary Trail (Mount St. Helens) in about 4 days (3 nights out) over its 57.5 miles, though pace varies with fitness and conditions.
How much elevation gain is on the Boundary Trail (Mount St. Helens)?
The Boundary Trail (Mount St. Helens) climbs roughly 16,299 ft total — about 283 ft per mile, topping out near 5,692 ft.
When is the best time to hike the Boundary Trail (Mount St. Helens)?
Mid-July through September, once the high, snow-holding ridges of the Mount Margaret area melt out.
Do you need a permit for the Boundary Trail (Mount St. Helens)?
No permit to day hike; overnight camping in the Mount Margaret Backcountry requires a designated-site backcountry permit reserved through recreation.gov.
Related trails
Sources & attribution
Route geometry and stats derived from OpenStreetMap (© OpenStreetMap contributors, ODbL) — source relation. Stats are approximate and may differ from official surveys; permit rules and conditions change — verify with the managing authority before your trip. Last reviewed July 2026.