Ape Cave

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The Ape Cave (named for the first explorers' sponsor) is an explorable lava tube formed from one of Mount St. Helen's eruptions and subsequent lava flows (about 2000 years ago).


The cave entrance is a 1/4 mile hike from the parking lot. From the entrance, there are two choices: A relatively easy 3/4 mile dead-end to the South (1 hour), or a much tougher 1.5 mile segment to the North, which requires climbing over piles of rocks and through narrow spaces, returning to the parking lot via a surface trail (~3 hours).

There is no lighting, so bring several flashlights or lanterns. (They can sometimes be rented on-site, primarily during the summer months.) Year round temperature is approximately 42F.

vulcan.wr.usgs.gov/Volcanoes/MSH/NatMonument/PointsInte...
home.earthlink.net/~illythid/apecave/

Also used as a demo in How To #2 at Matt's Wikimapia Blog: wikimapia.mattjonesblog.com/2006/09/20/how-to-2-upcomin...