St. Helens Gear Checklist
The summer climb of Mount St. Helens is a non-technical scramble with no water on it, a long stretch of loose ash, and sharp lava boulders low down. The climbers we read carried gaiters, work gloves, poles and more water than a normal day hike. They also disagree on how much traction gear a snow-free summer day needs. The Forest Service list is longer than anything the summer writers say they used.
What shapes your gear on Mount St. Helens
- Route and gain
- The standard summer route starts at Climbers Bivouac, 3,700 feet up. The first stretch is Ptarmigan Trail, which rises 1,100 feet over 2 1/4 miles to the tree line at 4,800 feet. Over five miles the climb adds up to 4,500 feet, ending at the rim at 8,365 feet. The Forest Service says most parties take seven to twelve hours round trip.
From Gifford Pinchot National Forest (USDA Forest Service): Monitor Ridge Climbing Route and Gifford Pinchot National Forest (USDA Forest Service): Mount St. Helens Summit
- Marked and unmarked ground
- Large wooden posts mark the route from timberline to about 7,000 feet. The upper 1,300 feet has no markers and is loose rock, pumice and ash. One hiker found a path on the west side of the ridge, 30 to 50 feet below the posted crest, that avoids most of the scrambling.
From Gifford Pinchot National Forest (USDA Forest Service): Monitor Ridge Climbing Route and Washington Trails Association: Mount St. Helens - Monitor Ridge (Aug. 16, 2025)
- Getting down
- The Forest Service tells climbers to track the ascent on a GPS unit or app and check it on the way down, since many people drop into the wrong drainage. At timberline a small detour can put you far off the route. A hiker who had camped at the trailhead called the boulder fields on tired legs one of the hardest parts.
From Gifford Pinchot National Forest (USDA Forest Service): Mount St. Helens Climbing Safety, Gifford Pinchot National Forest (USDA Forest Service): Monitor Ridge Climbing Route and Washington Trails Association: Mount St. Helens - Monitor Ridge (July 2025)
- Time on the mountain
- The Forest Service range is seven to twelve hours, and the Mount St. Helens Institute says eight to twelve. One pair finished in 7.5 hours with a half-hour lunch at the rim. A blogger who climbed twice took about seven hours up, two at the top and about five down, and finished in the dark both times.
From Gifford Pinchot National Forest (USDA Forest Service): Mount St. Helens Summit, Mount St. Helens Institute, Washington Trails Association: Mount St. Helens - Monitor Ridge (Aug. 16, 2025) and Top Left Adventures
- Where sources disagree on numbers
- The Forest Service gives the early-season quota (April 1 to May 14) as 350 climbers a day, while the Institute's FAQ says 300. The Forest Service page lists the rim at 8,365 feet and the Institute page says 8,328. The Forest Service summit page ends the online quota on October 31 and the Monitor Ridge page also names November 30 for the same season. Check Recreation.gov for the day you climb.
From Gifford Pinchot National Forest (USDA Forest Service): Mount St. Helens Summit, Gifford Pinchot National Forest (USDA Forest Service): Monitor Ridge Climbing Route and Mount St. Helens Institute
What the agency requires on Mount St. Helens
Climbing permit and matching photo ID
Every climber needs a permit for each day above 4,800 feet, year-round, and must carry photo ID that matches the name on it. Groups are capped at 12 people per permit.
From Gifford Pinchot National Forest (USDA Forest Service): Mount St. Helens Summit and Gifford Pinchot National Forest (USDA Forest Service): Monitor Ridge Climbing Route
Human waste pack-out bag
Toilet paper and all solid waste leave the mountain with you, so bring a blue bag or take one at the trailhead if any are stocked. Garbage also goes out with you.
From Gifford Pinchot National Forest (USDA Forest Service): Mount St. Helens Summit and Gifford Pinchot National Forest (USDA Forest Service): Monitor Ridge Climbing Route
Valid permit shown in the vehicle
Parking at Climbers Bivouac costs $5 a day per vehicle or needs a Recreation Pass. No fee or pass is needed when a valid climbing permit for that date is displayed.
From Gifford Pinchot National Forest (USDA Forest Service): Mount St. Helens Summit
What hikers carry on Mount St. Helens
Gaiters for the ash field
One hiker put them on only at the summit and said loose ash swallows whole shoes in places. A pair on a cool day found only one of them wore gaiters and called the descent more fun with them. The blogger says long pants can stand in if you shake out your boots at the top.
The same hiker did not feel gaiters were needed on the way up.
From Washington Trails Association: Mount St. Helens - Monitor Ridge (July 2025), Washington Trails Association: Mount St. Helens - Monitor Ridge (Aug. 16, 2025) and Top Left Adventures
Light work gloves for the boulder fields
Two writers single out gardening or similar gloves for the lava boulders below the ash. The blogger says a good part of the climb uses your hands on sharp volcanic rock, and heavy gloves would be too hot in summer.
From Washington Trails Association: Mount St. Helens - Monitor Ridge (July 2025) and Top Left Adventures
Trekking poles
After a night of rain the top scree packed down, and one pair brought out poles for only the last 150 vertical meters. The blogger calls poles a big help on the ash field, where each step slides back like walking up a steep beach.
From Washington Trails Association: Mount St. Helens - Monitor Ridge (Aug. 16, 2025) and Top Left Adventures
Water: 2.5 to 4 liters
Two hikers carried 2.5 liters each on a cool, cloudy day, 500 milliliters of it mixed with electrolytes, and did not drink it all. The Institute tells summer parties to carry three to four quarts. The blogger says several earlier turnbacks were due to weather or too little water. There is no flowing water on the route.
From Washington Trails Association: Mount St. Helens - Monitor Ridge (Aug. 16, 2025), Mount St. Helens Institute, Top Left Adventures and Gifford Pinchot National Forest (USDA Forest Service): Monitor Ridge Climbing Route
A headlamp, even on a summer day
The blogger finished both summits in the dark, and the Forest Service list includes a flashlight with spare batteries.
From Top Left Adventures and Gifford Pinchot National Forest (USDA Forest Service): Mount St. Helens Climbing Safety
A wind layer and a hat that stays on
A hiker found the ash field windy and chilly, and took a baseball cap off for fear it would blow away. The blogger always packs a warm layer and a rain jacket because the weather can turn quickly.
From Washington Trails Association: Mount St. Helens - Monitor Ridge (July 2025) and Top Left Adventures
Real food, not only bars
The blogger says to bring more calories than seems sensible, because the day is long and bars alone get hard to face. The blogger packs peanut butter and honey sandwiches.
From Top Left Adventures
Headache and nausea medicine
A hiker who had once turned back at the ash field took ibuprofen and dramamine before starting and felt fine. They say that worked for them personally.
The Forest Service lists altitude sickness symptoms and says the cure is to go down.
From Washington Trails Association: Mount St. Helens - Monitor Ridge (July 2025) and Gifford Pinchot National Forest (USDA Forest Service): Mount St. Helens Climbing Safety
12 people can go on one permit. Split this list between them so nobody carries two stoves.
Plan a trip hereWhat hikers regret or leave behind on Mount St. Helens
Starting the ash field without gaiters
The hiker who waited until the summit to put them on said he was grateful on the descent. Ash in the shoes is the cost of leaving them home.
From Washington Trails Association: Mount St. Helens - Monitor Ridge (July 2025) and Top Left Adventures
Too little water on the way up
The blogger names water, along with weather, as the reason for turnbacks on earlier attempts. The Forest Service says potable water is not available at the trailhead or on the route.
From Top Left Adventures, Gifford Pinchot National Forest (USDA Forest Service): Monitor Ridge Climbing Route and Gifford Pinchot National Forest (USDA Forest Service): Mount St. Helens Summit
Relying on a phone for navigation or rescue
The Forest Service says reception may be missing even at altitude, and tells climbers to bring a map, compass and route markers. The blogger adds that the upper route is poles and then an open slope.
From Gifford Pinchot National Forest (USDA Forest Service): Mount St. Helens Climbing Safety and Top Left Adventures
Ice axe, crampons and rope on a snow-free summer day
The Forest Service safety page lists an ice axe, crampons and rope under what to bring, and its winter page says true crampons are for icy conditions. The blogger, who climbs in late summer, says no special climbing gear is needed. Match the kit to the snow line that week.
From Gifford Pinchot National Forest (USDA Forest Service): Mount St. Helens Climbing Safety, Gifford Pinchot National Forest (USDA Forest Service): Mount St. Helens Winter/Spring Climbing Tips and Top Left Adventures
Gear questions for Mount St. Helens
Do you need an ice axe and crampons to climb Mount St. Helens?
It depends on snow. The Forest Service lists both under what to bring and says crampons are for icy conditions, common in winter on the upper half. A late-summer climber says the climb needs no special equipment.
From Gifford Pinchot National Forest (USDA Forest Service): Mount St. Helens Climbing Safety, Gifford Pinchot National Forest (USDA Forest Service): Mount St. Helens Winter/Spring Climbing Tips and Top Left Adventures
How much water should you bring to climb Mount St. Helens?
The Mount St. Helens Institute says three to four quarts in summer. One pair carried 2.5 liters each on a cool day and had some left. There is no potable water at the trailhead or on the route.
From Mount St. Helens Institute, Washington Trails Association: Mount St. Helens - Monitor Ridge (Aug. 16, 2025) and Gifford Pinchot National Forest (USDA Forest Service): Monitor Ridge Climbing Route
Are gaiters worth bringing on Mount St. Helens?
Three writers say yes for the ash field and the descent, but one wore them only on the way down. Long pants and shaking out your boots is the blogger's lighter option.
From Washington Trails Association: Mount St. Helens - Monitor Ridge (July 2025), Washington Trails Association: Mount St. Helens - Monitor Ridge (Aug. 16, 2025) and Top Left Adventures
Can you go in the crater on Mount St. Helens?
No. Climbing to the rim is allowed but entering the crater is prohibited. Stay at least 30 feet from the visible edge, because the winter cornice can overhang it.
From Gifford Pinchot National Forest (USDA Forest Service): Mount St. Helens Summit
Sources
- Mount St. Helens Summit · Gifford Pinchot National Forest (USDA Forest Service) · Agency
- Monitor Ridge Climbing Route · Gifford Pinchot National Forest (USDA Forest Service) · Agency
- Mount St. Helens Climbing Safety · Gifford Pinchot National Forest (USDA Forest Service) · Agency
- Mount St. Helens Winter/Spring Climbing Tips · Gifford Pinchot National Forest (USDA Forest Service) · Agency
- Mount St. Helens - Monitor Ridge (Aug. 16, 2025) · Washington Trails Association, temerity_kat · Trip report
- Mount St. Helens - Monitor Ridge (July 2025) · Washington Trails Association, EvilWalrus · Trip report
- Complete Guide to Climbing Mt St Helens · Top Left Adventures · Blog
- Preparing for Your Climb · Mount St. Helens Institute · Blog