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The Best Hiking in Cougar

Looking for the best hiking in Cougar? We've got you covered with the top trails, trips, hiking, backpacking, camping and more around Cougar. The detailed guides, photos, and reviews are all submitted by the Outbound community.

Top hiking spots in and near Cougar

  • Ariel, Washington

    Fly Fish Merrill Lake

    1 mi / 100 ft gain
    Surrounded by old growth forest, Merrill Lake near Cougar, Washington is the perfect little gem to get in some late summer, mid-elevation mountain lake fishing. The morning and evening hatches are known state wide for the size of fish they attract. There are stories of Eagles even stealing trout ...
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  • Cougar, Washington

    Trail of Two Forests Trail

    0.27 mi / 13 ft gain
    Trail of Two Forests Trail is a loop trail where you may see beautiful wildflowers located near Cougar, Washington.
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  • Cougar, Washington

    Explore the Ape Caves

    3.9
    As if erupting volcanoes weren't awesome enough, ancient lava flows also left behind these giant, hollow tubes as they cooled. Spend all day exploring deep underground in this 2.5 mile cave.To get there, head to the SOUTH side of Mount Saint Helens. You must pass through the town of Cougar to get...
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  • Ariel, Washington

    Toutle River Trail

    11.41 mi / 2949 ft gain
    Toutle River Trail is a loop trail that takes you by a waterfall located near Toutle, Washington.
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  • Cougar, Washington

    Summit Mount St. Helens via Worm Flows

    4.8
    10.8 mi / 5700 ft gain
    The Worm Flow Route, starting at Marble Mountain Sno Park, is the most direct winter route up to the summit. You'll start at around 2,700 feet and begin a steady walk along the trail for 2 miles. Although the trail is fairly well marked well above the snow, you'll want to pay attention to the arr...
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  • Cougar, Washington

    Hike/Snowshoe to June Lake, WA

    5.0
    5.25 mi / 1000 ft gain
    In the winter you will need to start at Marble Mt. Snowpark and purchase a snow park permit. The hike starts here on the eastern side. Follow the Pine Ski Trail for about 1 mile along NF-83 Road. Then follow the June lake Trailhead up to June lake for about 1.5 miles. You will come to June lake a...
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  • Amboy, Washington

    Siouxon Trail to 14 Mile Falls

    5.0
    13.03 mi / 2310 ft gain
    When you park at the top of the trail, all you see is layers and layers of emerald trees and ground clear of any underbrush. Once on the trail, you start on a rapid decline that brings you to the first of the many streams along this hike. Cross the bridge made out of logs and head towards the ma...
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  • Cougar, Washington

    Summit Mount St. Helens via Monitor Ridge

    4.4
    9.4 mi / 4585 ft gain
    Monitor Ridge is the "easiest" of the routes one can take in order to claim that they have stood on top the sleeping giant better known as Mount St. Helens. This route is heavily favored over Worm Flows as the starting elevation is not only an additional 1,000 feet higher but the overall ascent ...
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  • Cougar, Washington

    Hike to Ape Canyon

    9.6 mi / 1650 ft gain
    Not to be confused with the ever so popular Ape Caves, the Ape Canyon is a moderately challenging hike that remains above ground, climbing a total of 1650 feet in elevation parallel to the Muddy River.  Although originally designed as a hiking trail, this route has become increasingly popular wit...
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  • Cougar, Washington

    Hike the Lava Canyon

    3.0
    6.5 mi
    Starting at the Lava Canyon Trailhead, you will walk on a paved trail down a few switchbacks until you reach the river, where you can go right or left. Either way takes you to the suspension bridge, but I recommend going right if you are following this guide. It will make more sense in a moment.A...
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  • Cougar, Washington

    Truman Trail

    14.18 mi / 2070 ft gain
    Truman Trail is a loop trail that takes you by a lake located near Cougar, Washington.
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  • Toutle, Washington

    Hike to the Summit of Coldwater Peak

    12.2 mi / 2000 ft gain
    While thousands of visitors come to witness the raw power and devastation left behind from Mount St Helens' famous 1980 eruption, few wander past the groomed paths surrounding the Johnston Ridge Observatory. It is beyond these paths where you come across the more commonly designed backcountry tra...
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  • Toutle, Washington

    Hike to Coldwater Peak via Boundary Trail

    5.0
    14.8 mi / 2700 ft gain
    The Boundary trail is amazing. It's 54 miles long and runs for the most part along a ridge in Gifford Pinchot National Forest. You can climb various peaks and viewpoints right off the trail, but this trip report is for climbing Coldwater Peak and hiking up to Harry's Ridge Viewpoint on the way. H...
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  • Yacolt, Washington

    Sunset Falls

    0.16 mi / 30 ft gain
    Sunset Falls is an out-and-back trail that takes you by a waterfall located near Carson, Washington.
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  • Toutle, Washington

    Hike the Hummocks Trail

    2.4 mi / 0 ft gain
    The trail has a number of ups and downs as you pass the many ponds and ash/rock/mud hills (hummocks) on your way towards the North Fork Toutle River. There is abundant wildlife in the area including birds, beaver and elk.This is also a great place to park and extend your day of hiking on the Boun...
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  • Toutle, Washington

    Mount Margaret's Ridge Camp via Coldwater Trailhead

    3.5
    7.12 mi / 1634 ft gain
    The hike is relatively easy. I'd say intermediate due to the incline at the beginning. Also intermediate due to it being an backpacking camp adventure. A friend of mine and I backpacked in to shoot the sunset and sunrise. We went a little early in the season so it was also to scout for future ad...
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