Coldwater Lake•Mount St. Helens

00:00     Title
00:15     Seaquest State Park
02:15     Silver Lake
04:15     Highway 504
08:20     Castle Lake Overlook
10:35     Coldwater Lake
12:35     Loowit Viewpoint
16:35     Johnston Ridge Observatory
19:44     Fin

Coldwater Lake is one of the lakes formed in 1980 and it is a roadside attraction that practically anybody can experience. The parking area is large and modern facilities are conveniently located onsite. Coldwater Lake is a day use picnic area in a lakeside deep forest environment, so this is quite a serene place to be. There are well maintained pathways that go to viewpoints in the wetlands and the water edge.  

Coldwater Lake definitely is a surreal place, because many old logs are beached on the narrow shoreline from way back when the Mount St Helens eruption knocked the tall trees down. This lake has a look of being something new, because the waterline shows no signs of long term erosion and the forest butts up against the water. These are all the clues needed to confirm that Coldwater Lake was indeed created during the 1980 eruption. The immense pyroclastic flow blocked Coldwater Creek and this big lake was formed. Seven new lakes were created during the Mount St Helens event, which provides an idea of just how powerful this old volcano can be.

​On a rainy dark overcast day, like during my visit, Coldwater Lake can look downright ominous and uninviting. There were no other visitors that dismal day and the silence was deafening. On the flip-side, Coldwater Lake is a great place to explore on a sunny day and paddling a kayak across the water is guaranteed to be enlightening. This lake is stocked with trout, so fishing for dinner is an option. Rain or shine, Coldwater Lake is a must to experience!