Seattle | Underground Cave Hiking

📍 Ape Cave Interpretive Site, Mount St. Helens National Volcanic Monument Here’s a lesser-known but incredibly fun and photogenic underground hike! 🔍 Search "Ape Cave Trail" on AllTrails (the 3-mile route). The entire trail is underground—just hike one way (1.5 miles underground), exit at the endpoint, and return above ground for another 1.5 miles. 🅿️ Drive from Seattle: ~3.5 hours without traffic. I-5 is often crowded on weekends, so start early for a day trip. 📅 Best Time: I went in early August last year. According to AllTrails, the ground is now snow-free—good to go! Reservations: Required via Recreation.gov (easy to book, no rush). Cost: $2 per ticket. Time Window: 30-minute entry window, but slight delays are usually fine. 🥾 Two Trail Options: Short Trail (~1 mile): Easier, out-and-back route. Perfect for kids—they’ll love it! Long Trail (3 miles): More challenging. 1/3 requires scrambling—not ideal for very young children. #SeattleHiking #ApeCave #UndergroundAdventure #MountStHelens#travel guide#Seattle diary#Washington