Page Type Page Type: Mountain/Rock
Location Lat/Lon: 46.36390°N / 122.1023°W
Additional Information Elevation: 5410 ft / 1649 m
Sign the Climber's Log

Overview


Goat Mountains are about as common in Washington as those drive through coffee shops. The significance of this particular Goat Mountain is its location just 12 miles to the north of Mount Saint Helens during this time of volcanic restlessness. Don't confuse this one with the high point of Cowlitz County just southwest of Mount Saint Helens .

The view from the summit ridge, best from the slightly lower eastern peak, looks directly into the crater of the volcano. Whenever the Mount Margaret Backcountry is closed during volcanic activity, this peak offers about as good a ground based view as one can get of the growing lava dome.

During my recent visit I saw no one on this peak, while at the same time throngs of tourists clogged the lower western viewpoints near Coldwater Ridge Visitor Center.

The peak can be accessed by the Goat Mountain Trail (#217) from a trailhead near Ryan Lake. This trail climbs at a steep and steady grade for a little over two miles to the summit ridge and passes very close to the 5106 foot eastern summit. The trail then drops a bit and passes well below the main summit on the south side of the ridge. The main summit can be reached on game trails with a bit of scrambling up the east ridge. You have to push through a few trees or climb some rock outcrops near the summit. The western summit can be reached by scrambling from the trail where it crosses the ridge at a saddle west of the main summit.

There is an impressive tower to the north of the eastern summit. I wonder if its faces have ever seen a rope?

Call 360-449-7800 for the most up-to-date information on volcanic activity, as well as trail and road conditions.

Getting There


The trailhead is off of Forest Road 99, the main road into the eastern side of Mount Saint Helens National Volcanic Monument. Road 99 starts at a well marked turn off of Forest Road 25 between Randle and Cougar.

Heading towards Windy Ridge on 99, watch for the signed right turn onto FS 26 to Ryan Lake, at about mile 8, or two miles short of the visitor center. If you pass the Miner's Car and Meta Lake, you've gone too far. Follow road 26 for 5 miles to it's closure point (flood damage to the north) at Ryan Lake. Turn left there onto FS 2612, leaving the pavement, and proceed for a short distance to the trailhead on the right.

A driving time table for the Mount Saint Helens area is available here. Use the Windy Ridge column to determine times to the trailhead.

Red Tape


A Northwest Forest Pass or Golden Eagle Pass are needed to park at the trailhead. No permit is needed to camp in this area.

When To Climb


Check the Gifford Pinchot National Forest Web Site for current road condition information.

Camping


No permit is needed to camp off of this trail. Please use no trace practices on the summit ridge. Except for the cratering from thousands of elk tracks, it's quite pristine.

Green River Horse Camp, just west of the trailhead, is restricted to horse users only during the summer season. It was empty and appeared unused during my visit. The nearest campground is at Iron Creek, which is north on 25 from the 99 junction. It's closed and gated for the winter.

Mountain Conditions


Look over the Gifford Pinchot National Forest's Special Conditions Page for current closure information. Trail #217 is open to horses and mountain bikes. From the looks of it, few of either venture there.

There is a trail table on the National Forest site.

Additions and CorrectionsPost an Addition or Correction

Viewing: 1-6 of 6
Klenke

Klenke - Oct 19, 2004 10:35 pm - Voted 10/10

Untitled Comment

Check this out from this page:
USGS peak Goat Mountain (4965 ft, Goat Mountain quad, in Cowlitz county, NAD27 46.1639/-122.2986)
USGS peak Goat Butte (7484 ft, Mount Adams East quad, in Yakima county, NAD27 46.2081/-121.4239)
USGS peak Goat Mountain (4637 ft, Hopkins Ridge quad, in Garfield county, NAD27 46.3464/-117.6525)
USGS peak Goat Mountain (5487 ft, Spirit Lake East quad, in Skamania county, NAD27 46.3697/-122.1219)
USGS peak Goat Rocks (6020 ft, Walupt Lake quad, in Yakima county, NAD27 46.4914/-121.4167)
USGS peak Goat Peak (6473 ft, Goose Prairie quad, in Yakima county, NAD27 46.9400/-121.2633)
USGS peak Goat Peak (4981 ft, Easton quad, in Kittitas county, NAD27 47.1933/-121.1917)
USGS peak Goat Mountain (4773 ft, Findley Lake quad, in King county, NAD27 47.2833/-121.5272)
USGS peak Goat Mountain (6579 ft, Davis Peak quad, in Kittitas county, NAD27 47.4853/-121.0719)
USGS peak Goat Mountain (5580 ft, Lake Philippa quad, in King county, NAD27 47.6150/-121.5475)
USGS peak Goat Mountain (5329 ft, Pateros quad, in Okanogan county, NAD27 48.0147/-119.9839)
USGS peak Little Goat Mountain (6776 ft, Big Goat Mountain quad, in Chelan county, NAD27 48.0881/-120.4006)
USGS peak Big Goat Mountain (7120 ft, Big Goat Mountain quad, in Chelan county, NAD27 48.1033/-120.4125)
USGS peak White Goat Mountain (7820 ft, Mount Lyall quad, in Chelan county, NAD27 48.2917/-120.7619)
USGS peak Goat Mountain (4778 ft, Grandy Lake quad, in Skagit county, NAD27 48.6000/-121.8403)
USGS peak Goat Peak (7001 ft, McLeod Mountain quad, in Okanogan county, NAD27 48.6319/-120.4025)
USGS peak Goat Mountain (6820 ft, Mount Sefrit quad, in Whatcom county, NAD27 48.9286/-121.6250)

9 Goat Mountains in the state
3 Goat Peaks.

mutant1

mutant1 - Oct 20, 2004 9:29 am - Hasn't voted

Untitled Comment

Thanks for the input. I knew of the other nearby mountain, but was thinking it was called Goat Peak. The page now mentions it. Hopefully what I've added will help avoid confusion between the two.

Dean

Dean - Oct 19, 2004 10:04 pm - Voted 10/10

Untitled Comment

How about TWO Goat mountains in the same Mt. St. Helens area only this Goat Mtn is on the west side of the peak. check out this topozone map. The interesting fact that I'd like to point out is this Goat Mtn is the highpoint of Cowlitz county and is sought out by county highpointers like myself. I did this Goat, last summer. Just an interesting point that I wanted to make so those who are seeking after the western one aren't confused on this.

Klenke

Klenke - Oct 19, 2004 10:35 pm - Voted 10/10

Untitled Comment

Check this out from this page:
USGS peak Goat Mountain (4965 ft, Goat Mountain quad, in Cowlitz county, NAD27 46.1639/-122.2986)
USGS peak Goat Butte (7484 ft, Mount Adams East quad, in Yakima county, NAD27 46.2081/-121.4239)
USGS peak Goat Mountain (4637 ft, Hopkins Ridge quad, in Garfield county, NAD27 46.3464/-117.6525)
USGS peak Goat Mountain (5487 ft, Spirit Lake East quad, in Skamania county, NAD27 46.3697/-122.1219)
USGS peak Goat Rocks (6020 ft, Walupt Lake quad, in Yakima county, NAD27 46.4914/-121.4167)
USGS peak Goat Peak (6473 ft, Goose Prairie quad, in Yakima county, NAD27 46.9400/-121.2633)
USGS peak Goat Peak (4981 ft, Easton quad, in Kittitas county, NAD27 47.1933/-121.1917)
USGS peak Goat Mountain (4773 ft, Findley Lake quad, in King county, NAD27 47.2833/-121.5272)
USGS peak Goat Mountain (6579 ft, Davis Peak quad, in Kittitas county, NAD27 47.4853/-121.0719)
USGS peak Goat Mountain (5580 ft, Lake Philippa quad, in King county, NAD27 47.6150/-121.5475)
USGS peak Goat Mountain (5329 ft, Pateros quad, in Okanogan county, NAD27 48.0147/-119.9839)
USGS peak Little Goat Mountain (6776 ft, Big Goat Mountain quad, in Chelan county, NAD27 48.0881/-120.4006)
USGS peak Big Goat Mountain (7120 ft, Big Goat Mountain quad, in Chelan county, NAD27 48.1033/-120.4125)
USGS peak White Goat Mountain (7820 ft, Mount Lyall quad, in Chelan county, NAD27 48.2917/-120.7619)
USGS peak Goat Mountain (4778 ft, Grandy Lake quad, in Skagit county, NAD27 48.6000/-121.8403)
USGS peak Goat Peak (7001 ft, McLeod Mountain quad, in Okanogan county, NAD27 48.6319/-120.4025)
USGS peak Goat Mountain (6820 ft, Mount Sefrit quad, in Whatcom county, NAD27 48.9286/-121.6250)

9 Goat Mountains in the state
3 Goat Peaks.

mutant1

mutant1 - Oct 20, 2004 9:29 am - Hasn't voted

Untitled Comment

Thanks for the input. I knew of the other nearby mountain, but was thinking it was called Goat Peak. The page now mentions it. Hopefully what I've added will help avoid confusion between the two.

Dundeel

Dundeel - Nov 25, 2007 2:38 pm - Voted 10/10

Getting There changes

I tried road 26 from road 99 and found it blocked at Norway Pass. According to the forest service, they have no immediate plans to reopen 26 between Ryan Lake and Norway Pass. Road 26 is open (snow permitting) from the road 25 intersection near the Cispus River bridge.

Viewing: 1-6 of 6


Children

Children

Children refers to the set of objects that logically fall under a given object. For example, the Aconcagua mountain page is a child of the 'Aconcagua Group' and the 'Seven Summits.' The Aconcagua mountain itself has many routes, photos, and trip reports as children.