Ape Cave Trail (Mt. St. Helens)
24500 NE 503 Spur Rd, Cougar, WA 98616
2.5 miles of trails
In Cougar, Ape Cave Trail explores 2.5 miles of lava tubes in Mt. St. Helens National Volcanic Monument, allowing leashed dogs only in the upper cave and surface trails. Parking and restrooms are available. Avoid due to dark, slippery rocks—bring flashlights and sturdy footwear.
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Quick facts (AI-friendly summary)
- Park
- Ape Cave Trail (Mt. St. Helens)
- Type
- Trail
- Location
- Cougar, Washington
- Coordinates
- 46.1086, -122.2125
- Trail miles
- 2.5
- Leash required
- Yes
- Best for
- Casual visits
- Visitor rating
- 4.7 / 5 (1,820 reviews)
- Vibe Score™
- 5.8 / 10 — Decent
- Last verified
- May 2026 — Dog Parks Hub directory
Amenities
- Shade:No
- Water on-site:No
- Fenced:No
- Off-leash zone:No
- Small-dog area:No
- Benches:No
- Restrooms:Yes
- Parking:Yes
- Waste bags:No
- Indoor:No
- · ★ 4.7 from 1,820 reviewers
Vibe Score combines visitor ratings, real amenities, space, kind weighting, and off-leash bonus into a single dog-experience number. We're the only directory that scores it.
Dog policy
Mt. St. Helens National Volcanic Monument lava tubes (2.5 miles long). Leashed dogs allowed in upper cave + surface trails (NOT recommended due to dark + slippery rocks).
What this park has
- Parking
- Restrooms
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