Ape Caves - Washington Trails Association
The full experience at Ape Cave includes the easy exploration of a spacious lava tube, followed by more difficult travel through a smaller, longer, and more rugged lava tube to an exit. Then, enjoy an easy return hike winding through shady forest and crusty lava formations.
Gifford Pinchot National Forest - Ape Cave Interpretive Site
Explore a chilly, pitch-black lava tube over two miles long. A short, paved, accessible trail beneath towering trees leads to a stairwell into the cave. The ¾ mile, one-way lower cave route is relatively easy and family friendly.
Lava Tubes in Washington for Kids to Explore - Trail of Two …
These lava tubes in Washington (in Trail of Two Forests) are great for kids to explore and climb through! They’re easy to find and make a great underground playground for anyone brave enough to check it out!
Ape Cave Lava Tubes - All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go …
Formed about 2,000 years ago from a volcanic eruption, this is one of the longest lava tubes (12,810 feet) in the world.
The Longest Lava Tube In The Country Is Right Here In Washington
May 18, 2019 · Washington is full of breathtaking natural wonders, and that includes some impressive remnants of our prehistoric past. The notorious Ape Cave is more than just a fun hike -- it's also the longest lava tube in the continental United States.
Ape Cave Lava Tube | Mount Saint Helens | Washington
Jan 1, 2019 · For extra fun, crawl through a 50-foot long lava tube beneath the trail. Ape Cave in Mount Saint Helens National Volcanic Monument (Washington) This adventurous underground hike travels through one of the longest lava tubes in the world.
WA100: A Washington Geotourism Website
Ape Cave formed about 2,000 years ago, when an 8-mile-long lava flow known as the Cave Basalt poured down the southern flank of Mount St. Helens. As it flowed, parts of the lava started to cool, forming a hardened crust and creating an insulated tube for …
Ape Cave, WA: How to Hike This Kid-Friendly Lava Tube (+What …
Feb 9, 2022 · A Bucket-List Hike Through a Real Lava Tube. Ape Cave is a spectacular ancient lava tube that is absolutely fantastic to explore. It is the third longest lava tube in North America (at 2.5 miles) and it is easy enough for kids to hike it too!
Everything You Need to Know about Washington’s Finest Hiking Spots…
Ape Cave is the third longest lava tube in North America and the longest in the Continental United States. It’s hard to believe this tube wasn’t even discovered until 1951. Since it’s discovering, the trails have been hiked by tens of thousands of visitors each year.
This Famous Long and Dark Lava Tube in Washington Is Not for …
May 1, 2024 · The famous lava tube was shaped by volcanic forces over 2,000 years ago! If you’re curious, the cave’s intriguing name doesn’t derive from any primate-related incidents. Rather, it was actually from the local Boy Scout troop, the St. Helens Apes, who first thoroughly explored the tube in the 1950s.