Ape Canyon
Ape Canyon is a gorge along the edge of the Plains of Abraham, on the southeast shoulder of Mount St.
A canyon & gorge, 14 mi northeast of Cougar
Plan where you’ll sleep
The nearest town with many places to stay is Trout Lake, 30 miles southeast. Where to stay ↓
A day trip from Portland
Portland is about 53 miles southwest and Seattle is about 99 miles north (straight-line). Where to stay ↓
Best months: May, Jun, Jul, Aug and Sep
May, June, July, August and September are the mild months, with highs of 65–78°. When to go ↓
Written from NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Overture places to stay, Census town figures and Wikipedia.
Weather, month by month
Typical highs and lows in Cougar. Green months are the mild ones.
Ape Canyon
Ape Canyon is a gorge along the edge of the Plains of Abraham, on the southeast shoulder of Mount St. Helens in the U.S. state of Washington. The gorge narrows to as close as eight feet (2.4 m) at one point. The name alludes to a legend about a 1924 encounter with "apemen" which was later incorporated into Bigfoot folklore. Ape Canyon was heavily impacted by the 1980 eruption of Mount St. Helens. Adjacent to the steep rocky canyon is the present Ape Canyon trail, popular with hikers and mountain bikers. On the south side of the mountain is another feature named Ape Cave.
- Type
- Canyon & gorge
- Wikipedia readers
- 17K a year
Where to stay near Ape Canyon
The closest towns with hotels, motels or campgrounds are Cougar (3) and Trout Lake (8).
Compare 4 towns
| Town | From Ape Canyon | Drive | Places to stay | People | Typical home |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cougar | 14 mi southwest | 20 min | 3 1 campground · 2 RV parks | 151 | — |
| Trout Lake 24% vacation homes | 30 mi southeast | 45 min | 8 1 hotel · 2 inns & B&Bs · 1 lodge or cabins · 3 campgrounds · 1 RV park | 720 | $750K |
| Mossyrock | 29 mi northwest | 45 min | 4 4 campgrounds | 806 | $280K |
| Morton | 26 mi north | 40 min | 2 2 motels | 1,102 | $301K |
Day trip from
Straight-line miles.
Getting there
Nearest airports with airline service
Also near Ape Canyon
Other well-known places within 61 miles. Numbered ones are on the map above.
Big draw14 mi MountainMount St. Helens
25 mi LakeSpirit Lake
Big draw61 mi MountainMount Hood
34 mi Park & preserveMount St. Helens National Volcanic Monument
429 mi MountainMount Adams
43 mi WaterfallMultnomah Falls
54 mi Stadium & arenaModa Center
48 mi National ParkMount Rainier National Park1.6M visitors a yearPhoto credits
Mount St. Helens: U.S. Forest Service- Pacific Northwest Region, Public domain · Spirit Lake: Matt Logan, Public domain · Mount Hood: Oregon's Mt. Hood Territory., Public domain · Mount St. Helens National Volcanic Monument: Lyn Topinka, Public domain · Mount Adams: USGS Photo by R. Iverson, USGS/CVO, Public domain · Multnomah Falls: John Fowler from Placitas, NM, USA, CC BY 2.0 · Moda Center: Lugnuts, CC BY-SA 3.0 · Mount Rainier National Park: Ricardo Martins from Gent, Belgium, CC BY 2.0
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Visiting Ape Canyon
What town is Ape Canyon near?
Cougar, WA, about 14 miles southwest.
When is the best time to visit Ape Canyon?
May, June, July, August and September, with highs of 65–78°.
How far is Ape Canyon from Portland and Seattle?
About 53 miles southwest of Portland and about 99 miles north of Seattle, as the crow flies.
What is the closest airport to Ape Canyon?
Portland (PDX), about 48 miles away.
Where should I stay near Ape Canyon?
Cougar (14 mi, 3 places to stay), Trout Lake (30 mi, 8 places to stay) and Mossyrock (29 mi, 4 places to stay).
Tips from people in Cougar
No tips yet. Ask, or answer, in Cougar’s Town Square.
Sources: National Park Service · ski areas © OpenSkiMap / OpenStreetMap contributors · Wikidata · Wikipedia readership · NOAA climate normals · U.S. Census.