Washington State Parks

Park overview:

Seaquest State Park is a 475-acre, year-round camping park near Mount St. Helens. The beautifully forested park claims over a mile of Silver Lake shoreline, a shallow wetland lake. Enjoy one mile of wetland trail and six miles of woodland trails for hiking and bicycling; see spectacular views of wildlife, Silver Lake and the surrounding area. There are also children's play areas and playing fields. Great seasonal fishing, boating and swimming are available nearby.

Want to support Washington State Parks? Get involved by joining a friends' group. For more information, visit the Friends' Group web page.

Park hours/updates:

Summer: 8 a.m. to dusk.
Winter: 8 a.m. to dusk.

The park is open year round for camping and day use. Some campsites are closed in the winter.

Camping:
Check-in time, 2:30 p.m.
Check-out time, 1 p.m.
Quiet hours: 10 p.m. to 6:30 a.m.

Agency information:

Don't move firewood: Please protect the Pacific Northwest from invasive species by obtaining or purchasing your firewood at or near your camping destination (within 50 miles). Firewood can carry insects and diseases that threaten the health of our western forests. You can make a difference by buying and burning your firewood locally. For more information, visit online at www.dontmovefirewood.org or the Washington Invasive Species Council website.

Campsite Information:

The park has 55 tent spaces, 33 utility spaces, five yurts, one dump station, five restrooms (four ADA) and six showers (four ADA). Maximum site length is 50 feet (may have limited availability). The north, south and mid-camp loops are in forest settings. Reservations are suggested in the summer. To make a reservation, visit online or call (888) CAMPOUT or (888) 226-7688.

Group Accommodations:

The group camp offers a covered shelter for tables, a tent area, a fire pit, two braziers and hose bib. Rates are $2 per person with a $40 (plus tax) minimum, maximum capacity 25. The camp is reservable May 15 through Sept. 15 by visiting online or calling (888) CAMPOUT or (888) 226-7688. The remainder of the year, the group camp is available on a first-come, first-served basis.

Overnight Accommodations

The five yurts are situated in a wooded area of the park and are within walking distance of the Mount St. Helens Visitor Center. Each yurt is 16 feet in diameter by 10 feet high and is furnished with a queen-size futon, a bunk bed that sleeps three, small end table and heater. Outside is a picnic table and fire pit with grate. All yurts are heated, but visitors should take along blankets and warm clothing as evenings can be cool. For more information visit the cabins/yurts page To make a reservation, visit online or call (888) CAMPOUT or (888) 226-7688.

2013 camping fees:

Please note that the following general fee information is not customized for each individual park, so not all fees will apply to all parks (for example, primitive campsite and dump station fees listed apply only to parks that have primitive campsites and dump stations).

May 15 – Sept. 15 (peak season)
Primitive campsite and water trail camping: $12
Standard campsite: $23 non-premium site, $26 premium site
Partial-utility campsite*: $30 non-premium site, $35 premium site
Full-utility campsite*: $32 non-premium site, $37 premium site
*Please note: Camping fees during the 2013 peak season are $28 for partial-utility sites and $29 for full-utility sites at Beacon Rock, Lewis & Clark and Schafer state parks. These parks are first come, first served.

Jan. 1 – May 14 and Sept. 16 – Dec. 31 (off-peak season)
Primitive campsite and water trail camping: $12
Standard campsite: $22 for non-premium and premium sites
Partial-utility campsite: $28 for non-premium and premium sites
Full-utility campsite: $29 for non-premium and premium sites

Maximum eight people per campsite.

Second vehicle: $10 per night is charged for a second vehicle unless it is towed by a recreational vehicle. Extra vehicles must be parked in designated campsite or extra vehicle parking spaces.

Dump stations (if available): Year-round dump station fees are $5 per use. If you are camping, this fee is included in your campsite fee.

More about park hours
Check-in time is 2:30 p.m., and check-out time is 1 p.m.
Quiet hours are from 10 p.m. to 6:30 a.m.
Engine-driven electric generators may be operated only between the hours of 8 a.m. and 9 p.m.
Length of stay: You may stay up to ten consecutive days in any one park from April 1 through Sept. 30; the stay limit is extended to 20 days between Oct. 1 and March 31.

To view campsites and facilities reservable at this park, visit the reservation system and campsite maps.

Park Features

The major draw to this park is Mount St. Helens. An outstanding interpretive center details history and geology of the volcano. An ADA-compliant trail opens to a view across Silver Lake of Mount St. Helens. There is excellent wildlife viewing in both wetland and lowland forest habitats.

History

The property was willed to Washington state upon the death of Alfred L. Seaquest, the owner of the family homestead. Seaquest stipulated in his will that if liquor were ever sold on the property, the land would "revert to the ownership of Willamette University."

Interpretive opportunities

The Mount St. Helens Visitor Center is located across the road from the park entrance. It was incorporated into the state park system in October 2000. The center focuses on information about the volcano and features a first-rate exhibition hall and a 15-minute film presentation of the 1980 eruption.

Services/Supplies

Available in the park	Available in the area
• Camping • Pay phone • Fire wood	• Auto repair • Boat rental • Camping • Diesel • Fishing/hunting • Gasoline • Gifts • Groceries • Hardware • Hospital • Overnight Accommodations • Pay phone • Postal service • Propane • Recreational equipment • Wood

Most services can be found in Castle Rock, six miles west of the park.

Activities

Trails	Water Activities	Other
• 1 mi. ADA Hiking Trails • 7 mi. Hiking Trails		• 1 Amphitheater • Bird Watching • 6 Horseshoe pits • 1 Volleyball Field
Mount St. Helens Visitor Center and two children's play areas.

Events

Events
Date/time	Event description	State Park
Daily event Memorial Day - Labor Day	Interpretive Programs: Interpretive staff cover an array of topics relating to the 1980 eruption of Mount St. Helens, ongoing volcanic activity, scientific monitoring efforts, landscape recovery topics and Pacific Northwest Cascade volcanism.	Seaquest, Mount St. Helens Visitor Center (360) 274-0962

Find other events at Washington State Parks

Boating Features

The closest public-access boat ramp is operated by the Department of Fish and Wildlife. It is located five miles east of Seaquest on Highway 504.

Picnic and Day-use Facilities

There is one reservable kitchen shelter with electricity and one first come, first served shelter without electricity available. The park also has 127 unsheltered picnic tables. To make a reservation, visit online or call (888) CAMPOUT or (888) 226-7688.

Wildlife

Mammals	Birds	Fish & Sea Life
• Bears • Coyotes • Deer or Elk • Foxes • Rabbits • Raccoons • Skunks • Squirrels	• Crows or Ravens • Ducks • Eagles • Geese • Grouse • Hawks • Herons • Hummingbirds • Jays • Ospreys • Owls • Woodpeckers • Wrens	• Bass • Bluegill • Catfish • Crappie • Perch • Trout

Environmental Features

Physical Features		Plant Life
The park is on the shores of Silver Lake, which was formed when a previous eruption of Mount St. Helens permanently dammed Silver Creek. Silver Lake is only ten feet deep.		• Cedar • Douglas Fir • Hemlock • Yew • Alder • Apple • Cherry • Maple • Daisy • Foxglove • Lupines • Orchids • Paintbrush • Rhododendron • Rose • Berries • Ferns • Moss or Lichens • Thistle