SUCK ON SUMMER GOODNESS: Ape Caves

By Jackie Fender on July 1, 2011

HIGHLIGHT FROM OUR SUMMER GUIDE >>>

If you aren't scared of the dark, or the possibility of running into Sasquatch (as this is his rumored stomping grounds, and this is not a beef jerky commercial nor is John Lithgow your dad), grab your hiking gear and flashlights and visit the Ape Caves, located at Mount St. Helens.

Boasting the longest lava tube in the United States, with over two miles of underground hiking made possible by scorching hot magma that traveled through thousands of years ago, the Ape Caves are less scenic and more adventurous.

The first part of the cave hike is a cinch - a bit chilly but pretty much a nice, dark walk through the lava-created cave, complete with slimy walls. It's a neat, roughly hour-long experience. The second cave, however, is not for the faint of heart. Think: boulder piles, an eight-foot lava fall and two and a half hours of pitch black, athletic activity. There's a reason three light sources are recommended along with extra batteries, lest you intend on trapping yourself in a horror flick starring creatures of the deep.

After your adventure you can take in some sunshine and the local scenery that involves trees. 

LINK: Summer guide 2011