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 | 875 | $280K |
| Morton | 26 mi north | 40 min | 2 2 motels | 1,206 | $301K |
Day trip from
Straight-line miles.
Getting there
Nearest airports with airline service
Also near Ape Canyon
Other well-known places within 67 miles.
48 mi🏞 National ParkMount Rainier National Park1.6M visitors a year
38 mi🏜 Canyon & gorgeColumbia River Gorge
39 mi🌊 DamBonneville Dam
66 mi💧 WaterfallCelilo Falls
59 mi⛷ Ski areaCrystal Mountain85 runs · 2,389 ft vertical
38 mi🌲 State parkBeacon Rock State Park
48 mi🏛 National Historic SiteFort Vancouver National Historic Site1.1M visitors a year⛷64 mi⛷ Ski areaMt. Hood Meadows Ski Resort94 runs · 2,775 ft verticalPhoto credits
Mount Rainier National Park: Ricardo Martins from Gent, Belgium, CC BY 2.0 · Columbia River Gorge: Hux, Public domain · Bonneville Dam: U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Public domain · Celilo Falls: United States Army Corps of Engineers., Public domain · Crystal Mountain: ZhengZhou, CC BY-SA 3.0 · Beacon Rock State Park: U.S. Geological Survey, Public domain · Fort Vancouver National Historic Site: Another Believer, CC BY-SA 4.0
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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 · photos via Wikimedia Commons · NOAA climate normals · U.S. Census.