Bound around on Mount St. Helens’ dangly parts. If you’re up for a memorable adventure that entails a badass hour and forty minute drive from Hood River (motocycles are highly-recommended), and a 5.5 mile mini-mountaineering-style expedition, then pack some treats and head for St. Helens.

The Worm Flows that roll down Mount St. Helens’ southeast flank are long rippling surges of once-fiery lava that create a remarkably gnarly environment that makes for fun exploration.

The Trail Doggs chilled with kibbles in the sun for a bit, watching climbers inch to the summit like ants on a giant pile of sugar. There are lots of animal noises to be heard in this wilderness, including the whooping and hollering of peeps super-sliding down the mountain. Fun times all around.

Explore a geological oddity >>

This hike is rough & tumble, so no small kiddos or baby-style dogs.

The hike begins at the June Lake Trailhead with a gradual climb through a young fir forest along June Creek for 1.3 miles. After a wooden bridge crosses the rushing creek, you’ll arrive at sweet little June Lake. A waterfall cascades down on the far side of the crystal clear lake, so it even sounds pretty. Nice place to chill and the destination for most hikers. We forge on.

Continue on the west side of the lake and follow the trail into the woods as it switchbacks up and over the spring that feeds June Lake’s waterfall. After another .5 mile, turn left at the trial junction onto the Loowit Trail, also marked Ptarmigan Trail No. 216A.

For about a mile, carefully hop, skip and jump your way across the Worm Flows like a mountain goat, following cairns and white plastic poles. The lava trail is rugged and will keep you on your toes (or toss you on your nose).

The trail winds down into the forest and you arrive at Chocolate Falls at mile 3.3. Before Chocolate Falls dries up at night, it spills into this rocky canyon scoured by floods when Mount St. Helens erupted in 1980.

Continue down along the canyon for .5 mile before turning left on the Pika Trail. An irked squirrel chewed me out here, and squeaked to get this little bunny rabbit cat dog away from her tree. (Really!) The Pika Trail peters out, and you’re back to mountain-goating again for about .5 mile before you loop back up with June lake at mile 4. Enjoy a beer or cup of vino by the lake, then amble the last 1.3 mile back to the car. Enjoy some tunes and the return drive!

How do you like it? Post your comments below or write to Trail Doggs at traildoggsinthewoods@yahoo.com