First of all, it should be mentioned that the Cascades are a mountain range that stretches from California, USA, to Canada. This range is famous for its cone volcanoes and the most beautiful scenery.
The Washington Cascades are very diverse; they were formed by pressure from the collision of two plates, the North American plate and the Juan de Fuca plate.
Mount Rainier, Mount St. Helens and Mount Adams are the most famous snow-capped volcanoes in the South Cascades. This part of the Cascades attracts numbers of tourists annually and is considered the most popular recreation area.
Mount Rainier National Park is the main attraction in this region and is visited by millions of visitors including climbers who try to reach Mount Rainier’s peak. It should be mentioned that the height of this mountain is 14, 410 feet.
Park also opens great opportunities for hikers. Here you can enjoy magnificent alpine scenery, deep forests, gorgeous meadows and peaceful lakes.
The park also offers very comfortable campgrounds and beautiful nature walks for the families.
Ninety seven percent of the park is wilderness which is preserved; it includes Mount Rainier Wilderness and Clearwater Wilderness.
Mount St. Helens is very popular among the hikers for its interesting and not difficult hiking routes. It should be mentioned that this volcano erupted in May 1980 and caused a lot of damage. After the eruption the territory around Mount St. Helens and the mountain itself received the status of U.S. National Monument – Mount St. Helens National Volcanic Monument. The monument was established on August 27, 1982 by President Ronald Reagan. This territory of 110, 000 acre was conserved for research, education and recreation.
The third famous volcano Mount Adams is situated in the southwestern part of this area in the center of the Mount Adams Wilderness. This mountain, the height of which is 12, 276 feet, is a very popular among climbers and hikers.
The upper part of Mount Adams has wonderful glaciers, beautiful alpine meadows and barren moraines.
On lower elevations most parts of the mountain is covered with forests. The top of the volcano is covered with ice and there are ten glaciers on the flanks of the mountain.
Lava flows are visible up to 10 km from the volcano. Takh Takh Lava Flow is the youngest lava flow that surrounds Mt. Adams. This 10-mile lava flow is about 3,000 years old. The Takh Takh Lava Flow is the youngest from the eruptions of a potentially active stratovolcano Mt.Adams.
- South Cascades, Mt. St. Helens, Hummocks Trail South Cascades, Mt. St. Helens, Hummocks Trail
- Mt. St. Helens, view from Harry's Ridge Trail, South Cascades Region Mt. St. Helens, view from Harry's Ridge Trail, South Cascades Region
- Takhlakh Lake - Mt. Adams Area, South Cascades Region Takhlakh Lake - Mt. Adams Area, South Cascades Region
- Burroughs Mountain Trail, Mount Rainier National Park Burroughs Mountain Trail, Mount Rainier National Park
- Cape Disappointment, Southwest Cape Disappointment, Southwest
- Starry sky at Cape Disappointment, Southwest Starry sky at Cape Disappointment, Southwest
- Crater of Mount St. Helens, South Cascades Region Crater of Mount St. Helens, South Cascades Region
- Glacier Cave, Glacier Basin Trail, South Cascades Glacier Cave, Glacier Basin Trail, South Cascades
- Views from Harry's Ridge Trail, South Cascades Region Views from Harry's Ridge Trail, South Cascades Region
- Harry's Ridge Trail, South Cascades Region Harry's Ridge Trail, South Cascades Region
- High Rock Lookout, South Cascades Region High Rock Lookout, South Cascades Region
- Hummocks Trail, South Cascades Region Hummocks Trail, South Cascades Region
- Hummocks Trail, Mt. St. Helens Area, South Cascades Region Hummocks Trail, Mt. St. Helens Area, South Cascades Region
- Mount Adams, South Cascades Region Mount Adams, South Cascades Region
- View of Mount Adams from Takhlakh Lake Loop Trail View of Mount Adams from Takhlakh Lake Loop Trail
- Mount Adams near Blue Lake Trail, South Cascades Mount Adams near Blue Lake Trail, South Cascades
- Flowers at Mount Rainier in late August, South Cascades Region Flowers at Mount Rainier in late August, South Cascades Region
- Mount Rainier from Alta Vista Trail, South Cascades Region Mount Rainier from Alta Vista Trail, South Cascades Region
- Mount Rainier from Reflection Lakes Trail Mount Rainier from Reflection Lakes Trail
- Reflection Lakes Trail, Late August, Mount Rainier National Park Reflection Lakes Trail, Late August, Mount Rainier National Park
- Views of Mount Rainier from Sourdough Ridge Trail, late August Views of Mount Rainier from Sourdough Ridge Trail, late August
- Gorgeous Mount St. Helens Gorgeous Mount St. Helens
- Mount St. Helens from Elk Rock Viewpoint Mount St. Helens from Elk Rock Viewpoint
- Mount St. Helens from Hummocks Trail Mount St. Helens from Hummocks Trail
- Mount St. Helens, Johnston Harrys Ridge Trail, South Cascades Mount St. Helens, Johnston Harrys Ridge Trail, South Cascades
- Mount St. Helens from Johnston Ridge Observatory, South Cascades Mount St. Helens from Johnston Ridge Observatory, South Cascades
- Mount St. Helens from Johnston Harrys Ridge Trail, South Cascades Region Mount St. Helens from Johnston Harrys Ridge Trail, South Cascades Region
- Mount St. Helens from Johnston Ridge Observatory Mount St. Helens from Johnston Ridge Observatory
- Mt. Adams and Takhlakh Lake Loop Trail Mt. Adams and Takhlakh Lake Loop Trail
- Mt. St. Helens from Johnston Ridge Observatory Mt. St. Helens from Johnston Ridge Observatory
- Mt St. Helens, South Cascades Region Mt St. Helens, South Cascades Region
- Mount St. Hellens, South Cascades Mount St. Hellens, South Cascades
- Mount St. Helens, Sunset, South Cascades Mount St. Helens, Sunset, South Cascades
- Palisades Lake Trail, South Cascades Palisades Lake Trail, South Cascades
- Reflection Lakes Area in Mount Rainier National Park Reflection Lakes Area in Mount Rainier National Park
- Reflection Lakes Trail, Mount Rainier National Park Reflection Lakes Trail, Mount Rainier National Park
- Reflection Lakes, Paradise Area, Mount Rainier National Park Reflection Lakes, Paradise Area, Mount Rainier National Park
- Paradise Area, Reflection Lakes, South Cascades Paradise Area, Reflection Lakes, South Cascades
- Mount Rainier National Park, Reflection Lakes Mount Rainier National Park, Reflection Lakes
- View from Reflection Lakes Trail, Autumn, Mount Rainier National Park View from Reflection Lakes Trail, Autumn, Mount Rainier National Park
- State Route 161, South Cascades State Route 161, South Cascades
- Gorgeous moon, August 10, 2014 Gorgeous moon, August 10, 2014
- Tolmie Peak Lookout Trail, Mount Rainier National Park Tolmie Peak Lookout Trail, Mount Rainier National Park
- View of Mt. Rainier from summit of Crystal Mountain resort View of Mt. Rainier from summit of Crystal Mountain resort
- Washington State International Kite Festival, Long Beach, Southwest Washington State International Kite Festival, Long Beach, Southwest
- Kite Festival in Long Beach, Southwest Kite Festival in Long Beach, Southwest
- Stunning waterfall at Mount Rainier Area Stunning waterfall at Mount Rainier Area
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