Camping at Swift Reservoir

This week I went camping at Swift Reservoir with Erin, Sal (and Darin a bit) and her two kids Rachel and Nathan. Swift is located just south east of Mount St. Helens in its National Volcanic Monument as part of Lewis River.

Mount St. Helens National Volcanic Monument

Normally we take the boat and camp in a remote spot on the reservoir but they have let a large amount of water out (probably due to the small snow cap) so it was extremely dificult to get to the more remote camp sites (since the reservoir is man made the banks are quite steep and the water was down a good 20-25 vertical feet from normal). Camping at the actual Swift Campground made it easy for us to check out some of the other sites in the Mount St. Helens National Volcanic Monument.

Lower (Lewis River) falls, Ape Cave lava tube, and McClellan viewpoint were all visited. We also did the usual swimming, hiking, eating (lots), playing around, and staring into the fire.

And now for the pictures! (All are clickable for larger versions)

Swift Reservoir Campground
Swift Reservoir Camp
Swift Reservoir Camp
A little mid day marshmellow roasting?
Swift Reservoir Camp
Nathan eying a chipmunk… or is it the other way around?
Swift Reservoir Camp
Erin and Rachel sneaking a snapshot.

The Lewis River Lower Falls
Lower Falls
Lower Falls
Rachel posing.
Additional Images: Lower Falls #1, Lower Falls #2, Lower Falls #3.

In the Ape Cave lava tubes
Ape Cave
Snack break at the end of the cave. Nathan and Rachel are quite ready to turn around!
Ape Cave
On our way out.
Ape Cave
Nathan and Rachel posing at the entrance to the Ape Cave.

Mount St. Helens from McClellan Viewpoint
Mount St. Helens
Mount St. Helens
Mount St. Helens
Mount St. Helens

All in all, this was a great, relaxing week of just hanging out. How can you go wrong? Aside from my my car becoming extremely friendly with a deer and me not being able to find my passport and student visa (which could REALLY suck) the week was quite pleasant and a good vacation before heading up to Vancouver for the start of fall term back at Regent.

Ή χάρις του κυρίου ημων Ίησου Χριστου μεθ’ υμων.


Categories: Daily Life, Photoblog
  1. September 10th, 2005 at 12:17 | #1

    So, aside from the wrecked car and missing papers this was a “good vacation”? Just think, if we hadn’t wrecked your car this could have been the best vacation of all time. And as much as he likes to tease me about the postman, they are Darin’s kids too. :)

  2. September 10th, 2005 at 18:35 | #2

    Heh, well the loss of my papers really had nothing to do with the vacation I don’t think, so I won’t count that against it. And even the car thing, really, its just a car, it will be fixed.

    Really, Darin has no way to get out of being their dad (and of course, he really wouldn’t want to!) so he will just have to accept that he is just as responsible for them as you ;)

  3. ALEXIS
    May 3rd, 2007 at 13:33 | #3

    CAMPING AT SWIFT RESERVOIR IS VERY FUN MY FAMILY GOES THERE EVERY SUMMER.
    I HOPE U GO BACK BECAUSE IT IS AMAZING THERE. AND NOT TO MENTION IT SOUNDS LIKE U HAD FUN

  4. May 3rd, 2007 at 13:42 | #4

    Thanks! Yeah, we had a lot of fun and will hopefully going back this summer! :)

  5. terry
    June 22nd, 2011 at 17:27 | #5

    @ALEXIS
    is the lake good for water skiing, are there stumps in the lake???? and are the campsites good for tent camping?? just would like to know. thank u

  6. September 28th, 2012 at 19:00 | #6

    @terry
    There are stumps, but assuming the water level is normal, you never really have to worry about them, especially away from the shore (it gets deep pretty quickly). Campsites are definitely good for tent camping.

  1. September 1st, 2006 at 00:55 | #1
  2. September 18th, 2006 at 21:21 | #2
  3. June 22nd, 2008 at 22:07 | #3

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