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Less than a two-hour drive from Camas, Mount St. Helens is best known for its 1980 eruption, which blew its pointed tip straight off. Visitors can learn about the eruption and about volcanoes in general at the mountain's visitor center or explore the Ape Cave, the longest continuous lava tube in the continental United States.
On the Oregon side of the Columbia, Mount Hood is among the most popular ski destinations in the Pacific Northwest, with slopes for all skill levels along with snow-tubing hills and a summertime alpine slide. It’s also a great place for summertime hiking. Cinema fans won’t want to forego a visit to the mountain’s Timberline Lodge, where The Shining was filmed.
Camas is at its warmest and driest in the summer months, particularly if you want to go swimming in the nearby Washougal River. July and August are almost always hot and dry, but it’s always wise to be prepared for rain or overcast days. If you plan to camp in the area, but don’t want to deal with crowds, September’s a great time to do it, as most schools in the area start up right after Labor Day.