The volcano that famously erupted in 1980 still bears a dramatic horseshoe-shaped crater. Its blast zone and rebuilding forests are visible on Pacific Northwest flights.
Routes that pass it214
SEA → SMF
Both
SMF → SEA
Both
SAC → SEA
Both
SEA → SAC
Both
SMF → BFI
Both
PDX → PRG
Both
PRG → PDX
Both
MCC → SEA
Both
SEA → MCC
Both
SEA → SJC
Both
SJC → SEA
Both
PDX → ARN
Both
FRA → PDX
Both
PDX → FRA
Both
AMS → PDX
Both
OAK → SEA
Both
PAE → SFO
Both
PDX → AMS
Both
SEA → OAK
Both
SFO → PAE
Both
SNA → YYJ
Both
YYJ → SNA
Both
BFI → SFO
Left
FCO → PDX
Right
PDX → FCO
Left
PDX → RKV
Left
SFO → BFI
Right
KEF → PDX
Right
PDX → KEF
Left
SEA → SFO
Left
SFO → SEA
Right
LAX → YVR
Left
LHR → PDX
Right
PDX → LHR
Left
YVR → LAX
Right
SBA → SEA
Left
SEA → SBA
Right
BFI → DXB
Right
DUB → PDX
Right
DXB → BFI
Left
DXB → SEA
Left
PDX → DUB
Left
SEA → STS
Left
STS → SEA
Right
FAT → SEA
Left
SEA → FAT
Right
SCL → CDC
Left
MFR → SEA
Right
SEA → MFR
Left
SNA → YVR
Left
YVR → SNA
Right
BFI → DOH
Right
DOH → BFI
Left
DOH → SEA
Left
PDX → MAD
Left
SEA → DOH
Right
BFI → PDX
Left
DXB → SFO
Right
LAX → SEA
Left
PDX → BFI
Right
PDX → SEA
Right
SEA → LAX
Right
SEA → PDX
Left
SFO → DXB
Left
BUR → SEA
Left
DXB → YXX
Left
HND → SLC
Left
PAE → PDX
Left
PDX → PAE
Right
RNO → SEA
Left
SEA → BUR
Right
SEA → RNO
Right
SLC → HND
Right
YXX → DXB
Right
LGB → SEA
Left
SEA → LGB
Right
BFI → LAX
Right
BFI → RNO
Right
IAH → KTG
Right
LAX → BFI
Left
RDM → SEA
Left
RNO → BFI
Left
SAN → YVR
Left
SEA → ATQ
Left
SEA → RDM
Right
YVR → SAN
Right
DWC → SFO
Right
NRT → SLC
Left
PDX → LIS
Left
SEA → SNA
Right
SLC → NRT
Right
SNA → SEA
Left
MHR → YVR
Right
PDX → STS
Left
YVR → MHR
Left
BLI → PDX
Left
GEG → OGG
Right
OGG → GEG
Left
BFI → SNA
Right
DEL → YVR
Right
EDF → PHX
Left
JNU → TCM
Right
NZY → SEA
Left
ONT → SEA
Left
PHX → EDF
Right
SEA → NZY
Right
SEA → ONT
Right
SNA → BFI
Left
TCM → JNU
Left
YVR → DEL
Left
PDX → SFO
Left
SAN → SEA
Left
SEA → SAN
Right
SFO → PDX
Right
DEL → SEA
Right
SEA → DEL
Left
BFI → SAN
Right
OAK → PDX
Right
ONT → BFI
Left
PDX → OAK
Left
SAN → BFI
Left
EUG → SEA
Right
PDX → SJC
Left
SEA → EUG
Left
SJC → PDX
Right
SEA → AJI
Right
SMF → YVR
Right
YVR → SMF
Left
ANC → PHX
Left
LAX → PAE
Left
PAE → LAX
Right
PHX → ANC
Right
PDX → SMF
Left
PDX → YVR
Right
SMF → PDX
Right
YVR → PDX
Left
ACV → BFI
Right
MLE → SEA
Right
PDX → SAC
Left
PSP → SEA
Left
SAC → PDX
Right
SEA → MLE
Left
SEA → PSP
Right
GEG → PDX
Right
KOA → PDX
Left
PDX → GEG
Left
PDX → KOA
Right
PDX → SBP
Left
PIX → PDX
Right
SBP → PDX
Right
SEA → YZF
Right
OGG → PDX
Left
PDX → OGG
Right
FCO → YEG
Right
YEG → FCO
Left
HNL → PDX
Left
LIS → YYC
Left
PDX → HNL
Right
PDX → SBA
Left
SBA → PDX
Right
YYC → LIS
Right
PDX → SYD
Right
LIH → PDX
Left
PDX → LIH
Right
HEL → SEA
Left
LAX → PDX
Right
PDX → LAX
Left
SEA → HEL
Right
BUR → PDX
Right
DEL → PDX
Left
MAA → SEA
Right
PDX → BUR
Left
SEA → MAA
Left
PDX → SNA
Left
SNA → PDX
Right
ONT → PDX
Right
PDX → ONT
Left
PDX → RNO
Left
PDX → SAN
Left
RNO → PDX
Right
SAN → PDX
Right
PDX → PSC
Left
PDX → PSP
Left
PSP → PDX
Right
SEA → SJD
Right
SJD → SEA
Left
PDX → MSO
Left
PWM → PDX
Right
LAS → SEA
Left
SEA → LAS
Right
SFO → YVR
Right
YVR → SFO
Left
BOS → PDX
Right
FAI → PDX
Left
PDX → BOS
Left
PDX → FAI
Right
AYT → SEA
Left
BDL → PDX
Right
HLN → PDX
Right
IST → SEA
Left
PDX → HLN
Left
SAW → SEA
Left
SEA → AYT
Right
SEA → IST
Right
SEA → SAW
Right
YYZ → PDX
Right
BFI → SJD
Right
EIL → SEA
Right
FAI → SEA
Right
PDX → SJD
Left
SEA → EIL
Left
SEA → FAI
Left
SJD → BFI
Left
SJD → PDX
Right
Tip: Visibility depends on cloud cover, time of day, and how close the flight path comes. Sit on the listed side for the best chance of a view. Morning and evening flights often offer the best lighting.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can you see Mount St. Helens from a plane?
Yes — 214 flight routes pass within 60 km of Mount St. Helens. The closest routes include Seattle to Sacramento, Sacramento to Seattle, Sacramento to Seattle. Sit on the Both side.
Which side of the plane is best for viewing Mount St. Helens?
The best side varies by route. For the most common routes near Mount St. Helens: on a Seattle to Sacramento flight, sit on the Both side; on a Sacramento to Seattle flight, sit on the Both side; on a Sacramento to Seattle flight, sit on the Both side.