As some hikes and outdoor adventures start to reopen, some are staying closed for the summer. Washington's Ape Caves, a three-mile hike through a lava tube and popular experience, has closed their doors "until further notice." They are planning to begin construction late this summer with no specific timeline. The trail has been shut down for several months now due to COVID-19 but continued to have red tape around the entrance, leaving some hikers and adventure seekers confused in the comments on AllTrails.com. A representative from the US Forest Service told Narcity that they are shutting down "until further notice" because of some construction happening in the caves later this summer. Ape Caves is a three-mile lava tube that was formed by lava from Mt. St. Helens. This spot is just a little bit over three hours south of Seattle. The caves formed nearly 2,000 years ago and were discovered in 1950 by a logger. The story goes as the "logger told his spelunker friend," who then explored the cave with his sons and friends, according to the Washington Trail Association. View this post on Instagram 40 years ago today, Washington went dark 🌋 • • • #mtsthelens #washingtonexplored #volcanoeruption #pnwdiscovered #thisdayinhistory #madewild #betterouthere #apecaves #neature #bestmountainartists #entertheadventure #nationalmonument #upperleftusa #westisbest #wanderwashington #nrthwest A post shared by Mackenzie Claire (@petrichornomad) on May 18, 2020 at 12:39pm PDT They called themselves the Mount St. Helens Apes, and the Ape Caves were born. View this post on Instagram Yooooo JVs get #deep when exploring caves. “Your light shines pretty far in caves and that’s also a metaphor for life.” ✨🍔🐻 A post shared by JVC Northwest Portland Mac (@mac_haus) on Mar 8, 2020 at 6:01pm PDT The hike is a chilly one, with temperatures sitting around 42 degrees all year long, so its good to come prepared with proper clothing. They also advise that people do not touch the walls or ceilings of the tubes as it kills the "slime" that feeds the food chain of tiny creatures inhabiting the cave. It's a popular spot for Washingtonians, so the closure is a bit of a bummer, especially as warmer weather approaches. View this post on Instagram “Each day is born with a sunrise and ends in a sunset, the same way we open our eyes to see the light, and close them to hear the dark. You have no control over how your story begins or ends. But by now, you should know that all things have an ending. Every spark returns to darkness. Every sound returns to silence. And every flower returns to sleep with the earth. The journey of the sun and moon is predictable. But yours, is your ultimate Art.” ~Suzy Kassem . #neverstopexploring A post shared by Joanna Pisarski (@runningneko) on Feb 16, 2020 at 8:02pm PST Not much else is known at this time, but stay tuned for updates on the Ape Caves, but in the meantime, you should explore all of the other beautiful wonders Washington has to offer.
