Ariel, WA

Travel Guide

Yale Reservoir with the pump house in the middle distance.
Yale Reservoir with the pump house in the middle distance.
The Yale Reservoir and its downstream cousin, Lake Merwin are the summer playgrounds for boaters, fishermen and water sports enthusiasts. That they both happen to be nestled in the Mt St Helens foothills adds an element of drama to the landscape that you won't find many other places.
Yale Lake , Cougar , WA
Cozy Rustic Getaway with Year-Round Recreation

Cozy Rustic Getaway with Year-Round Recreation

Ariel WA
Book a stay at this family-friendly guesthouse in Ariel. Enjoy free WiFi, a garden, and laundry facilities. Popular attraction Cedar Creek Grist Mill is located ...
9.8/10 Exceptional! (42 reviews)
Our host was super responsive and helpful. The cabin has everything and more that we need to be comfortable.

Reviewed on Dec 28, 2025

Get rates
Cozy Rustic Getaway with Year-Round Recreation
Best Western Oak Meadows Inn

Best Western Oak Meadows Inn

2.5 out of 5
585 S Columbia River Highway St. Helens OR
$81 nightly
The price is $90 total per night from Feb 8 to Feb 9
$90 total
Feb 8 - Feb 9
Total with taxes and fees
Book a stay at this business-friendly hotel in St. Helens. Enjoy free breakfast, free parking, and a fitness center. Our guests praise the breakfast and the ...
8.2/10 Very Good! (1,001 reviews)
Room was clean. Staff friendly. Internet good.

Reviewed on Jan 11, 2026

Best Western Oak Meadows Inn
Ilani

Ilani

3.5 out of 5
1 Cowlitz Way Ridgefield WA
Fully refundableReserve now, pay when you stay
$151 nightly
The price is $170 total per night from Jan 26 to Jan 27
$170 total
Jan 26 - Jan 27
Total with taxes and fees
Book a stay at this family-friendly hotel in Ridgefield. Enjoy free WiFi, free parking, and 12 restaurants. Our guests praise the helpful staff and the clean ...
9.2/10 Wonderful! (713 reviews)
Yes

Reviewed on Jan 10, 2026

Ilani
See all 268 properties in Ariel
Lowest nightly price found within the past 24 hours based on a 1 night stay for 2 adults. Prices and availability subject to change. Additional terms may apply.
The Carpenter's Cottage- Serene; 2Bed, 1 bath, w/hot tub!

The Carpenter's Cottage- Serene; 2Bed, 1 bath, w/hot tub!

Rainier OR
Stay at this apartment in Rainier. Enjoy a garden, laundry facilities, and balconies. Popular attractions Rainier City Park and Rainier Marina are located ...
9.6/10 Exceptional! (17 reviews)
Our host, Dustin was amazing! So kind and welcoming! The house and amenities were perfect! We were very comfortable and would definitely recommend to others and stay here again!

Reviewed on Dec 22, 2025

The Carpenter's Cottage- Serene; 2Bed, 1 bath, w/hot tub!
526 Brand New, Luxury, Private, ADA accsessible Home Rental - 3 minutes off I-5

526 Brand New, Luxury, Private, ADA accsessible Home Rental - 3 minutes off I-5

Woodland WA
Book a stay at this family-friendly vacation home in Woodland. Enjoy free WiFi, laundry facilities, and patios. Popular attractions Hulda Klager Lilac Gardens ...
10/10 Exceptional! (61 reviews)
This place is awesome!! Everything you need and more.

Reviewed on Dec 14, 2025

526 Brand New, Luxury, Private, ADA accsessible Home Rental - 3 minutes off I-5
Vintage villa-Country Living Guesthouse

Vintage villa-Country Living Guesthouse

Warren OR
Book a stay at this family-friendly villa in Warren. Enjoy free WiFi, a garden, and an in-room coffeemaker. Popular attractions McCormick Park and Collins Beach ...
9.6/10 Exceptional! (37 reviews)
Never met her face to face, just texts. The pillows were like sleeping on a slab of concrete.She had toiletries, drinks and snacks available.

Reviewed on Dec 28, 2025

Vintage villa-Country Living Guesthouse
See all properties in Ariel
Lowest nightly price found within the past 24 hours based on a 1 night stay for 2 adults. Prices and availability subject to change. Additional terms may apply.

Cities near Ariel

Mount St. Helens showing landscape views, mountains and views

Stevenson

This year marks the thirty-fifth anniversary of the eruption of Mt. Saint Helens. As you can imagine, the place is buzzing with tourists even more so than usual. But if all you want to do is get a clear look at a mighty big chunk of it, you could do worse than to travel the back roads around Cougar and look up from time to time. This photo was taken at the Yale Reservoir, probably about 3 or 4 miles outside Cougar, Washington. There are trails and vantage points all through the area, some of them marked, some, not so much. If you don't like the view in one place, just move onto the next. And if you feel the tug too hard from the visitor centers and the souvenir shop, they're just a short drive away. But give the countryside a try first. The views are so beautiful, you may never get to those tourist centers after all.

Cougar

Sandhill Crane splitting the atmosphere with its massive wings. A group of about twenty of these flew no more than 25 feet over my head. Of course, their back was to the sun, so all that subtle, rich color in the under part of the wings was lost. No denying the majesty of the bird, though. (PS: and forgive me. The Trover crop factor on extra wide shots took effect on this one.)

Woodland

2017

Kalama

Explore a world of travel with Expedia