By Holly Weiler

Cover photo courtesy of Holly Weiler

Mount Spokane State Park transitions to a winter wonderland each December as the alpine ski area opens for the season, grooming begins on the vast Nordic trail system and all of the summer hiking trails not touched by those two systems become snowshoe trails. There are also a couple of bonus trails for winter—trails that do not exist during the summer recreation season.  

Tucked into the back corner of the Lower Selkirk Sno-Park lot is Trail 260, a special, winter-only snowshoe trail. This trail begins in Mount Spokane State Park but crosses onto Inland Empire Paper Company (IEP) land that is only accessible in winter via a special-use agreement with Washington State Parks to allow winter recreation on IEP land. No dirt was moved in the creation of this wooded path, but that’s the beauty of a snowshoe trail—the path is best once the powder becomes deep. 

The trail can be somewhat tricky to navigate in the early season before the snow has piled up. Wait until the snow depth is at least 3 feet, enough to cover alder along the trail, before giving this route a try. The trail begins under a dense tree canopy near the Sno-Park lot, staying parallel to Linder Ridge briefly before intersecting an old logging road that drops down the hill. At the bottom, the trail exits into an old logging area beginning to grow in with a mix of young trees. Western larch will lack needles in winter, but there is also a mix of western white pine, hemlock and grand fir. The route makes a short figure eight on IEP property at the bottom of the descent and is among the quietest snowshoe trails, generally offering solitude not found elsewhere in the park. The only drawback? This is a trail that begins with a downhill trek, which means the return trip is a bit of a climb. Round-trip distance is approximately 3 miles with 600 feet of elevation gain. 

Getting There:  

From Spokane, take State Route 206 (Mount Spokane Highway) to the park entrance. Continue 3.4 miles beyond the park office to the Lower Selkirk Sno-Park lot. The trail begins at the northeast corner of the lot. 

Holly Weiler is the Eastern Washington Region Senior Coordinator for Washington Trails Association. Between Nordic skiing and snowshoe outings, she spends practically all of her free time at Mount Spokane each winter.  

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By Holly Weiler

Cover photo courtesy of Holly Weiler

Hauser Conservation Area might be accused of being a bait-and-switch misnomer of a park: the name is so firmly associated with a lake in next-door Idaho, that visitors may have some unmet expectations. So, first, what this conservation area is not: it’s not in Idaho, although it is close; it does not offer lake access, nor even a lake view. But it does offer a low-key, quiet hike that’s perfect for fall shoulder season, with well-maintained access if our region receives wet or even snowy fall weather.  

In fact, a visit here following one of the first deep rainfall events of fall is among my favorite outings. The conservation area itself has a very diverse forest and is a great place to visit to look for fall mushrooms. I cannot speak to the edibility of any of the mushrooms one might find, but I find all of them very photogenic.  

The property was acquired in two phases through Spokane County’s Conservation Futures program, with the purchase completed in 2018. A parking area was added in 2020 and numerous upgrades to the loop trail on the property were made by volunteers with Washington Trails Association in the years since. The conservation area is small, at just 192 acres, with less than two total trail miles. However, those looking for a longer hike can explore the adjacent Department of Natural Resources (DNR) property.  

The DNR property has a walkable system of former logging roads and lacks any trail markers, so it’s easiest to add on an out-and-back hike until becoming familiar with the area. While it’s primarily a second-growth forest, some of the western white pine trees here are among the largest one can find in Spokane County. (Note that hunting is a permitted activity on the DNR property; wear hunter orange if visiting during hunting season.) 

The best fall colors and mushroom peeping occurs within Hauser Conservation Area itself. A small part of the property was formerly a tree farm, and the rest has been logged in the distant past but has regrown with a dense tree canopy including hemlock, cedar, and western white pine in the low areas, along with a few drier and rockier outcroppings that are primarily Ponderosa pine. Look in the understory in the wetter trail sections to find the best mushrooms, plus watch in the higher openings for the last of the wildflowers as fall transitions to winter. 

Getting There: From Spokane, travel Trent eastbound to Starr Road in Otis Orchards. Take Starr north toward Newman Lake, then take a slight right on E. Hauser Lake Rd. Turn left on Koth Rd. and follow the signs to the Conservation Area. 

Holly Weiler is the Eastern Washington Region Senior Coordinator for Washington Trails Association. When not leading trail work crews this fall, find her rushing to harvest everything in the garden before the first frost, along with chasing fall colors on regional trails. 

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Many years in the making, Mount Spokane’s Trail 182 is ready for visitors! Initially included in Mount Spokane State Parks’ trail plan over a decade ago, and after several summer seasons of build work, the trail wrapped up construction in the late fall of 2024. However, summer is the prime time to visit this lushly forested trail on the southwest side of the park. Start from the quiet Green Bluff entrance where Day Mount Spokane Road dead ends at a park gate. Hike a short distance up the old double track road, originally a main park entrance and now a service road plus hiking trail, watching for the new trail signs for Trail 182 on the left approximately 0.2 miles beyond the gate. 

The trail ascends gradually, gaining over 900’ elevation in 3.2 miles. There are occasional peekaboo views into the distance, but the main attraction of this trail is the diverse forest. Despite the trail never crossing running water, this side of the park hosts a beautiful and lush old growth forest featuring cedars in the wettest areas, giant ponderosa pines in the drier sections, and Douglas fir and grand fir throughout. In June, the forest floor is additionally carpeted in arnica blooms with the occasional lingering calypso orchid. By July and August, watch for spiky pine drops and vivid white ghost pipes, plants that thrive in the shady forest despite having no green leaves because they are parasitic rather than relying on chlorophyll for nutrients. As the summer progresses, the understory of ninebark is among the first to begin to show hints of fall colors to come. 

At the top of the climb, Trail 182 intersects Kit Carson Loop Road about a mile west of Smith Gap. Hikers can choose to remain on singletrack by turning around and retracing the route back to the bottom, or can make a loop of it by turning right and hiking downhill on the Kit Carson Loop Road until reaching the junction with the Day Mountain Road (a park trail from the trailhead gate). Descend Day Mountain Road to return to the start, passing a picnic area and historic marker along the way. The full loop totals 6.5 miles.  

Getting There: From Green Bluff, follow Day Mount Spokane Road 4.9 miles to where it joins Big Meadows Road. Turn right and continue 1.9 miles on Day Mount Spokane to a 3-way intersection with poor signage. The middle road is the continuation of Day Mount Spokane, which becomes narrow in its last 0.5 miles to where it dead-ends at a park gate. Park well to the side and do not block the gate. 

Holly Weiler is the Eastern Washington Region senior coordinator for Washington Trails Association and will be spending most of the summer working on either Mica Peak or else deep in the Colville National Forest. 

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Arguably the most unique wilderness area hike in Washington State, Juniper Dunes Wilderness consists of over 7,000 acres of designated wilderness on Bureau of Land Management property. Adjacent to the wilderness area, BLM additionally manages nearly 4,000 acres of Off Highway Vehicle(OHV)-accessible lands.  

This area contains the largest juniper forest in Washington and serves as a refuge for a wide variety of native wildlife. March through early May is also the prime wildflower season in this otherwise arid landscape. The best juniper groves are located in the northeast corner of the wilderness, but don’t miss the large sand dunes in the northwest corner, and zero in on map skills by finding the old wellhead (now dry) in the southern end of the property. There is no surface water within the wilderness, so be sure to pack enough water to last for the duration of your planned visit.  

There are two access points for Juniper Dunes Wilderness. Those planning a day hike can start at the north end of the property at Joy Road, where a small trailhead is provided as an easement through adjacent private land. Overnight parking is not permitted at this location. Those who would prefer to backpack this unique landscape should instead access the wilderness via the OHV park off the Pasco-Kahlotus Road. A portion of the access road has been paved, and those with low clearance vehicles should park at the end of the pavement near the OHV trailhead kiosk and make their way to the wilderness area on foot. Those with 4-wheel drive can opt to continue into the heart of the OHV area and drive to the Wilderness Gate, although this is not recommended without proper equipment. (Learn more at wta.org.)  

The entire wilderness area is fenced to demark the boundary between the OHV area to the south and west, as well as private lands to the north and east. Once inside the fence, there are no official trails within this shifting landscape of sand dunes and protected habitat. Instead, practice map and compass skills and set off on a cross-country journey to explore this fragment of preserved ecosystem, with the stark contrast of adjacent OHV area and agricultural land visible from the high points along the way.  

Getting there:  Take I-90 west then Highway 395 south toward Pasco. Exit 395 via US-12E, then bear northeast on Kahlotus-Pasco Road. Turn left on Peterson Road, which turns into Juniper Road and ends at the ORV park. 

Holly Weiler is the Eastern Washington Region Senior Coordinator for Washington Trails Association and loves wandering through the shrub steppe in the springtime. 

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Frater Lake SnoPark is a day-use only trail system maintained for winter access via the SnoPark system (permit required) and easily accessible from Highway 20 just west of Tiger/east of Colville. The main trail system consists of 16 kilometers of trails that are groomed for Nordic ski access as conditions allow. Since this SnoPark sits at 3,180’ elevation, sometimes there is not sufficient snow to allow for grooming. It’s best to watch weather conditions or bring extra equipment to best match the snow level. Sometimes the trails are hardpacked and icy under the trees, best-suited for traction devices on boots or riding fat bikes. When conditions do allow for grooming, snowshoe (and fat bike) users are asked to stay off the groomed trail but can set a snowshoe trail alongside the groomed path.  

The parking area is located on the north side of Highway 20, and the majority of the trail distance and most challenging trails are also on this side of the system. The trail’s maximum elevation is at Coyote Rock at 3,483’. A small warming hut is located next to Frater Lake. Bring a headlamp, as it can be dark inside. On the south side of the highway there is a smaller interconnected loop trail system. The trails here lack big climbs but have many short ups and downs that can be very fun on skis when conditions are good.  

For a more challenging snowshoe hike or backcountry ski tour requiring navigation skills and understanding of avalanche conditions, it’s also possible to follow the summer trail to Granite Peak. This route is not marked or maintained for winter access, so map and compass skills are necessary.    

Getting There:  

Frater Lake SnoPark is located on the north side of Highway 20 in Northeast Washington: 6.8 miles west of the township of Tiger, or 29.4 miles east of Colville north of Spokane. 

Holly Weiler is the Eastern Washington Region Senior Coordinator for Washington Trails Association and is pretty sure this will finally be the winter to successfully summit Granite Peak on either snowshoes or skis, after turning around a bit shy of the top on the last two trips. 

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Cascade Mountains, Leavenworth, Wash. 

For anyone looking for a proper fall larch march, it’s hard to beat Carne Mountain Trail on the eastern flank of the Cascades. Located northwest of Leavenworth, it can serve as a day hike on a fall tourist trip, or it can be extended to serve as a fall backpack trip. The trailhead is Phelps Creek at the end of the Chiwawa River Road, which is best for SUV-type vehicles, shared use with the more popular and better-known trail to Spider Meadows.  

Carne Mountain Trail breaks off the main Phelps Creek trail just 0.25 miles from the trailhead and begins a strenuous climb of 3,000’ over 3.7 miles. There are ample opportunities to stop and catch your breath along the way, as the views quickly begin to open up as you ascend.  

At the 2.5-mile mark, the trail enters a meadow surrounded by subalpine larch and intersected by a small stream for easy access to water. While western larch are also gorgeous in the fall, there really is something special about the way subalpine larch glow, and this alpine meadow is surrounded with them! This makes a good turn-around point or campsite option for a shorter version of this route, although the trail continues to climb and eventually leads to the summit of Carne Mountain at 7,080’.  

For a more challenging route, continue on the Carne Mountain High Route (a climber’s trail; very strenuous) to the flank of Mount Maude, and descend via the Leroy Basin Trail to complete a loop. The subalpine larch begins changing to gold in late September through mid-October, although it is highly dependent upon weather conditions each year. Watch for a favorable weather window, as snow can also come to the high country early and make conditions more difficult.  

Holly Weiler is the Eastern Washington Region Senior Coordinator for Washington Trails Association and loves to seek out fall color trails across our region. 

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Little Spar Lake is located on the Montana side of the proposed Scotchman Peaks Wilderness just west of Highway 56 near the Bull River in Montana. The hike is not long, but the trail is rugged and steep. Most visitors come for the day, but there are a limited number of campsites on the northeast side of the lake for those who wish to spend the night.  

One of the best ways to enjoy Little Spar Lake is to join a Friends of Scotchman Peaks Wilderness day hike or backpack trip in order to enjoy a guided experience, as portions of the route in can be tricky for a first-time visitor (speaking from experience, as my first trip accidently included a short and steep detour most of the way to nearby Spar Peak before I realized my mistake). If the timing doesn’t work out to join a guided hike, do the self-supported version described here, but do a better job than I did of studying the maps ahead of time!  

Access is via the Forest Service Road west of Highway 56, with the road growing increasingly rough beyond big Spar Lake (high clearance vehicles advised). There is a large trailhead marking the beginning of the hike, which initially is along a former roadbed. When the trail leaves the road, it soon crosses a stream that might be tricky in the early season. Beyond the stream, prepare to climb! It’s only 3.7 miles from the trailhead to Little Spar with close to 2000’ elevation gain, but the majority of the gain occurs in the last two-thirds of the trail.  

The return trip is tough on the knees instead of the lungs, so be sure to pack some trekking poles. But the views at the lake are well worth the effort involved in getting there, and, as a relatively warm alpine lake, Little Spar can be fantastic for a refreshing dip as reward for the challenging hike.  

Getting There:  

Take Highway 56/Bull Lake Road north just east of Heron, Montana. Travel 24.6 miles north to Asarco Mine Road and turn west. Continue on Forest Road 7148 and 384. Continue past big Spar Lake and campground to road-end at the Little Spar Lake trailhead. // 

Holly Weiler is the Eastern Washington Region Senior Coordinator for Washington Trails Association and will be spending much of her summer in the Salmo Priest Wilderness working on trails.  

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(Odessa, WASH)

Fluctuating levels in the local water table may create conditions where very little lake is visible at Lakeview Ranch, but this stark shrub-steppe ecosystem is always worth a visit and can be especially lovely in the spring. The trailhead and starting location for this hike is at the old farm site just west of Pacific Lake, which is worth the extra side trip to the former boat launch in the event the water is high; some years the water level remains so low that the docks are high and dry, however. Maps will indicate Walter Lake next to the trailhead, although it is frequently a shallow pool. It makes fishing poor in the area, but birds still flock to the wetlands and spring wildflowers make an early appearance.

From the trailhead, hike difficulty and distance can be choose-your-own-adventure. Old farm roads create an easy version out-and-back hike, where the recommended route is to continue west past Walter Lake until intersecting a doubletrack trail that continues either north or south. For the easiest hike with the least elevation gain, head north and turn around when ready. For a slightly longer hike, turn south toward Bobs Lake where the trail descends into a coulee. For extra challenge, the area around Bobs Lake is a great place to explore off-trail for those experienced with route-finding. Look up Delzer Falls on the map and go check if it’s flowing or explore the rocky outcroppings above the lake. This hike can also be extended into a backpack trip, as the trail south of Bobs Lake continues to the outskirts of Odessa at Crab Creek.   

Maps: from BLM: Blm.gov/visit/pacific-lake-recreation-site-lakeview-ranch

Getting There: From Odessa, go north on SR21 for 6.1 miles. Turn left onto Lakeview Ranch Loop North and continue 1.9 miles to the parking area for Lakeview Ranch, located on the west side of the road.

Holly Weiler is the Eastern Washington Region Senior Coordinator for Washington Trails Association and enjoys exploring nearby trails in all seasons.

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Route-finding skills and avalanche terrain awareness are necessary to complete this hike, as there is avalanche terrain in the vicinity of the trail. With proper equipment and training, Columbia Mountain can be a fantastic day hike to a restored fire lookout cabin with views along the spine of the Kettle Crest.

From the parking lot, snowshoe on Kettle Crest North 2.4 miles to a marked intersection to Columbia Mountain. Turn right and continue to climb to the Columbia Mountain Loop. Be sure to turn west at the intersection and do not plan to take the full loop, as the northeast aspect of the loop crosses into avalanche terrain. Instead, take the west half of the loop as far as the summit spur trail, and return via the same route for a hike of approximately 7 miles. For those looking for an extra challenge, Columbia is also a great introduction to winter backpacking. Camp on the summit on a clear night, or tuck into the bowl at the summit spur in the event it’s stormy.

Maps: USGS Sherman Peak 7.5 Quadrangle

The trailhead for Columbia Mountain is located on the north side of Highway 20 at Sherman Pass, 17.3 miles east of Republic and 26.2 miles west of Kettle Falls in Northeast Washington. A SnoPark permit is required.

Holly Weiler is the Eastern Washington Senior Coordinator for Washington Trails Association and enjoys camping and backpacking in all seasons, even the frigid ones!

Cover photo courtesy of Holly Weiler

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