Located about an hour west of Spokane, the Swanson Lakes Wildlife Area is an uncrowded central Washington hiking spot. This rural meander provides open views, subtle plateaus, native grasses, and a series of seeps that lead to larger lakes spotting the region. You can count on open skies, fresh air, and a refreshing sense of […]
Hiking Swanson Lakes Wildlife Area Read More »
One of Northwest’s longest paved biking trails will have you pedaling past lakes, along a wild river, through friendly small towns and wetlands and woods teaming with birds and other wildlife–all without the crowds you might expect. If you haven’t ridden the Trail of the Coeur d’Alenes yet, put it at the top of your
Wildlife Sightings & Stellar Scenery Await Riders on Idaho’s Trail of the Coeur d’Alenes Read More »
Friends try not to stare, but they can’t help it. Stop with them at the garage to pick up some motor oil or lag screws, floaty toys in summer or cider jars in fall, and they stop cold in their tracks. You did not seem so obsessive, like a hoarder, like those addle-eyed freaks on
Ana Maria Spagna: Just Slide Read More »
While Memorial Day to Labor Day may be prime time for backpacking, it’s not absolutely necessary to pack away the tent until warmer weather returns. With a trailhead that is generally accessible into the colder months and a bridge over the trickiest water crossing, the Panjab Trail into the heart of the Wenaha-Tucannon Wilderness can
Even the most holidays-hardened, Christmas-season cynics among us usually have at least one tradition that stirs up sentimental spirits. Our awareness of these significant rituals—handed down through generations or created anew—are what can make the holiday season magical even if other things about the impending yuletide bum you out. For me, the smell of cold
Holiday Traditions Read More »
Spend less time shopping and more time on our local trails and mountains. Our annual list features unique and outdoors-inspired gift ideas from locally-owned shops and businesses, including gifts for fellow outdoor enthusiasts as well as less outdoorsy friends and family members on your list. Use this list beyond the holidays for birthday, wedding, and
75 Gift Ideas From Local Spokane Shops Read More »
Blossom Lakes trail receives the majority of its hiker and backpacker attention in the summer months, but those seeking a little solitude on the Idaho/Montana Divide will be well-served to wait until fall. The crowds, as well as the mosquitoes, will be long-gone, and the forested trail to the lake is at its best when
Hike of the Month: Blossom Lake (Lolo National Forest, Montana) Read More »
When exploring the outdoors or hiking with our children, “It’s easy for us to get frustrated,” says Harley McAllister, a father of four boys who lives in Spokane Valley. “We’re thinking, I don’t want to be sitting by this river and throwing sticks in it and watching leaf boats float by; I want to get
Local Guidebooks Help Families Get Outside with Their Kids Read More »
Craters of the Moon National Monument and Preserve is a geologist’s dream, and an ideal location to explore during the fall and spring months. The variety of lava formations in one place seems unmatched anywhere else in the world. There are lava tubes that you can hike through, like Indian Tunnel, where you can see
Road Trip: Southern Idaho’s Craters of the Moon Read More »
UPDATE: We’re happy to report that the trash and camps referenced in this article have been cleaned up. Thank you, City of Spokane! — The Spokane River is an urban treasure that many lifetime locals are still discovering along with astounded newcomers who are blown away that there is a swimmable, floatable, and fishable river of
Trash, Camps, & Other Threats to the Spokane River Read More »
