WASHINGTON Horseshoe Lake: Members of the Spokane Canoe and Kayak Club consider this small lake (128 acres) one of the best for paddling. It’s a designated no-wake lake with a 5 mph speed limit located in Pend Oreille County 4 miles north of the Spokane County line to the west of Highway 2. Horseshoe Lake […]
7 Great Paddling Lakes Read More »
Upon arrival, you first inhale deeply, as your eyes absorb the panoramic view – blue water reflecting sun rays, green trees, brown and gray rocks under your feet, or maybe sand, and perhaps distant mountain peaks. You exhale and then you feel it: burdens lifting, stress dissipating. And whatever encumbering metaphorical baggage you had been
Inland Northwest Lake Guide Read More »
A mere two and a half hours from Spokane, southern British Columbia’s Christina Lake lies off the radar of many shore-goers heading to its Priest and Pend Oreille kin. Sitting in a small valley where the forested Monashee Mountains begin their ascent out of the arid Canadian Okanagan, Christina Lake lays claim to being one
Off The Map: Find Hidden Trails and Beaches Close to the Border at Christina Lake, B.C. Read More »
Susan Hales describes the details of some of her more memorable swims vividly. She has been attacked by a merganser. She has been inspected by river otters. She has pulled herself out of the water on the brink of storms. A typical day in the water for Hales is adventurous by most others’ standards. Take,
Life in Water: What Drives this Local Swimmer to Hit the Lake Whenever She Can Read More »
Rumor has it, some of the tundra swan scouts have been spotted around Calispel Lake, aka Swan Lake, in the northeastern corner of Washington State. That can only mean the tundra swans will soon make their annual migration pit-stop in the Pend Oreille River Valley. Witness it for yourself at the Pend Oreille County Swan
Come summer, the mountains of the Inland Northwest offer a surfeit of high-elevation locations to escape the heat. But the forested foothills and meandering Pend Oreille River in northeast Washington’s Pend Oreille County offer a quick, quiet getaway for seekers of shade, historical landmarks, empty trails and roadside adventure. Pend Oreille River Manresa Grotto North
Pend Oreille Road Trip: Native American Culture, Hiking and History Read More »
Paddling a canoe on a quiet lake, especially when sunset colors splay across the western sky, is a great way to spend a summer day. “A canoe moves more smoothly and quietly than any other watercraft,” says Brook Swanson, board member of the Spokane Canoe and Kayak Club. “I think it’s the most comfortable way
The Beautiful Simplicity of Lake Canoeing Read More »
Backcountry alpine lakes are the summer equivalent of a hidden powder stash: highly coveted, accessible for only a short part of the year, and all the more special for the human-powered effort required to find them. To outsiders, the Inland Northwest is not known for its alpine lakes; the Central and North Cascades to the
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Waterfront Park at Medical Lake Fed by natural springs, Medical Lake west of Spokane is a tranquil gem that’s fairly shallow, with an average summer-time water temperature of 74 degrees. Waterfront Park, located on the lake’s south end, provides a small sandy beach and roped-off swimming area, with a nearby restroom (checked daily during summer)
Lake Swim Spots for Kids: Fun Family Favorites Read More »
Pend Oreille County is a wild and beautiful corner of Washington with some of the most diverse wildlife of anywhere in the Northwest. Iconic critters like grizzly bears, wolverine, moose, wolves, and although rare, even caribou roam the scenic, rugged mountains less than two hours north of Spokane. But come this time of year, the
Pend Oreille Swan Festival: Witness the Winged Migration in Your Back Yard Read More »
