Clearwater Crossing is one of the best starting locations for a variety of trips into the proposed Great Burn Wilderness. Located just over the Montana border, several of the trails connect to one another and can be combined to form loop trips of varying distances. For one of the less-frequently traveled routes, try the Mud […]
Hike of the Month: Mud Lake Loop (Lolo National Forest) Read More »
Whenever we relax and play at a lake, we connect to nature and that place where deep memories were made. Whether a lake park or remote, wild setting, our region provides abundant opportunities for those connections—for every recreation style and water sport. Maybe you’re looking for new places to launch your kayak or ski boat,
Inland NW Lake Guide 2018 Read More »
The hike from Trout Lake trailhead to Emerald Lake is, for the most part, a moderately-difficult, flower-lined trail featuring stately, old-growth Ponderosa pine and interesting rock outcroppings. The trail traverses a portion of Hoodoo Canyon, named for the rocky pinnacles that can be viewed both alongside and jutting out above the trail. In the early
Hiking to Emerald Lake (Colville National Forest) Read More »
June is a superb time to visit the Wenaha-Tucannon Wilderness in the Umatilla National Forest south of Spokane. The range is called the Blue Mountains for the way they appear on the horizon when viewed from a distance, but during the spring bloom it’s also possible to find trails carpeted in blue. Or purple, pink,
Hiking Sawtooth Ridge: Wenaha-Tucannon Wilderness Read More »
I find myself passing through Colville on my way to nearby recreational access points several times each month. It’s a great place to stop for a quick snack or a cup of coffee on my way to elsewhere, but until recently it lacked a good close-to-town soft-surface hiking or biking trail. Despite housing the headquarters
Colville Mountain Trails, City of Colville, Wash. Read More »
A secluded peninsula jutting out along the Spokane River, McLellan Conservation Area offers early season accessibility and relatively easy hiking. Early April wildflowers will likely include buttercup, prairie star, and grasswidow, all gradually giving way to arrowleaf balsamroot and phlox by the end of the month. With its forested core and riparian habitat along
Hiking Spokane’s McLellan Conservation Area Read More »
Hawk Creek is gaining popularity among hikers, mainly as an early spring, snow-free option that generally boasts spring flowers and scenic views. Even so, every time I hike it I notice the majority of the cars in the parking lot belong to fisherman. I gave the fishing a shot on my last visit and got
Hiking Hawk Creek (Lake Roosevelt National Recreation Area) Read More »
While searching for a little snow adventure inspiration early last winter, I stumbled upon an old trip report on the Washington Trails Association website for the Wenatchee Guard Station. The trip reporter’s photos showed a quaint cabin perched on a high ridge overlooking the Blue Mountains in southeast Washington. I had to go see
Winter Glamping at the Wenatchee Guard Station Read More »
All of the Leave No Trace followers know that step one is Plan Ahead and Prepare, which I always do, generally in the last hour before leaving for a trailhead. That’s part of the reason why I haven’t spent as much time as I’d like on the John Wayne Pioneer Trail. And I confess that,
John Wayne Pioneer Trail from Tekoa, Washington Read More »
Start the new year off right by participating in one of these First Day hikes. January 1st will be a State Parks free day, so get out there! First Day Hike at Riverside State Park Name of hike: Bowl and Pitcher loop Time of event: 9:30 a.m. Where to meet: Bowl and Pitcher day use parking lot (Bowl
