For years I ignored the lonely Blue Mountains in favor of forever heading north for hiking and backpacking fun. Fortunately, I recently came to my senses: the Wenaha-Tucannon Wilderness in the Blues is no farther than many of my favorite trails to the north, and since some of the trails are at lower elevation, they […]
Wenaha River Trail (Blue Mountains, Wenaha-Tucannon Wilderness) Read More »
For thousands of years people have enjoyed the little peninsula upstream from the confluence of Latah Creek and the Spokane River. The name “People’s Park” says a lot about the long history of this place that separates the Spokane River from the downstream reach of Latah Creek (also known as Hangman Creek). People’s Park is
People’s Park: An Oasis of Nature Near Downtown Spokane Read More »
Last August I spent five days riding my bike on the John Wayne Pioneer Trail and Columbia Plateau Trails from North Bend to Spokane. The dry eastern portion was the most interesting to me. It was the most challenging due to the heat and lack of shade but the most rewarding for the awesome silence
Tucked away off Waikiki Road in northwest Spokane County is one of Washington state’s many fish hatcheries, owned and operated by Department of Fish and Wildlife. It is here that more than nine million rainbow trout eggs are incubated every year, to eventually be released into lakes around the state for recreational fishing. All but
Visit the Spokane Fish Hatchery & Story Trail Read More »
I am a long-time road biker, and I have an obsession for hills, which makes living in Spokane something akin to a kid in a candy store. Steep hills immediately prompt three questions for me: 1) Can I make it up this son-of-a-buck without stopping? 2) What is the slope/grade of this incline? 3)
10 Spokane-Area Hills to Climb Before You Die! Read More »
The new Downtown Spokane River Access Point opens this week. Located directly under the Division Street Bridge off of the Centennial Trail on the south side of the Spokane River, the launch provides canoers, kayakers, and paddleboarders convenient water access in downtown Spokane. I launched the Riverkeeper canoe there this week for my weekly litter
A Guide to the New Downtown Spokane River Access and Boat Launch Read More »
The Washington State Parks and Recreation Commission invites the public to a workshop to discuss several management planning topics for Riverside State Park in Spokane County. The meeting is scheduled for 6:30-8:30 p.m. Thursday, June 25, at Lakeside Middle School Auditorium, 6169 Highway 291, Nine Mile Falls. (Directions: https://goo.gl/maps/kPP5E). State Parks staff will present key
Public Meeting to Discuss Riverside State Park Recreation Planning (June 25) Read More »
Play the OTM Backcountry Booty scavenger hunt contest and you get to explore different trails around the region and possibly win gift certificates for cool outdoor gear and other prizes from local businesses like Mountain Gear, River City Brewing and others. Here’s how it works: 1. We hide a booty certificate, that’s good for whatever
Backcountry Booty: Riverside State Park Read More »
A while back I found myself at an event that featured a lot of really exciting films about fly fishing across the planet. Before the movie, I was talking to a fellow fly fisherman when he asked, “Have you seen the films this year? I saw them in Portland. They are really fun – not
River Rambles: There’s More to “Fun” Than Catching Fish Read More »
The Spokane River is a trail, 111 miles long, offering something for everybody, in every season: soaking up nature along the Centennial Trail, the excitement of hooking a native trout, rafting the Bowl and Pitcher, swimming or soaking up some sun on the riverbank. While finding the river is pretty straight forward, accessing the river
9 Ways to Explore the Spokane River Water Trail Read More »
