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 […]
15 Backcountry Lake Hikes Worth the Walk Read More »
Camping with kids isn’t really relaxing. Let’s admit that from the beginning. Tent camping, which frames my experiences so far as a parent, is a lot of work in itself; add young children to the mix and it’s no longer the type of tranquil nature experience that one might have enjoyed during pre-parenthood camping trips.
There’s no shortage of options when it comes to planning out a summer full of adventure here in the Inland Northwest. With recommendations for families, casual adventurers, and those in search of more hardcore challenges to push their limits, there’s a trip and a place in here for anyone who loves the outdoors. Visit someplace
By Amy Silbernagel McCaffree Camping provides rituals for family bonding: the road trip, meals around the picnic table, playtime, and the campfire. Days stretch long for children to immerse themselves in nature. It’s as transformative as it is fun. “Teaching children about the natural world should be treated as one of the most important events
Six Kid-Friendly Campgrounds Read More »
Unique in every way imaginable, the town of Joseph rests comfortably in the middle of nowhere and at the center of everything. This tiny northeastern Oregon town rests at the foot of the Wallowa Mountains, at the tip of Wallowa Lake and at the end of Highway 351—trapped between the massive Eagle Cap Wilderness and
Roadtrip: Go Visit Your Friend Joseph, Oregon Read More »
Day Hiking Central Cascades Craig Romano, photography by Alan L. Bauer The Mountaineers Books, 2009, 348 pages Craig Romano is a guidebook writer whom I trust. I haven’t yet been disappointed with two other of his books, Best Hikes with Dogs: Inland Northwest and Day Hiking North Cascades. I’m originally a west-side girl—that’s right, from
“The sight of Harrison Peak hovering above its namesake lake at the headwaters of the Pack River provides one of the loveliest backdrops in all of North Idaho,” according to Thad Laird. He ought to know since he wrote a Climber’s Guide to North Idaho and the Cabinet Wilderness. Make no mistake; Harrison Peak and
Harrison Lake: Great Views in the Selkirks Read More »
Everyone can have a “lake place” if you consider all the public campgrounds and backcountry alpine lakes that are available for little to no cost. Only a two-hour drive from Spokane, Priest Lake is one of mine. It provides an easy, low-cost retreat even for minimalist outdoor recreationists—you don’t need a boat to have fun.
Boatless At Priest Lake: Everyone Can Hike, Bike And Camp At The Big Lake Read More »
89-year-old Galen Chamberlain turns the page on his final hike in Rich Landers’ classic “100 Hikes in the Inland Northwest” guidebook. By Chris Maccini Cover photo courtesy of Diane Delanoy It was 29 years ago that Galen Chamberlain first picked up a copy of Rich Landers’ classic guidebook, “100 Hikes in the Inland Northwest.” At
At 89, Spokane’s Galen Chamberlain Completes the “100 Hikes” Challenge Read More »
Uncrowded and Untamed, Republic-Area Snowmobile Trails Showcase Washington’s Wild Side Republic sits in that sweet spot for Inland Northwest snowmobiling: far enough from the I-90 corridor crowds to feel like you’ve escaped, but close enough to make a long weekend realistic out of Spokane and North Idaho. In winter, the mountains in and surrounding Ferry
Snowmobile Trails and Sno-Parks around Republic, WA Read More »
