Along the Centennial Trail in Riverside State Park. Photo: Derrick Knowles

Bowl and Pitcher, Riverside State Park (Spokane)

If you want a classic that feels like an actual “hike” without leaving town, start here. The Bowl and Pitcher loop is a short but scenic 2.1-mile route with river views, basalt outcroppings and the iconic footbridge over the Spokane River. A Discover Pass is required for parking. Tip for shoulder-season winter: if the trail is icy in the shade near the river, traction can make the walk immensely more safe and enjoyable. Learn more about trails around Riverside State Park here.

Dishman Hills Natural Area (Spokane Valley)

When the high country is socked in, the Dishman Hills can deliver quick forest strolls ponderosa pine forest and viewpoints that feel surprisingly wild for being on the edge of the city. Routes to destinations like Enchanted Ravine are short (2-miles round trip) and popular. Note that this natural area prioritizes wildlife and native plant preservation, and dogs must remain on a leash. This is one of the best places to catch a winter sunset on a clear day from a high point—just bring a headlamp for the hike back to your car.

When planning a winter hike, avoid muddy trails or trails transitioning between freezing and thawing when hikers can damage trails. Try hiking when trails are frozen or dry or choose trails with trails that drain better. Plan your Dishman Hills adventure here.

Saltese Uplands in late winter. Photo: Derrick Knowles

Saltese Uplands (Liberty Lake area)

Saltese is a strong winter pick when you want open views and a more “wide-sky” feel. The conservation area has more than 7 miles of trail exploring canyons and ridge tops, with views that can stretch toward Liberty Lake and Mount Spokane on clear days. Because it’s more exposed, it can dry out faster than shaded forest trails—but it can also be breezy, so layer up. Learn more about this Spokane County Conservation Futures area and trails here.

Slavin Conservation Area (southwest of Spokane)

For a mellow, low-elevation ramble with wetlands and a pine forest that attract many types of birds and waterfowl, Slavin is a great option. The Slavin Conservation Area is an expansive, rolling landscape with many trail options to create loops of varied length. It’s a nice option when you need to get out of the house in the winter and move your body in a beautiful place without committing to steep climbs and challenging trails. Find more info and a map here.

Post Falls Community Forest and Q’emiln Park (Post Falls)

Right across the Spokane River from Post Falls, this trail network offers lots of choose-your-own loops with river access, basalt rock features and a real “get out of town” feel without a long drive. This park and community forest is also a popular rock-climbing destination but come winter, hikers will generally have the trails to themselves. Find directions here.

Tubbs Hill (downtown Coeur d’Alene)

For a winter hike that pairs perfectly with coffee downtown, Tubbs Hill is hard to beat. It’s a 165-acre natural area owned and maintained by the City of Coeur d’Alene, with multiple access points and a trail around the perimeter. Enjoy views of downtown and Lake Coeur d’Alene on a loop around the hill or create your own extended hike incorporating other trails and loops. You can find a map of the trail system here.

Check out more winter hike recommendations around the region here or read up on the recommended essentials for winter hiking.

The post The Best Winter Hikes Near Spokane and Coeur d’Alene appeared first on Out There Venture.

By Bradley Bleck 

Cover photo courtesy of Bradley Bleck

One reason gravel biking is popular is because it taps into the joy many cyclists felt when they first learned to fly on two wheels. This joy can be found along the nearly 1,200 miles of unpaved roads in Spokane County. This abundance of gravel is almost too much of a good thing for the uninitiated.  

To help with that, what follows are several rides, from beginner to advanced in order of difficulty, that can either be your gateway to gravel cycling or some new routes to explore. GPS information for your phone or cycling computer is provided for all but Saltese Flats. 

Palisades Park (Spokane)  

Close to the Spokane city center and a great place for novice gravel riders is Palisades Park. The essentially flat route, found by searching “Rimrock, Houston, Grove, Mission” on Ride with GPS, is 95 percent gravel if you ride it end to end. There are minor undulations and great views of the city and beyond. Parking is available at Greenwood and Basalt Roads or at Houston and Rimrock Roads, soon to be home to a new trailhead. There are six miles of mostly Category 1 gravel, making for up to 12 miles of out-and-back riding.  

Saltese Flats Wetland (East Spokane County) 

The Saltese Flats Wetlands offers 4.5 miles of trails around the wetlands, leaving from the trailhead on S. Henry Road, adjacent to the Saltese Uplands. Depending upon the time of year, you’ll be able to spy migrating waterfowl along with other birds and critters that make the area their home. The Category 1 gravel is largely flat, with two out-and-back routes.  

Slavin Conservation Area (South Spokane County) 

A step up in terms of difficulty starts and finishes at the Slavin Conservation Area. This 26-mile route has a little over 800 feet of climbing running through the meadowed plains, terraces and Ponderosa-lined buttes and scabland near Cheney. About 40 percent is unpaved. On Ride with GPS, search “Slavin Gravel” where you will find what is described here and both shorter and longer routes.  

Green Bluff (North Spokane County) 

A significant step up in terms of the challenge is the “Rotary Gravel Flamdangle” as found on Ride with GPS. The route’s 32 miles and 3,000 feet of climbing starts and ends at Big Barn Brewing on Green Bluff. With roughly 40 percent gravel, there are steep climbs, some over 13 percent (meaning 13 feet of elevation gain for every 100 feet traveled). This route showcases wide open fields, pastureland and forested dells. The surface is mostly Category 1 gravel. The steeper climbs will challenge all riders. It’s also one of the Lilac Century route options for this Rotary Club event held in May. 

Moran Prairie (Southeast Spokane County) 

On the Moran Prairie, there are countless gravel riding possibilities. If you search “Moran Prairie Valleyford” on Ride with GPS, you will find a 31-mile loop leaving from the Safeway at Regal and South 57th. This route is roughly 57 percent gravel, where you’ll tackle grades up to 15 percent. With nearly 3,400 feet of climbing, this is mostly Category 1 and 2 gravel, meaning washboards and loose gravel likely. Highlights include the Elder Road climb through the California Creek drainage and the Wood Memorial Cemetery, the final resting spot for many of Valleyford’s early settlers. Plan on it taking close to three hours if you are fit.  

Spangle (South Spokane County) 

One of my favorite gravel rides starts and finishes at the Harvester Restaurant in Spangle. Several routes can be found by searching “Spangle Gravel” on Ride with GPS. This description is a 36-mile option with 2,400 feet of climbing that is roughly 90 percent unpaved. This tough route will take at least three hours while traversing pastureland, creek drainages and rolling wheat fields. The longest sustained climb is just over a mile-and-a-half but the persistent and steep rollers will sap your legs. This is Category 2 gravel.  

Antoine Peak  

Another popular route is the “Antoine Peak Loop” on Ride with GPS. The route has about 3,200 feet of climbing over about 26 miles and is 70 percent gravel. The ride begins in the Antoine Peak parking area and the plains surrounding Mount Spokane before climbing the mountain’s forested flanks. There are three climbs over a mile long, the longest being 2.6 miles. A few paved miles along the Newman Lake shoreline provide some respite before the climb up Antoine Peak itself, which is single and doubletrack. Nothing is overly steep, but this is a more advanced ride. The gravel is Category 1 on summer and logging roads.  

Mount Spokane 

Next on the list of gravel challenges is “The Mount Spokane Gravel Loop” as found on Ride with GPS. Beginning and ending at Mount Spokane High School, this route covers 53 miles with over 6,000 feet of climbing. The route is roughly 50 percent gravel, some of it double-track (Category 3) through the shaded slopes of the lower mountain. You can bypass nearly 1,000 feet of climbing and a handful of miles if you skip the final paved miles to the summit. But do that and you’ll miss the views and the sense of satisfaction that comes with conquering the highest point around, along with the bathrooms and water at the top.  

Once you begin exploring the nearly limitless options for riding gravel around Spokane, you’ll see new opportunities for cycling around nearly every bend in the unpaved road. Keep in mind that with many gravel rides there will be no services along the way, so bring the necessary food and drink and have someone along who has mechanical skills and the necessary tools to get everyone home.  

Bradley Bleck last wrote about professional mountain biker Hannah Otto and the improving cycling scene in Spokane in the Spring Out There. He’ll be spending the summer riding one of his bikes in the Inland Northwest and beyond.  

The post Riding the Road Less Travelled  appeared first on Out There Venture.

At the end of September, Inland Northwest Land Conservancy (INLC) announced a $4M capital campaign to complete the protection of the Glen Tana area, an 1,100 acre piece of land with two miles of river in the Little Spokane River Valley. And in October, the Spokane Audubon Society (SAS) made the bold step of “adopting” 10 acres of that land by making a $10,000 gift to the campaign to protect it. 

This gift was doubly special because the funds used to secure the land for conservation stemmed from a land protection partnership between the SAS and INLC more than two decades earlier. Reardan, Washington’s East Lake had gone up for sale and a group of avid birders rushed to protect this vital migratory haven from being sold and developed. 

With the help of the Conservancy, the small but dedicated team raised $51,000 to secure an option-to-purchase. Then the Conservancy took out a $350,000 loan, a massive commitment for the Land Trust, barely 10 years old at the time. INLC acted as a “bridge owner,” holding the land until the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) could purchase it. 

East end of Audubon Lake

Today, you can visit the Reardan Audubon Lake Wildlife Area—permanently protected for birds, animals, native plants, and people to enjoy. Thanks to the quick thinking, and dedication of Spokane Audubon Society and Inland Northwest Land Conservancy. But that was only the beginning of the story. The money from WDFW’s purchase of the land went into a fund specifically designated for bridge ownership projects in which INLC’s typical method of protecting private land with a permanent legal agreement didn’t fit the bill, and outright purchase was the only way to protect well-loved, important natural spaces. 

This fund came to bear more recently in the permanent protection of Rimrock to Riverside, a connecting piece of land between Palisades Park and Riverside State Park. This area is now owned and managed by Spokane City Parks. The fund was also used to add 55 acres to the Saltese Uplands Conservation Area, situated between the rapidly growing Spokane Valley and Liberty Lake. 

Chris DeForest touring Deep Creek Preserve

As the number of projects grew, the fund did as well, enabling Inland Northwest Land Conservancy to purchase Glen Tana in 2023. The Conservancy is holding this land that will ultimately be owned and managed by Washington State Parks and the Spokane Tribe of Indians. The Conservancy’s capital campaign, mentioned above, helps to cover the cost of caring for the land for the time being. It will also replenish the funds used to purchase the land, meaning that INLC will be able to protect more well-loved and important spaces for the benefit of the community. 

The Spokane Audubon Society’s decision to contribute to this campaign through “Adopt-an-acre” was made by the organization’s board as a way to protect important habitat for the birds they love. “To save birds, you have to save the habitat they depend on. And, as the Spokane Audubon Society is not in the business of buying land, it makes perfect sense for them to support INLC, an organization that is in the business of buying land needed for wildlife corridors.” –Elizabeth Melville, INLC Blog. 

While the organization or hiking group you’re involved with might not have been at the forefront of protecting migratory bird habitat in the early 2000s, adopting an acre TODAY is a great way to ensure that places you love to play will be around for the long haul. The $1000 price tag to adopt an acre might seem like a lot to individuals, but this is a chance to get together with your riding buddies, your hiking friends, your photography pals, or your ski bum cohorts to make a difference together for the future of our beautiful outdoors! To learn more about how to adopt an acre, or to make your financial commitment today, visit InlandNWLand.org/Adopt-an-acre or contact INLC’s director of philanthropy, Carol Corbin at ccorbin@inlandnwland.org. 

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Cover photo courtesy of Nigel Davies

Explore these tools that geologist Nigel Davies suggests to further understand the geology of your adventure while you are out recreating in our region.

• Explore the state’s geology organized by regional “cards,” further organized by geological sites of interest, at WA DNR 100: Wa100.dnr.wa.gov
• Purchase the paperback “Washington Rocks! A guide to geologic sites in the Evergreen State” from Mountain Press, which includes colored photos and instructive diagrams, from your local bookstore.
• Scroll around Rockd/Macrostrat Macrostrat.org, a platform for geological data.
• Read Spokane County geological field studies and reports on Willow Lake Natural Area, the McKenzie Conservation Area, Antoine Peak, and Saltese Uplands Conservation Area under the Research tab at Spokanecounty.org.
• Dig deeper at Earth-Science Reviews on Science Direct: O’Conner et al 2020 The Missoula and Bonneville floods—A review of ice-age megafloods in the Columbia River basin 2020 Doi.org/10.1016/j.earscirev.2020.103181

The post Geology Resources for Outdoor Enthusiasts appeared first on Out There Venture.

• National Public Lands Day (NPLD) falls on September 23rd this year. It’s a fee-free day for both National Parks and Washington state lands. Discover Pass fees will additionally be waived on October 10th for World Mental Health Day.
• Spokane County Library District will be hosting a mushroom foraging for beginners class on September 20 from 6-8 p.m. in the North Spokane meeting room. Attend to learn about some of the edible mushrooms found in our region!
• Join the Methow Conservancy for a series of free events, both in person and online, during September and October. Highlights include an in-person presentation on lynx and wildfire, a field trip through the newly acquired Sunny M. Ranch property with a focus on the forest, and a Zoom presentation on bats from WDFW. (Methowconservancy.org)
• Free guided hike destinations with Inland Northwest Land Conservancy during September include Waikiki Springs, Palisades Park, and Saltese Uplands. (Inlandnwland.org)
• The Dishman Hills Conservancy’s annual dinner and auction fundraiser will be held on October 16 at CenterPlace Regional Event Center. (Dishmanhills.org)

Let Your Voice Be Heard!

The Blue Mountains region, consisting of the Umatilla, Wallowa-Whitman, and Malheur National Forests, is currently undergoing a revision of its existing Forest Plan. A series of public meetings is planned throughout September and October, including an online Zoom meeting option on October 10. Join any of these and then consider providing formal comments to help guide the process. For more information, contact Sm.fs.bluesforests@usda.gov.

Conservation & Stewardship Opportunities

• The annual Spokane River Cleanup with be held on September 16. Sign up with The Lands Council for this self-guided event, with designated trash collection sites in multiple locations along the Spokane River. (Landscouncil.org)
• Friends of Scotchman Peaks Wilderness have several trailwork events planned through the month of September, including a NPLD project at Regal/Morris Creek on September 23. They will wrap up the trailwork season on September 30 with a project at Goat Mountain. (Scotchmanpeaks.org)
• Spokane Nordic will have several weekend days of volunteer trail maintenance in September and October in preparation for the upcoming Nordic ski season. (Spokanenordic.org)
• Evergreen Mountain Bike Alliance will be offering a fall weekend’s worth of work parties in the Methow from September 29-October 1, with camping available at Upper Beaver Creek Campground and the work happening on nearby Blue Buck and Lightening Creek Trails. Food included, but advance registration required. (Evergreenmtb.org)
• Okanogan Highlands Alliance will be partnering with Pacific Northwest Trail Association on September 9 for a day of heavy restoration work on Beaver Lake Trail. PNTA will be hosting a variety of additional projects throughout September and into early October, working on the Kettle Crest and near Sullivan Lake. (Okanoganhighlands.org and pnt.org)
• Idaho Trails Association (ITA) and Washington Trails Association will be partnering on the Jackson Creek Trail in North Idaho near the Salmo-Priest Wilderness the first weekend after Labor Day. Join either crew as they work to meet in the middle at the WA/ID boundary! ITA will additionally be hosting a National Public Lands Day project at Chimney Rock in the Idaho Selkirks, while WTA will be celebrating the organization’s 30th anniversary of the trail maintenance program with a return to Iller Creek Conservation Area in Spokane Valley for annual maintenance on September 18, as well as a project at Fishtrap Recreation Area near Cheney, Wash. (Idahotrailsassociation.org and wta.org) //

The post Inland NW Trail & Outdoor News appeared first on Out There Venture.

1. Get your horseback trail riding fix with Spokane Trail Riding & Boarding just south of Spokane.
2. Tube, kayak, or SUP the lower Spokane River between Peaceful Valley and the TJ Meenach Bridge area. Ongoing construction will make river recreation access at the traditional take-out spot challenging, so consider alternatives, including taking out farther downstream at the wastewater treatment plant upstream from the Class III Bowl & Pitcher rapid. FLOW Adventures typically offers shuttles and tube rentals if you want to simplify all that.
3. Ride the 15-mile scenic stretch of the Trail of the Coeur d’Alenes from Plummer to Harrison, Idaho. The trail is paved and elevation lowers in that direction, making it a great choice for infrequent riders and kids. The public beach in Harrison is a welcome destination with swimming. Enjoy a sweet, shady park and several restaurants and pubs. Set up your shuttle with The Cycle Haus in Harrison or double your mileage and ride back to Plummer.
4. Take a brewery tour by bike along the Trail of the Coeur d’Alenes, with stops at the North Idaho Mountain Brew/City Limits Pub and Wallace Brewing in Wallace, Idaho, and Radio Brewing in Kellogg. Call the Wallace Inn for shuttle information.
5. Bike with some friends to a local park and have a barbecue dinner using the grills you can find at parks like Bowl & Pitcher in Riverside State Park in Spokane. Bring foil to protect your food from any unwanted grill contaminants.

6. Run the clothing-optional Bare Buns Fun Run July 30 north of Spokane near Deer Lake. Summer is all about being free, right?
7. Enjoy a gravity-fueled ride from Lookout Pass on the mixed-surface NorPac rail trail to Mullan, Idaho, then hop on the paved Trail of the Coeur d’Alenes and roll all the way to Wallace. Call the Wallace Inn for shuttle options.
8. Start a bird list of all of the amazing avian species you can find in our area. Get a regional birding app or book to help and check out the Audubon Society website.
9. Check out the Doris Morrison Learning Center at Saltese Flats near Liberty Lake, Wash., to learn about the restored wetlands. Then take a hike or ride on the Saltese Uplands trails.
10. Take a tour of urban wild areas and historic places downtown Spokane with the local tour company Wander Spokane.
11. Hike the Whistler Canyon area near Oroville, Washington. Hike options range from a few miles to all-day epics. Keep a look out for birds and other wildlife including rattlesnakes and mountain goats.
12. Find a big, beautiful tree in a natural area near your house and lay down under it for a quiet shift in perspective.
13. Crack open rocks in search of fossils at the Stonerose Interpretive Center and Eocene Fossil Site in Republic in Northeast Washington.
14. Bike the Ferry County Rail Trail near Republic in Northeast Washington, then hit the Republic Brewing Company.
15. Bike the Columbia Plateau Trail from Cheney out to Amber or Downs Lakes to go fishing.

16. Do a local long day hike across one or more linked trail systems in the Spokane area using an STA bus as a shuttle. Creative options could include sections of trails in one or more of these areas: Riverside State Park, the Little Spokane River Natural Area, the High Drive Bluff, Dishman Hills, and Mica/Liberty Lake area.
17. Get an archery set up and start learning to shoot a bow.
18. Camp at the campground at Mount Spokane or rent one of the condos if available and bike or hike for several days. Peak berry season will soon be upon us, and you can pick your limit here.
19. Set up a shuttle and mountain bike the back roads from Mount Spokane all the way down to Spirit Lake.
20. Paddleboard a quiet bay on Lake Pend Oreille.

21. Visit a fish hatchery to learn about Inland Northwest fish, including the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife one in north Spokane.
22. Take a tour of Grand Coulee Dam or one of the other dams in the Columbia Gorge.
23. Look for the elusive bighorn sheep on Lake Roosevelt in Eastern Washington via boat, back roads, or kayak.
24. Hike or trail run your own Little Spokane River shuttle instead of driving two cars. Or use the Spokane Parks & Recreation shuttle service.
25. Find a friend with a wake surfing boat or rent one and surf your favorite lake.
26. Take an urban hike happy hour, hitting up favorite bars and breweries while sticking to back streets, alleys, and pathways as much as possible.
27. Walk or bike all of the pedestrian-friendly bridges over the Spokane River in Riverfront Park downtown Spokane, including below the falls to Sandifur Bridge.
28. Take a dog for a walk from the Humane Society or from another animal shelter.
29. Visit as many parks as you can in the great Spokane area to see some pretty cool outdoor spaces and win prizes with the Greater Spokane Parks Challenge (see the article in this issue’s Dispatches section for details).
30. Join a full moon group bike ride or create your own.
31. Did you know that swinging on a swing set can help with anxiety? Go swinging at a park you’ve never been too. Try listening to some relaxing tunes or a meditation app while you do it.
32. Sign up for a women’s writing retreat in Yellowstone National Park in September with local author and Out There writer Ammi Midstokke (Wideopenwriting.com/yellowstone-2023).

33. Hike as many of the Spokane Conservation Futures conservation areas as you can (find maps and directions at the Spokane County Conservation Futures website).
34. Hike the John C. Pointner Memorial Wildlife Sanctuary at Cougar Bay a few miles south of Coeur d’Alene on Highway 95.
35. Invite family or friends to ride the Route of the Hiawatha. The 15-mile (one way) crushed rock surface trail has a mellow grade. It includes a ride through nine long, dark train tunnels and across seven trestles with scenic mountain terrain all around. Shuttles and bike rentals are available along with trail tickets.
36. Join one of the many Dishman Hills Conservancy hikes and other outdoor events as a way to explore this urban wildland with other people.
37. Participate in Summer Parkways on June 21 on Spokane’s South Hill and join other people on bike and foot as they enjoy the full use of a road near Manito Park for the evening.
38. Take a hike on Spokane’s High Drive Bluff trails and then get ice cream at The Scoop on the South Hill.
39. Join an outdoor yoga class. There’s a free one for all abilities in the morning at the Spokatopia Festival at Camp Sekani Park in Spokane on July 8.
40. Set your TV up outside or a movie screen and invite some friends or neighbors over to watch an outdoor movie or documentary.
41. Go try out new mountain bikes and e-bikes at Spokatopia at Camp Sekani Park July 8, then listen to live bands and enjoy some adult beverages in support of Evergreen East and local mountain bike trails.
42. Go rollerblading on the Centennial Trail.
43. Go to an outdoor music festival or show, like the Festival at Sandpoint, the Spokane Pavilion at Riverfront Park, the Moscow Mountain Music Festival, the 90s Flannel Fest in Moses Lake, and many other great outdoor music festivals that have popped up since the pandemic.

44. Rent a raft from one of the university or college outdoor programs and take on the upper Spokane (Class II) or Clark Fork (Class III).
45. Catch brook trout on a fly rod at Fish Lake near downtown Spokane. Go on your own or book a guided fishing session with Fly Fish Spokane to get the lake dialed quick. Make a day of it by biking out to the lake on the Fish Lake Trail from downtown Spokane with your fly rod.
46. Find a new book from the library or local book store and bike to a park or natural area to read outside all day. Did you know you can also check out a Discover Pass from Spokane libraries?
47. Bike a section or the entire International Selkirk Loop that connects super-scenic sections of backroads in Washington, Idaho, and British Columbia.
48. Pick up a copy of the new-ish “Spokane Bouldering” guide and start exploring local climbing challenges with your crash pad.
49. Ride some of the new trails at Moscow Mountain in the Palouse.
50. If you’re not lucky enough to live in Sandpoint, plan a multi-day mountain biking trip or several weekends to finally ride the major trail systems near town: Syringa, Schweitzer, Mineral Point, Gold Hill, and Bernard Peak.
51. Bikepack all or part of the Adventure Cycling Association-mapped Idaho Hot Springs Loop bikepacking route, which consists of over 500 miles of mostly un-paved roads as well as 200+ miles of optional singletrack and 50 hot springs.
52. Ride all or part of the Palouse to Cascades Trail across Washington from North Bend to the WA/ID border.
53. Plan a trip to the Bonners Ferry area to bike some of the awesome mountain bike trails in the area, including the Enchanted Forest, Brush Lake, and many others you can find on Trailforks.
54. Explore some loop trails you’ve never hiked in the Dishman Hills in Spokane Valley. Centrally located, with mellow trails and a variety of loop distances, you can check out a new hike here one night after work every week or so all summer long!

55. Try different kayaks, paddleboards, canoes, and other water toys at Boulder Beach as part of Spokatopia on July 8.
56. Hike to some of Spokane’s best views: Rocks of Sharon in the Dishman Hills, Mount Spokane, Antoine Peak, Palisades, the summit along the Knothead Loop in the Little Spokane River Natural Area, or the Saltese Uplands.
57. Take an early summer hike to Kamiak Butte near Pullman to marvel at the wildflowers. Set up a hammock and hang out a while.
58. Take some hikes in the Zumwalt Prairie near Joseph, Ore., and enjoy the beautiful prairie meadows and frequent wildlife sightings.
59. Hike into one of Idaho’s many natural hot springs and leave it better off than when you arrived by cleaning up any trash.
60. Rent an adventure van for a hiking, mountain biking, paddling, or climbing road trip to B.C., the Cascades, Bend, Central Idaho, or Montana.
61. Paddle the Pend Oreille River Water Trail near Newport, Wash.
62. Learn how to fly-fish. Take a class from one of several regional fly shops that offer guided trips and lessons.

63. Rent a kayak or SUP from Fun Unlimited under the Division Street bridge downtown Spokane and paddle up river for Thai food at Bangkok Thai. If you live close enough, bike on the Centennial Trail to the put-in for some extra exercise.
64. Hike a section or two of the Pacific Northwest Trail that runs from the Washington Coast to Glacier National Park to get a taste of what a thru hike would be like
65. Visit the spectacular Kootenai Falls in western Montana and take the time to hike to all of the viewpoints.
66. Pedal a “RailRider” on retired railroad tracks along the Pend Oreille River near Metaline Falls, Wash.
67. Raft or kayak as many rivers within 200 miles of Spokane/CDA as you can: Lochsa, Spokane, Moyie, St. Joe, Lower Salmon, Clark Fork, Wenatchee, Methow, Salmo, Lower Selway, Grand Ronde, etc. Guided trips are offered for most of these rivers, and they are all possible on your own if you have the right gear and river rafting experience.
68. Go ziplining at Silverstreak Zip Tours, Timberline Adventures, or Mica Moon.
69. Jump out of an airplane on a tandem skydive with Skydive West Plains west of Spokane.
70. Race your mountain bike as part of the Wednesday night mountain bike races in May and June at Riverside State Park, or the “5 in July” series at Farragut State Park.

71. Mountain bike or hike the Empire Trails in Spirit Lake, Idaho.
72. Keep a wildlife log of all of the different species of wildlife you see over the summer and make trips to places where you have a better chance to encounter critters you really want to see.
73. Ride one or more of the Idaho Panhandle Gravel Series gravel rides.
74. Ride the Wallowa Lake Tramway, a 3,700’ gondola ride to the summit of Mt. Howard near Joseph, Ore.
75. Take the Wallowa County barn tour and visit 31 beautiful, historic barns in the stunning Northeast corner of Oregon.
76. Ride the Seven Summits Trail in Rossland, B.C. There are plenty of shorter but equally gnarly rides around town too.
77. Paddle or boat to one of the islands in Priest Lake—some are day-use only, and Kalispell, Bartoo, and Fourmile islands have rustic campsites.
78. Take a morning or evening drive or bike tour along the Turnbull National Wildlife Refuge auto tour loop near Cheney to spot birds and wildlife. There are several trails and wildlife viewing areas along the way.
79. Drive to the dramatic Selway Falls east of Lewiston, Idaho, then find a beach downriver and go for a swim.
80. Go kite boarding on the Columbia River near Hood River, Ore., or mountain bike the trails around town. One of our favorites is Surveyor’s Ridge Trail.  
81. Drive part of the historic Lewis & Clark Trail between Lewiston, Idaho, and Missoula, Mont., near Highway 12 and do some day hikes along the Lochsa River.
82. Give back to the hiking, biking, and running trails you love by spending a day volunteering doing trail work with Evergreen East, Washington Trails Association, Idaho Trails Association, Pend Oreille Pedalers, or Lake City Trail Alliance.
83. Take a tour of small-town museums in just about any region of the Inland Northwest. Hit up any local thrift stores while you’re at it!

84. Go whitewater rafting for a day in Riggins, Idaho’s “whitewater capital.” Stay for a few days and bring your gravel or road bike for some awesome early morning rides up the canyons.
85. Go kayaking or boating on Lake Roosevelt and picnic on one of its many sandy, primitive beaches. Try to catch a walleye.
86. Go to one of the great events Schweitzer has planned this summer and make a weekend of it hiking and biking on the mountain.
87. Bike or walk downtown Spokane’s Cork District to visit local wine tasting spots.
88. Tube the Touchet River at Lewis and Clark Trail State Park, near Dayton, Washington.
89. Explore Gardner Cave at Crawford State Park Heritage Site, near Metaline Falls, Wash., on a ranger-led tour.
90. Go swimming and play or nap in the sand at City Beach in Sandpoint.
91. Tube the North Fork of the Coeur d’Alene River.
92. Visit the Hobo Cedar Grove Botanical Area in North Idaho to see what Inland Northwest trees used to look like.
93. Hike or mountain bike the Sherman Peak Loop or Jungle Hill off Sherman Pass in Northeast Washington’s Kettle Range.
94. Paddle around the Moses Lake Water Trail in Moses Lake, Wash. Stop for wine refreshments at the Camas Cove Cellars dock.
95. Take a hike in active wolf country and see if you can hear the haunting sound of wolves howling on an early morning or evening hike. Leave your fur friends at home for this one.
96. Swim across a bay at your favorite lake. Have a friend on a boat, kayak, or paddleboard go with you for safety and to make sure other boaters see you. If you’re on your own, swim around a bay hugging the shoreline.
97. Take a hike along the Hells Canyon rim and score top-of-the-world views at Hat Point Overlook.
98. Bike the Sacagawea Heritage Trail, a 23-mile paved path along the Columbia River in the Tri-Cities. If you’re on the hunt for singletrack, hit up the Badger Mountain trails in the area.
99. Drive through the Palouse, alive with color this time of year, to Palouse Falls viewpoint. Bring your own snacks, as there aren’t many facilities along the way.
100. Volunteer at a local road race or trail running race. You can get in on the hype without the training and physical work. It’s super rewarding to be part of the support crew.
101. Bike or walk to any number of our local farmers’ markets and load up on the fresh produce spoils of the season. //

The post 101 Things to do this Summer in the Inland Northwest appeared first on Out There Venture.

Situated at the edge of the Palouse and the Columbia River Plateau, Spokane boasts an ideal landscape for road biking, with expansive flat terrain and a myriad of mellow hills—and plenty of not-so-mellow ones if you’re looking to test your V02 max. From bustling, paved bike paths to rolling Palouse backroads, we’ve highlighted three classic road rides in the region. Feel free to begin and end your ride at the nearest Wheel Sport location!

SOUTH SPOKANE—VALLEY CHAPEL LOOP

The wind-swept wheat fields of the Palouse are a classic road biking destination, and the Valley Chapel Loop is a high-speed highlight reel of the region’s charm: endless rolling hills, picturesque clapboard farmhouses, and even a whitewashed cemetery. Start from Wheel Sport South 3020 S Grand Blvd. and ride south to 57th Avenue in the Moran Prairie area. Continue south on the wide-shouldered, well-paved Palouse Highway. Turn right on Valley Chapel Road and descend into the Latah Creek valley. A thigh-cramping half-mile climb 10 miles in deposits riders into quintessential Palouse prairie. At 21 miles, turn onto Highway 27, and at 29 miles turn left on to the Palouse Highway for a fast return trip of long, low-angle climbs and descents. The communities of Rockford (mile 21), Freeman (mile 27), and Valleyford (mile 30) make well-spaced rest stops—welcome breaks from the ever-present wind.

SPOKANE VALLEY—SALTESE FLATS LOOP

Although only 11 miles, the Saltese Flats Loop packs a lot of scenery into a small footprint—all the more impressive considering its location in the heart of the growing Liberty Lake community. Start your ride at Wheel Sport in Spokane Valley at 606 N Sullivan Rd. for added miles, or from the Saltese Flats Wetland Area trailhead on South Henry Road. Continue pedaling south between the tall grasses of Saltese Flats and the small foothills of Saltese Uplands Conservation Area. Bounded by two key pieces of county open space, riders have a good chance of seeing wildlife, and, as on the trails of Saltese Uplands, an excellent chance of an amazing sunset. After circling Saltese Flats, head north on Barker Road and then east on 8^th Avenue to connect back to South Henry Road. Gravel riders can add some bonus mileage on the paths that crisscross Saltese Flats; meanwhile, skinny-tire riders can take backroads to Liberty Lake, or, for an epic ride, Highway 27 south to Mica.

NORTH SPOKANE—CENTENNIAL TRAIL

Wide, well-paved and mostly level, the nearly 40-mile Washington portion of the Spokane River Centennial Trail is the centerpiece of Spokane road cycling, with something for two-wheeled enthusiasts of all kinds, from triathletes to trailer-towing families. Perhaps no section showcases the magnificence of the trail than the northern section running through 14,000-acre Riverside State Park, which is a short road ride away from Wheel Sport North at 9501 N Newport Highway. From any of the trailheads north of TJ Meenach Bridge, cyclists can cruise past basalt buttes and tall ponderosas, usually within sight—and earshot—of the Spokane River. The Nine Mile Falls Dam at Charles Road makes a logical turnaround point, but those looking to develop a bond with their granny gear can continue up Charles Road for one of the steepest climbs in the county.

Bike Recommendation: Specialized Diverge STR

With the all-new Diverge STR, Specialized has just raised the bar for drop-bar, gravel-gobbling bikes. The secret: tunable front and rear Future Shock technology that suspends the rider–rather than the bike–for an efficient ride with less fatigue, all with the nimble feel and light weight of a rigid frame. And it all comes together in a package that will catch a lot of looks–and that’s all that will be catching this machine.

This post is sponsored by Wheel Sport

The post Spokane’s Classic Road Bike Rides appeared first on Out There Venture.

Explorer Backpacks Free for Checkout

Spokane Conservation District is now offering Explorer Backpacks for checkout to local families with K-12 students. Each pack can be checked out for up to two weeks and includes educational materials on one of five different themes (trees, rocks and soil, water, pollinators, and snow).

This program can be paired with Spokane-area libraries’ Check Out Washington Pass, which includes a Discover Pass for free entry into Washington State Parks (and other state-managed lands). The library kits additionally include binoculars and field guides and the check-out period is seven days. Plan a family adventure!

NE Washington Forest Road Closures

The Sullivan/Newport Ranger District of the Colville National Forest will have some temporary closures for road improvement work this fall, impacting access to several popular hiking and backpacking destinations on the forest.

Both Highline Road and Sullivan Creek Road will be closed for several weeks, preventing vehicle access to trailheads for Sullivan Mountain and Crowell Ridge, Gypsy Meadows, Thunder Creek, Shedroof Cut-off, Salmo Mountain, and the Salmo Loop.

Hiker access to Crowell Ridge will need to start at the Red Bluff or Halliday Trail trailheads, and hiker access to the Shedroof Divide will only be available at Pass Creek Pass.

Parking Lot Work at Slavin

Improvement work for trailhead parking at Slavin Conservation Area southwest of Spokane began in September, with completion expected in early November.

Spokane County Parks will do their best to ensure the trails are still accessible during the majority of the work, but there may be times when access is temporarily closed to allow crews to complete crucial steps of the process. Be sure to check Spokane County Park’s website before a visit to Slavin this fall.

Saltese Uplands Expansion

By early October, Saltese Uplands Conservation Area near Liberty Lake, Wash., will grow by 10 percent! Spokane County Parks is expected to close soon on a 54.6-acre addition to the popular hiking, mountain biking, and trail running destination.

Fall Trail Projects Need Volunteers

Trail work and public lands stewardship projects continue to seek volunteer help across the region. Fall brings cooler temperatures and plenty of work to be done to keep trails in good shape after high summer use and prepare them for the upcoming ski, fat biking, and snowshoe season.

• Join the Friends of Scotchman Peaks Wilderness for a trail maintenance project at Napoleon Gulch in early September, or for their end-of-hiking-season trek up to the summit of Scotchman Peak in early October. Advance registration required.
• Pend Oreille Pedalers will host Thursday evening trail work events throughout the fall. Check their website for meeting locations.
• WTA has continuing projects at Mount Spokane State Park and within several Spokane County conservation areas, and will be hosting a National Public Lands Day project at Fishtrap Recreation Area.
• Pacific Northwest Trail Association’s season continues through the beginning of October, with several drop-in or backpack volunteer opportunities in northeast Washington.

Holly Weiler is a long-time contributor to Out There Venture and writes The Trailhead column for each issue.

Find more trail recommendations in the Hike of the Month column.

The post Inland NW Trail & Outdoor News: Fall 2022 appeared first on Out There Venture.

A surprising number of intriguing and entertaining small-town museums stand along the routes to the Inland Northwest’s hiking, biking and boating destinations. These museums offer the outdoor enthusiast a new perspective on the natural areas to which they travel.

The region’s human history dates back thousands of years and is inextricably tied to the natural world. Our forests, waterways, fish and wildlife have supported indigenous communities, settlers, adventurers, towns, and industries.

As a matter of fact, it would be surprising to visit anywhere in the region that does not already have a human story attached to it. Those stories, when known, add depth, meaning, and greater connection to our favorite places.

The museums listed below are all worth a stop. Displays are arranged chronologically and in categories (think arrow heads, baskets, typewriters, household implements, and farm tools). Dioramas are packed with artifacts – sometimes to overflowing.

In addition, on the grounds of the museums below you’ll find cabins, a one-room schoolhouse, fire lookouts, sawmills, a chapel, and a full-sized 1910 house filled with original furnishings and décor.

Keep in mind that these facilities are largely operated on a shoestring budget and managed by volunteers. Small town museums typically begin with family collections and grow largely by happenstance and generosity. Exhibits and labels are crafted over decades, often by local old timers or volunteers, and reflect their own unique perspectives, interests, outlooks, and sensitivities.

Visitors may choose to view exhibits as a starting point for understanding timelines, themes, and historical figures of our region’s history, then take a deeper dive by reading some of the many well-written and researched articles and books out there.

Pend Oreille County Museum Historical Society (Newport, Wash.)

On the way from Spokane to Schweitzer, Sandpoint, Priest Lake, and Lake Pend Oreille, this museum is operated by the Pend Oreille County Historical Society.

It includes artifacts and antiques representing the region’s lifestyles and industry including needlework, household implements, typewriters, cash registers, musical instruments, tools, machinery, and vehicles. There is also an impressive and comprehensive collection of tools used for cutting and managing ice.

Don’t miss the mockups of a sawmill, cabin, fire lookout tower, schoolhouse, and chapel, all of which are walk-in and hands-on.

The museum is located in the historic I. & W.N. Depot Building at 402 S. Washington Ave. in Newport, Wash. Admission is $5 per adult (children free), and hours are Monday-Saturday 10 a.m.-4 p.m.; Sunday 1-4 p.m., and it’s open May 28 through September 5. More info at Pochsmuseum.org.

Wallace District Mining Museum (Wallace, Idaho)

This is a great stop on trips to Lookout Pass, the Route of the Hiawatha, Silver Mountain Bike Park, Fourth of July Pass, or adventures in Montana. The museum at 509 Bank Street is operated by the Wallace District Mining Museum.

Learn about mining history of the Coeur d’Alene Mining District (particularly the large silver mines), geology, methods used for mining over the past century, women and Black miners’ contributions, and the 1910 Big Burn. Cool artifacts include a mine “bicycle.”

Admission is $5 adults with discounts for families, and the museum is open daily from 9 a.m.-6 p.m. More info at Wallaceminingmuseum.com.

Spokane Valley Heritage Museum (Spokane Valley, Wash.)

Visit this museum in the Opportunity Township Hall building at E. 12114 Sprague Ave. as part of a day-trip to the Dishman Hills, Iller Creek, Saltese Uplands, or Antoine Peak trailheads.

Learn about namesakes of some of the area’s popular hiking destinations and natural areas; Hearts of Gold Cantaloupe; the pioneer towns of Opportunity and Spokane Bridge that were razed to make way for I-90; military, and telecommunications, railroads, and early-1900’s school- and home-life.

Don’t miss the 1899 mud shoes fabricated by Peter Morrison for his horses to wear to keep them from sinking into the mud while dredging canals that drained Saltese Lake.

Admission is $6 for adults (discounts for military, seniors, and children), and hours run Wednesday-Saturday from 11 a.m.-4 p.m. year-round. More info: Spokanevalleymuseum.com.

Keller Heritage Center (Colville, Wash.)

Take a tour of this museum operated by the Stevens County Historical Society on your next trip to the Colville National Forest, upper Columbia River, or Canada.

Highlights include pre-inundation Kettle Falls and the first bridge crossing the falls; clothing, tools, and implements crafted and used by early indigenous people including regalia, baskets, and arrow heads; the Hudson’s Bay Company and its trapping history; military history including the early U.S. Army installation of Fort Colville; U.S. Border Patrol; regional agricultural, mining, and timber development; Colville’s early 1900’s civic, home, and town life.

Especially cool artifacts include a photo of eels hauled out on rocks of the pre-inundation Kettle Falls, a sturgeon-nosed canoe, and a Nez Perce woven corn husk bottle.

Located at 700 N. Wynne St. in Colville, Wash., admission is $5 for adults with discounts for seniors, people with disabilities, children, and groups. Hours run daily May and September from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. and June through August from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday–Thursday and 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. Friday–Sunday. More info at Stevenscountyhistoricalsociety.org.

Lincoln County Historical Museum (Davenport, Wash.)

On the way to Lake Roosevelt and the Channeled Scablands trailheads, Davenport’s small-town museum is operated by the Lincoln County Historical Society.

It includes early Native tools and implements, mammoth fossils, Pioneer Bottling Works, the story of outlaw Harry Tracy, grain farming then and now, Fort Spokane history and early 1900’s domestic life history, and railroad and bridge building. An especially cool artifact is the humongous horse-drawn thresher used to harvest crops.

Located at 600 7^th Street in Davenport, Wash., suggested admission is $4 for adults and hours run June 7 for the summer from 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Tuesday-Saturday and Sundays by appointment. More info: Lincolncountymuseums.org.

Originally published as “Exploring the History of the Places Where We Play” in the July-August 2022 print issue.

Tabitha Gregory is a former director of a local history museum and has written about local history topics for Out There. She’s the author of the non-fiction book “Valdez Rises: One Town’s Struggle for Survival After the Great Alaska Earthquake.”

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Trail Improvements Underway

Trail projects continue into winter at several Spokane County Parks. The work may not be fully polished until next spring, but these in-progress trails may be at least partially ready for winter visitors.

New Trail at Mica Peak

Evergreen Mountain Bike Alliance – Eastern Washington Chapter has been taking the lead on the new Green Diamond Trail as a lower-elevation loop route on Mica Peak.

Snowshoe Route Markers at Hauser Conservation Area

Washington Trails Association has been working on improvements to the Hauser Conservation Area trails and will be placing snowshoe route markers on several Conservation Area trails to help with navigation once the trails are snow-covered.

Some general trail maintenance will also be completed throughout the system over the winter months.

Volunteer

Be sure to check the Out There Stewardship and Trail Maintenance calendar to learn about upcoming project dates and get involved with volunteer opportunities: Outthereoutdoors.com/volunteer-scheduling.

Conservation Futures Acquisitions

Spokane County Parks’ 2021 Prioritized Conservation Futures Acquisition List has been unanimously approved by the County Commissioners. The nominated Trolley Trail is expected to be acquired via an administrative acquisition.

Other top-ranked Conservation Futures nominations include a 118-acre addition to Palisades Park, a 54-acre addition to Saltese Uplands, and a 188-acre addition to Antoine Peak.

It will take some time for these acquisitions to be finalized, but updates will be posted at Spokane County’s Conservation Futures website.

Self-Guided Eagle Tours & Count This Year

The Bureau of Land Management is unable to host eagle viewing hikes near Coeur d’Alene this winter season due to ongoing Covid-19 concerns.

Instead, BLM encourages the public to take self-guided hikes and participate in the annual eagle count via the free iNaturalist app under the North Idaho Eagle Watch 2021-2022 project (open through the end of January). Mineral Ridge is a popular trail to try for prime eagle viewing.

Regional Outdoor Events Return

Several events that were cancelled in 2021 are scheduled to return in 2022. Mark the calendar for these fun regional outdoor opportunities, although stay tuned for potential cancelations due to the Omicron variant.

January 2022

• Republic Winterfest (Jan. 15). Not your typical fun run: three-person teams participate in outhouse races down Main Street in this event.
• Winterfest at Mount Spokane (Jan. 16), hosted by Spokane Nordic Ski Association with ski events for both adults and kids.
• Ferry County Rail Trail Ski Day (Jan. 22), a community ski event as snow conditions allow.
• Schweitzer’s Winter Trails Day (January 29), trail fees waived for both Nordic skiing and snowshoeing on 32K of trails at Schweitzer in Sandpoint, Idaho.

February 2022

• Loup Loup Randonee Race (Feb. 5), part of the Snowgoat SkiMo series. The competitive event will have one and four hour divisions.
• Langlauf Nordic ski race at Mount Spokane State Park (February 6).
• Souper Bowl for Women (Feb. 13) at Mount Spokane State Park. A fundraiser for the Women’s and Children’s Free Kitchen with both ski and snowshoe events.
• Spokane Great Outdoors & Bike Expo (Feb. 19-20), including local bike and gear shops, travel destinations, and more at the Spokane Convention Center.

Free Park Days

Washington State Parks: Discover Pass fee-free days this winter are January 1 and January 17, and the more upcoming free days are in March. Note that Mount Spokane State Park is a SnoPark during the winter months, so fee-free days do not apply.

Idaho’s Park N’ Ski: January 8 free day–no parking permits required. Priest Lake Nordic Club will be sponsoring a free ski and snowshoe event at Priest Lake State Park that day.

Methow Valley’s Backyard Ski Day: On January 21, fees are waived for the entire Methow trail system, including Nordic ski trails, snowshoe trails, fat bike trails, and free dog passes for the dog-friendly trails. Some local business will have free ski and snowshoe rentals on a first-come, first-served basis (make reservations ahead of time).

Schweitzer’s Winter Trails Day: On January 29, trail fees waived for both Nordic skiing and snowshoeing on 32K of trails.

Published in the January-February 2022 print issue.

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