Idaho’s Silver Valley is a fall adventure hub, where crisp mountain air and golden leaves set the stage for everything from biking iconic rail trails to exploring historic mines. This stretch of the Idaho Panhandle offers a perfect mix of outdoor recreation, small-town charm, and history. Whether you’re chasing the thrill of a race, pedaling through tunnels and trestles or along the Coeur d’Alene River, or hiking to alpine lakes to earn that post-hike craft beer, there’s no shortage of ways to soak up the season. Here are nine adventures to inspire your fall trip to North Idaho’s Silver Valley.

Go for a Hike and Check Out Local Craft Breweries

Spend the day hiking one of the many trails in the Bitterroot Mountains above Silver Valley, and then hit up one of the valley’s craft breweries. Take your pick from these favorite Silver Valley–area hikes. Once you’ve worked up a thirst, pay a visit to Wallace’s City Limits Brew Pub, Wallace Brewing, or Radio Brewing in Kellogg.

• Stevens Lake near Lookout Pass: This 4+-mile round-trip hike climbs 1,600 feet and includes some steep sections of trail. It’s considered a challenging hike, but the subalpine lake and mountain views are worth it.
• Blossom Lakes Trail: Heading out from Thompson Pass, the 6-mile round-trip hike to Lower Blossom Lake climbs just over 1,100 feet, making it a moderate-to-difficult trek. The lush forest can make for great fall colors if you time it right.
• Revett Lake: This 4-mile round-trip hike into the high country climbs 500 feet in elevation from the trailhead at Thompson Pass but is considered an intermediate hike on a well-worn trail that’s great for hikers of all ages and abilities. Highlights include the beautiful lake, towering Granite Peak, and a waterfall.
• Pulaski Tunnel Trail: A little over a mile from downtown Wallace, the Pulaski Tunnel Interpretive Trail—the site where Ed Pulaski found his crew of 45 men trapped and surrounded by the August 1910 wildfire—is a 4-mile round-trip hike with historical signs. With around 800 feet of elevation gain, this hike is rated as an easy-to-moderate trail.
  
  

Riding the NorPac Trail near Lookout Pass. Photos courtesy of Carol Corbin

Explore Lesser‑known Idaho Panhandle Rail Trails by Bike

If you are looking for a new rail-trail route to ride this fall, spend a few days exploring the Old Milwaukee Railroad Trail, Northern Pacific (NorPac) Trail, or the Route of the Olympian. These routes offer quiet gravel or mixed‑surface rides through forest and mountains and are best ridden on mountain or gravel bikes. Find routes and other information at Friendsofcdatrails.org.

Photo courtesy of the Historic Wallace Chamber

Ride the Sierra Silver Mine Trolley and Tour a Real Mine in Wallace, Idaho

Ride an open‑air trolley through Wallace’s historic district up to the Sierra Silver Mine. Retired miners lead you into a sideways cut in the mountain. The tour typically runs through mid-October.

Bike the Trail of the Coeur d’Alenes

The 73‑mile paved Trail of the Coeur d’Alenes unfurls across evergreen forest, autumnal wetlands, and river corridors, offering a quiet, wildlife‑rich ride through fall color. You can roll directly from your Wallace lodging, pedaling east toward Mullan or west through Silver Valley. Out‑and‑back rides are popular, or you can arrange a shuttle. Deer, elk, swans, moose and other wildlife are often spotted along the way.

Take a Walking Tour of Wallace, Idaho Mining Museums and Historic Sites

Wallace, Idaho, has multiple museums and historic sites in town that you can explore on foot, as well as a walking tour of the many buildings on the National Register of Historic Places. Museums include the Mine Heritage Exhibition, Northern Pacific Depot Museum, Barnard-Stockbridge Museum and Wallace District Mining Museum.

Moose along the Coeur d’Alene River. Photo courtesy of Bradley Bleck

Tour the Crystal Gold Mine in Kellogg, Idaho

Step back into Idaho’s mining past with a visit to the Crystal Gold Mine in Kellogg, the first hard-rock gold mine in Idaho that opened in the 1880s. After being abandoned for nearly a century, the mine was opened to the public for guided underground tours. Visitors will see veins of gold and other minerals still visible in the rock, learn about early hard-rock mining methods, and hear the mine’s story. Kids especially enjoy the chance to pan for gold and gems at the end of the tour. Tours typically run through the end of October.

Ride the Route of the Hiawatha

This stellar 15‑mile rail‑to‑trail ride includes seven sky‑high trestles, 10 tunnels, and a spectacular journey under the Bitterroot Mountains via the 1.66‑mile Taft Tunnel. It is typically open through late September. Lookout Pass offers trail passes, bike and gear rentals, and shuttles to simplify logistics so that you can focus on riding this historic route.

Scenic gondola rides run into September. Photo courtesy of Silver Mountain Resort

Take a Scenic Gondola Ride at Silver Mountain Resort

Silver Mountain offers the longest gondola ride in North America. Just off I-90 in Kellogg, the scenic ride travels over three miles as it climbs 3,000 feet up the mountain to the Mountain House Lodge. The ride takes 20 to 30 minutes each way, and you’ll want to plan time for a hike and fall huckleberry picking. The gondola runs on a few weekends in September before closing down for the season.

For more trip planning ideas and information including lodging options in North Idaho’s Silver Valley, visit the Historic Silver Valley Chamber of Commerce.

Run the Jackass Half Marathon and 5k on Oct. 4

The Jackass Half Marathon and 5k Race offers a scenic run or walk along the Coeur d’Alene River on the paved Trail of the Coeur d’Alenes. Both courses are point-to-point and mostly downhill between Wallace and Kellogg. The 2025 half marathon and 5K only had a few spots left as of early September but there were spots available for the kids’ race. This is the perfect race for beginners or casual joggers or walkers and a fast course for competitive runners.  

(Sponsored)

The post Fall Adventures in Idaho’s Silver Valley appeared first on Out There Venture.

By Bradley Bleck

Cover photo courtesy of Bradley Bleck

Looking for bike rentals in Spokane or North Idaho? These Inland Northwest shops offer a wide range of rentals, from e-bikes to fat bikes. Each shop suggests reserving a bike well in advance of when you plan to ride. It’s also advisable to bring a helmet and your pedals if you prefer clipless.

Spokane

Hillyard Bicycle (part of North Division Bicycle) offers over 50 rentals, including mountain, gravel, hybrid, fat, and electric bikes. Rentals start at $45 a day for hybrid/comfort bikes, $50 for a hardtail mountain bike, and $60 for fat bikes. E-bikes start at $100 a day. Racks and helmets are available. northdivision.com

Spoke ‘n Sport rents flat-bar road bikes and kids’ bikes along with bike racks, starting at $40 a day. Each rental includes a helmet. Tire repair kits, locks, and tubes are available. A deposit is required. Rentals are for paved road use only; ideal for urban riders and families. spokensportinc.net

Bike Hub stores on the South Hill and in Spokane Valley have e-bikes that start at $65 a day or $325 for the week. Gravel bikes are $75 a day and $375 a week. Mountain bikes range from $75 to $100 a day and $375 to $500 for a week. Electric mountain bikes are $150 a day or $750 for the week. Weekend pricing is available. thebikehub.com

Idaho Panhandle

The Coeur d’Alene Bike Company has e-bikes starting at $65 for four hours. Comfort, gravel, and road bikes start at $40 for four hours. Tandem bikes, beach cruisers, and children’s bikes are also offered for a variety of riders. For The Route of the Hiawatha, rentals from the Kellogg location are for a full day at $65 for a comfort bike and $50 for a kids’ bike. No e-bikes are available for The Route of the Hiawatha. Lights are $10 for each bike. cdabikeco.com

Spokehaus in Wallace offers only electric bikes, perfect for exploring the Silver Valley. For Route of the Hiawatha use, the bikes cannot be placed on the shuttle, so must be ridden back up the trail. Tailgate protector pads are available for pickup trucks. Transport of the bikes is available by reservation. Daily rental prices start at $100. Bikes for the Trail of the Coeur d’Alenes and Silver Valley/Wallace are available starting at $35 for two hours. thespokehouse.com

The Cycle Haus Bikes and Brews in Harrison, Idaho, has several electric models available, starting at $40 for two hours. Standard pedal bikes and step-through models start at $30 for two hours. thecyclehaus.com/bikes/bike-rentals

Sandpoint’s Syringa Cyclery has cross-country, downhill, fat, and gravel bikes with one e-mountain bike available for half-day, full-day, or weekly rental. All mountain bike rentals are full-suspension for trail-ready performance. Prices start at $50 for a half-day, $90 for a full day, and $450 for a week. syringacyclery.com

Bicycle Adventures and Bike Wallace are partnering with the Stardust Motel to provide shuttles up to the Route of the Hiawatha. Rates start at $90 a day for mountain and fat bikes and $125 a day for gravel and e-bikes. Helmets, water bottles, and lights are provided. bikewallace.com

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

The post Where to Rent Bikes in Spokane and North Idaho appeared first on Out There Venture.

Cover photo courtesy of Priest Lake Watersports

If this list doesn’t send you into a race-registering frenzy, I don’t know what will. Our region is packed with incredible options for running, riding, triathlon-ing, and getting outside from March through October. The only problem, my friends: you can’t be in two places at once.  

ROAD RUNNING Note that USATF-sanctioned events do not allow strollers.  

St. Paddy’s Five Miler (March 9): This family-friendly road run starts and finishes at Spokane Community College and is an official Bloomsday second-seed qualifier race. “Lucky Leprechaun Jig” (free) hosted for kids 6 and under. 

Shamrock Shuffle (March 16): An early spring half marathon, 10k and 5k, with Kids’ Fun Run, organized by Negative Split. All distances wind through Riverfront Park in Spokane.  

Rapid Rabbit Run (March 23): 3-mile & 5-mile runs (virtual options). Proceeds benefit East Valley High School’s senior class (Spokane Valley). The 5-miler is a Bloomsday second-seed qualifier race.  

Yakima River Canyon Marathon & Half Marathon (March 29): USATF-certified course with views of the Yakima River Canyon make this a scenic, early-season Boston Qualifier marathon with half marathon option. 

Only Fools Run at Midnight 5k (March 29): Run the streets of downtown Medical Lake starting at 11:30 p.m. and finish at the Pizza Factory in this 47^th Annual Run. Organized by Medical Lake Lions Club. Virtual Options. 

The Split Half Marathon, 10k & 5k (April 13): This Negative Split event is a flat, scenic course through Riverfront Park and along the Spokane River. Kids’ fun run also offered. 

Jr. Bloomsday (April 13): A 1-mile race for kids grades 3-7 aimed to foster a love for fitness and fun. Located at Spokane Falls Community College campus with an awesome prize pack for participants. Supports Active4Youth nonprofit. 

Hauser Lake Icebreaker Run (April 19): 5k and 10k runs around the lake in Hauser, Idaho, are a fundraiser for the special-needs rescue dogs at Double J Dog Ranch. 10k course is a Bloomsday second-seed qualifier. Walkers and friendly dogs welcome. Finish medals for humans and finish bandanas for canines. 

Wenatchee Marathon, Half Marathon, 10k & 5k (April 19): Paved activity trails follow the Columbia River and offer beautiful spring views of the Cascades. USATF-certified with a Boston-qualifier marathon, this TedDriven race supports cancer research.   

Run the River (April 19): Marathon, Half Marathon, Relay, 5k and Kids’ Marathon courses run on paved paths along the Columbia River through all three cities of the Tri-Cities. Flat and fast with a Boston-qualifier marathon. 

Spring Dash (April 26): Take on a Half Marathon, 10k, 5k or Tot Trot (10 and under) from Coeur d’Alene’s McEuen Park on out-and-back paved routes with views of Lake Coeur d’Alene. USATF certified; 10k is a Bloomsday second-seed qualifier.  

Apple Blossom Run (May 3): 10k, 5k, and kids’ 2k are a part of the Wenatchee Apple Blossom Festival.  

Lilac Bloomsday Run (May 4): The iconic Spokane 12k race. Challenging, fun course for runners, walkers and wheelchair participants to celebrate the spirit of the Lilac City. 

Long Bridge Half Marathon, 10k, & 5k (May 10): This Sandpoint, Idaho, race  includes over 3 miles of running over beautiful Lake Pend Oreille with a start at Sandpoint City Beach Park. Run this race and do the Long Bridge Swim (Aug. 2) to earn the Long Bridge Duathlon medal. Organized by Priest Lake Multisports.  

Leavenworth Mai BlumenLauf (May 11): The Mai BlumenLauf (May Flower Run) is a new event by TedDriven with half marathon, 10k and 5k courses through the Bavarian-themed town of Leavenworth and on its river-front trails. USATF certified.   

The Ta Ta Dash (May 17): Run through beautiful Manito Park in this run put on by Beyond Pink to help prevent and screen for breast cancer. 10k, 5k, and kids’ ⅓ mile distances available. 

Windermere Marathon (May 18): Marathon, Half Marathon, 10k, 5k and kids’ fun run options take runners along the scenic Centennial Trail and Spokane River in this point-to-point certified Boston Qualifier that ends at Riverfront Park.  

Race to Remember 5k (May 24): This fun run through Fairmount Memorial Park pays tribute to fallen officers on Memorial Day with a course decorated with American Flags and benefitting the Beyond the Call of Duty program. 

Coeur d’Alene Marathon (May 25): Scenic race with a start/finish at McEuen Park in downtown Coeur d’Alene, Idaho. Hosted by Negative Split. Marathon, Half Marathon, 10k, 5k, and kids’ fun run available. USATF certified Boston qualifier.  

Priest Lake Spring Fun Run (May 25): Run along the lakeshore at beautiful Priest Lake with a 10k, 5k, or kids’ dash. Lines up with Priest Lake Spring Festival.  

T9 Mermaid Run (May 31): Hosted by Title 9, the Mermaid Series is a celebration of women’s movement. New Half Marathon distance this year in addition to 10k, 5k and mermaid dash (ages 6-12). Start/finish at Riverfront Park. 

Metaline Falls Bigfoot 5K (June 14): Takes place in the historic town of Metaline Falls in Pend Oreille County in conjunction with the town’s unique Bigfoot Festival. Additional kids’ color run option on June 13.  

Missoula Marathon (June 27-29): The “Last Best Race” offers Marathon, Half Marathon, and 5k distances over the weekend with a Friday night beer run and 1-mile kids’ marathon. A scenic race named Best Marathon in the US several times. 

Spokenya Run/Walk 7k (July 2025): A race designed to raise money for clean water acts in rural Kenya. 

Wallace Huckleberry Festival 5k (Aug. 18): This 5k in North Idaho is part of the 40^th annual Wallace Huckleberry Festival, a weekend with vendors, music, and huckleberry pancake breakfast. Strollers and leashed dogs welcome. 

Run the Night (Aug. 23): An evening glow run offering distances of Half Marathon, 10k, 5k, and Kids’ Fun run. Start/Finish at Spokane Fairgrounds.  

Deutschesfest Fun Run (Sept. 18-21): German community festival in Odessa, Wash., includes a parade, fun run, brats, brews and more. 

Run the Dam Half Marathon, 10k & 5k (Sept. 20): Run across Grand Coulee Dam and along Banks Lake as part of the Run the Dam Festival in Grand Coulee, Wash. 

Boulevard Race (Sept. 21): A fun and fast 4-mile race benefitting the Community Cancer Fund beginning at the McCarthey Athletic Center and running downtown. Includes wheelchair division. 

Valleyfest River Run (Sept. 21): 10k and 5k distances start/finish at Plante’s Ferry in Spokane Valley, running mostly on the Centennial Trail. Bloomsday qualifier.  

Leavenworth Marathon & Half Marathon (Oct. 4): A mix of paved roads, wooded trails, and dirt paths take runners through the stunning fall terrain of Leavenworth’s Icicle Canyon and downtown. A USATF-certified Boston Qualifier race by TedDriven, supporting cancer research.  

Jackass Half Marathon & 5k (Oct. 4): This point-to-point race along the paved Trail of the Coeur d’Alenes will run through the beautiful fall scapes of the Silver Valley from Wallace to Kellogg, Idaho.   

Hayden Lake Marathon (Oct. 11): Marathon, Half Marathon, Quarter Marathon, 5k and kids’ fun run starts and finishes at Honeysuckle Beach, running along beautiful Hayden Lake.  

Spokane Marathon, Half Marathon & 10k (Oct. 12): Proceeds from this Boston Marathon qualifier race benefit local high school cross-country programs. The 10k is a Bloomsday second-seed qualifier. 

Halloween Hustle (Oct. 26): Spooky Half Marathon, 10k and 5k event in Coeur d’Alene, Idaho, organized by Negative Split.  

Race to Feed Our Vets (Nov. 9): A 5k run through Riverside Memorial Park to benefit Meals on Wheels of Spokane, with free beer and chili at the end of the race.  

TRAIL RUNNING 

Badger Mountain Challenge (March 21-22): Ultra distances of 100 miles, 100k, 50 miles, and 55k with a 15k option offer expansive views of the Columbia Basin. Proceeds support WTA, Friends of Badger Mountain, and Girls on the Run. USATF sanctioned event. Register by March 16.  

Ancient Lakes 50-mile, 50k, 25k & 10k (April 5-6): Experience the unique desert landscape of the Ancient Lakes area near Quincy, Wash., with this single-track race that includes a scenic waterfall. 

Yakima Skyline 25k (April 13): An out-and-back course in the high desert of the Yakima River Canyon outside Ellensburg, Wash., with open views and 4,700 feet of elevation gain. 

Caveman Roar & Pour (April 26): Run through the Cave B Winery estate in Quincy, Wash., overlooking the stunning Columbia River Gorge. Caveman/cavewoman costumes encouraged. Wine tasting and live music afterward. 

Spokane River Run (April 27): This race through Riverside State Park’s trails offers many distances: 5k, 10k, 25k, 25k Challenge, 50k, 50k team relay, and a new 25k Tag Team (2-person relay). New finish line amenity: Garland Brew Werks Beer Garden. Fundraiser for Garfield Elementary A.P.P.L.E. program and others. 

Run Like the Wind Running Festival (April 27): 5k, 10k and kids’ dash along the trails, paths and roads at the Wild Horse Wind and Solar Facility in Ellensburg, Wash.; benefits Kittitas County Search and Rescue. 

Sun Mountain Trail Races (May 17 & 18): Run in the wildflower-carpeted Methow Valley in a 50-miler, 50k, 20-miler or 25k with stunning views of the Cascades at the edge of the Chelan Sawtooth Wilderness.  

Hiawatha Trail Run (June 8): An epic run down Idaho’s Hiawatha Trail, cruising on crushed-rock rail trail and through old railroad tunnels that require headlights. 50k, 25k, 15k, or 10k available. Organized by Negative Split.  

Kaniksu Trail Runs (June 14): Multiple lengths available: Long Walk 100k, Kaniksu 50-mile, Blister Club (Solo Ruck), Emory Corwine Memorial Ruck Race, Sweet 50k, Tall Trees 29k, Herman’s Half, and SERE Beer Mile. Events take place in the Lower Selkirk Mountain Range of Colville National Forest. 

“The Kan” Mountain Ultra Trail Race (June 14): 50k, 25k, and 10k options at Mount Spokane State Park traverse alpine meadows and old pine forests.  

Trail Rail Run 50-mile, 50-mile relay, 50k, 30k, 12k and 5k (June 21): A run from Mullan, Idaho, to St. Regis, Mont., along the old Milwaukee and Northern Pacific Railroad grades. 

Race the Wolf (June 21-22): Enjoy the flowy and challenging trails on Schweitzer Mountain in Sandpoint, Idaho, with a Marathon, Half Marathon or 5-mile race. A straight uphill 1-mile “sky climb” also offered, with a ride down the mountain via ski lift. Part of the GRIT North Idaho Trail series.   

Mountain Magic Trail Run (June 29): 25k, 10k, and 5k options, with a new 35k Grand Tour distance. Experience the summer trails of Mount Spokane State Park.  

The “Original” Bare Buns Fun Run (July 27): Clothing-optional 5k trail run/walk at the Kaniksu Ranch Family Nudist Park near Loon Lake, Wash. 

Rams Twilight Trail Run 5k (July; TBA): A 5k run along the trails near Riverside High School in Chattaroy that starts at 7:30 p.m. (headlamps highly encouraged); trail marked by glowsticks. Organized by Riverside’s Cross Country Team. 

Tartarus Backyard Ultra (Sept. 6): A “Last Person Standing” ultra race for runners and ruckers through Riverside State Park.  

Jump off Joe Marathon (Sept. 6): Gravel roads on and around Jump off Joe Mountain near Kennewick, Wash., provide great views from the top of the hill; half marathon and marathon course make the summit. Also a 10k option.  

Mt. Spokane Trail Run (Sept. 7): This Negative Split trail run has three scenic course options that start and finish at Selkirk Lodge on Mount Spokane. 25k, 10k and 5k distances. 

Priest Lake Marathon, Half Marathon & 50k (Sept. 13): Wilderness trail run through cedar groves and along lakeshore in the Panhandle National Forest. Part of The GRIT North Idaho trail run series organized by Priest Lake Multisports. 

Moscow Mountain Madness Half Marathon, 50k & 5-Mile (Oct. 5): Challenging course along technical single-track and logging roads. Hosted by Palouse Road Runners in Moscow, Idaho. 
Wild Moose Chase Trail Run (Oct; TBA) 25k, 10k and 5k trail runs at Riverside State Park hosted by Eastern Washington University’s PT department students. Larch Madness Trail Races (Oct. 12): A challenging run on the eastern edge of the Cascades in the Loup Loup Ski Bowl, alight with golden larch trees this time of year. 50k, 25k, 15k and 5k options. 
Sekani Trail Run 10k, 5k and 1k Kids’ Run (Oct; TBA): Adventure run/hike/walk on trails typically held at Camp Sekani Park in Spokane; this annual fall trail run is a fundraiser for Franklin Elementary School’s A.P.P.L.E. program. 

Fall Flash 10k Race & 5k Fun Run (Nov; TBA): Course is a combination of paved and gravel roads and rolling hills of the Palouse countryside. Hosted by Palouse Road Runners, based in Moscow, Idaho. 

ROAD CYCLING 

Bike Everywhere Month Spokane (May): Events and activities typically include a Bloomsday bike corral, a pancake breakfast in Riverfront Park, and energizer stations for morning commuters. Organized by the Spokane Bicycle Club. 

Lilac Century Ride (May 18): Fun, scenic and challenging road tours (25-mile, 50-mile, 66-mile, and 100-mile). Start/finish at Big Barn Brewing Company in Green Bluff. 32-mile gravel option.  

CHAFE 150 Gran Fondo (June 14): Gran fondo scenic ride—not a race—starting from City Beach in Sandpoint, Idaho, and riding along Lake Pend Oreille into Montana. Route options include road rides of 150, 80, 40 or 25 miles, a 55- or 75-mile gravel ride, and a family fun ride. Organized by Sandpoint Rotary; proceeds support a literacy program benefitting Pend Oreille School District students. 

Spokane Summer Parkways (June 17): A free route for bikes, pedestrians, and other human-powered transportation in the South Hill Manito/Comstock neighborhoods. Family-friendly event with fun, snacks and entertainment along the way. 

Cycle Chelan (June 21): This event is celebrating its 20^th anniversary ride this year with the Metric Century Challenge (100 km, with 4,000 feet of elevation gain), Lake Loop (45 miles), and Cycle di Vino (30 miles) around stunning Lake Chelan. E-bikes welcome. 

Northwest Tandem Rally (July 4-6): Hosted in Spokane Valley, Wash., this year by Valleyfest, tandem bike riders enjoy scenic rides and tandem bike community.  

Tour de Whatcom (July 19): Ride distance options include Century (100 miles), Metric Century (62 miles), 44 miles, or 22 miles. Scenic course, with start/finish in downtown Bellingham, Wash. 

Spokane Valley Cycle Celebration (July 27): Organized by Valleyfest, ride options include a 10-mile “Family-Friendly” route, 25-mile “Adventure Ride,” and the 50-mile “Hills Around the Valley.” 

RIM Ride (Sept. 6-7): “Rotary in Motion” routes offer both flat and elevation rides 5-mile family bike ride on Saturday, followed by 15-, 25-, 50-, and 100-mile rides on Sunday; hosted by the Rotary Club of Liberty Lake, Wash. 

WaCanId Selkirk Loop Ride (Sept. 8-13): A six-day ride over 395 miles making a supported scenic route around the Selkirk Mountains. Route includes two international border crossings (between U.S. and Canada), check WaCanId.org for event updates. 

Mt. Baker Hill Climb (Sept. 14): A 22-mile race with over 4,000 feet in elevation gain takes riders up a winding, rugged highway into the alpine. There are three categories—social, recreational and competitive. Benefits the Shifting Gears program. 

Coeur d’Fondo (Sept. 20): Ride along beautiful Coeur d’Alene lake and choose from five distances—Gran Fondo (116 mi.), Medio Fondo (86 mi.), Centro Fondo (47 mi.), Piccolo Fondo (36 mi.), and Family Fondo (14 mi.). Centro and Piccolo courses include a boat cruise.  

MOUNTAIN BIKING/GRAVEL RIDES 

Echo Red to Red XC MTB Race (March 15): Cross-country mountain bike race begins in the historic town of Echo, Oregon, with most of it on trails at Echo West Ranch & Vineyard. 

Gran Fondo Ephrata (March 23): A spring classic on remote back roads of Central Washington. Grand (85 mi.) and Medio (45 mi.) options with plenty of climbing. Register by March 20.  

Hilly Nilly Gravel Series (Monthly, March 17-June 16): Self-supported free group rides monthly (usually the 3^rd Sunday) in the months of March, April, May, and June. Course and starting point out of the Coeur d’Alene area posted a week ahead on Facebook. 

Washington Student Cycling League—Spring League (Spring): Co-ed mountain biking development program and spring race series for riders in grades 6-12, beginners through advanced, organized by the nonprofit Washington Student Cycling League. School-based and composite teams, with high school and middle divisions. Individuals can also participate and compete as an independent rider. Volunteer coaches are encouraged to start new teams. 

Hub-a-Palooza (April 11-13): A three-day mountain bike festival with downhill and enduro races at Beacon Hill/Camp Sekani in Spokane, hosted by Velo Northwest. 

Evergreen East—Classes & Clinics (April-Oct.): Mountain Bike Foundations classes start in April, with sessions offered both weekends and weeknights. Options include beginner, intermediate, freeride, technical descending, jumps classes, women-only classes, and private lessons. Classes are located at Camp Sekani unless otherwise noted. Scholarships available. 

Wednesday MTB Race Series at Riverside State Park (May 1-June 26): For nine consecutive Wednesday evenings, this popular annual event features a different race course each week. Free entry for age 18 and younger. 

3/4 Minus Cykeltur (May 3): The ¾ Minus Cykeltur is a gravel gran fondo with a 52-mile route and 75-mile route starting out of Sandpoint, Idaho. Concludes with party and award ceremony at Matchwood Brewing with food, drink and live music. This is the first stage of the Idaho Panhandle Gravel Series. 

Idaho Interscholastic Cycling League (May-October): Race series for youth in grades 6-12. 

Gran Fondo Leavenworth (May 18): A tough race with lots of climbing, Grande (82 mi.) and Medio (40 mi.) distances traverse mountain passes and forest service roads with updated 2025 routes.  

The Lilac Gravel Flamdangle (May 18): A 32-mile gravel ride, with half the course on unpaved/gravel surfaces. Start and Finish at Green Bluff’s Big Barn Brewery. Part of the Lilac Century event.  

24 Hours of Riverside (May 24-25): The ultimate 24-hour MTB team relay at Riverside State Park with racing and camping. Can also compete as a solo rider. Race is Saturday to Sunday, with a kids’ bike parade Saturday night. 

Climb for the Cure (June 21): A gravel and mountain bike race that starts/ends at Big Barn Brewery and summits Mount Spokane in the middle. New route options include a 22-miler and 50-miler. It’s a race to end cancer. Win up to $12,000 in prices, gear, and discounts when you participate. New pedal assist category open.  

Monarch Grind (June 28): This 70-mile gravel gran fondo starts and ends just outside of Clark Fork, Idaho, and loops in the iconic peaks above Lake Pend Oreille. Event number two in the Idaho Panhandle Gravel Series. 

Northwest Cup (July 25-27) Silver Mountain Bike Park hosts one of the stops for this seven-race series across the Northwest. 

The Last Best Ride (July 27): Ride the gravel backroads of Whitefish, Mont., with challenging terrain and stunning views in the state known as “The Last Best Place.” You’ll have to get on the waitlist for “The Big Horn Sheep” 95-miler, and there are a few spots in “The Mountain Goat” 51-miler open.  
Aether’s Traverse (Aug. 16): A 35-mile gravel ride that departs Sandpoint and climbs up and over the Selkirks into the Priest River drainage basin before a return climb of 6,300 feet up to Schweitzer’s Sky House for a final chairlift ride down for the post-ride party. 

TRIATHLON/WATERSPORTS/MULTISPORTS 

Leadman Triathlon (April 19): Participants ski or snowboard a mile down Silver Mountain, then bike 7 miles down into Kellogg, Idaho, for a final 4-mile run. BBQ lunch and live music in the Gondola Village after the race. 

Rage in the Sage Duathlon (May 3): A 2.5-mile cross country run and 10 mile mountain or gravel bike section beginning at Kiona Vineyards in Benton City. Relay options. 

Onion Man Triathlon (May 18): Olympic distance race at the base of the Blue Mountains, USA Triathlon Sanctioned. Relay and Aquabike options.  

Ski to Sea (May 25): A multi-sport relay adventure race with teams of 3-8 people. Starts at Mt. Baker Ski Area and finishes in Bellingham Bay. The seven different sport legs include: cross-country ski, downhill ski/snowboard, running, road bike, canoe, cyclocross bike and sea kayak. 

Medical Lake Trailblazer Tri/Du/5k (June 21): Sprint distance triathlon with 350-meter swim, 12.2-mile bike, and 2.9-mile run; Duathlon with 1-mile run, 12.2-mile bike, and 2.9-mile run; and 5k run. Starts and ends at Coney Island Park in Medical Lake, Wash. 

Ironman 70.3 Coeur d’Alene (June 22): Half Ironman race based at City Park in downtown Coeur d’Alene includes 1.2-mile lake swim, 56-mile bike ride and 13.1-mile run. 

Righteous Richland Sprint Triathlon (July 12): A swim in the Columbia River kicks off this sprint tri with relay options. Mountain bike leg goes from Howard Amon Park to the Chamna Nature preserve with a final 3-mile foot path run.  

Hayden Sprint Triathlon (July 12): Swim, run and bike solo in this sprint triathlon, or register with a team to compete in the relay. Starts/ends at transition area at Honeysuckle Beach on Lake Hayden.  

Long Bridge Swim (Aug. 2): A 1.76-mile swim race across Lake Pend Oreille, aside the Sandpoint, Idaho, iconic Long Bridge. 30^th Annual event. 

Coeur d’Alene Triathlon/Duathlon (Aug. 9): Three registration options for this Coeur d’Alene event: Olympic triathlon (swim 1.5k, bike 40k, run 10k), scenic sprint triathlon (swim 0.5k, bike 20k, run 5k), or duathlon (run 5k, bike 40k, run 10k). 

Tri-Town Float Down Poker Paddle (TBA): Paddle the Pend Oreille River from the town of Ione to Metaline Falls, Wash. Event tentative; check Facebook for details. Raises funds for cancer patients and veterans.  

Swim the Snake (Aug. 9): An open water swim, kayak or stand-up paddle across the Snake River channel between Lyons Ferry State Park and Lyons Ferry Marina near the town of Starbuck, Wash. Fundraiser for Blue Mountain Resource Conservation and Development Council and local youth summer swim teams. 

Priest Lake Triathlon (Aug. 23): Choose between a sprint off-road triathlon or the sprint road bike course in the beautiful area around Priest Lake. Compete individually or as a team; start/finish near Hill’s Resort. 

Jen McKenna Paddle and Run (Sept. 6): Get the best of both worlds and kayak or SUP 1.6 miles from Higgens Point (CDA, Idaho) before running 4 miles along the Centennial Trail. New this year: a new long course with 3-person team option (two runners, one paddler). Event honors Jen McKenna, who died of complications from cystic fibrosis. Proceeds benefit Companions Animal Shelter. Post-race food and beer, plus great race swag. 

Diamond Tri Your Best Triathlon (Sept. 6): Event takes place at the Cowles Scout Reservation in Diamond Lake, Wash., and includes a SuperSprint (200-yard swim, 6-mile bike, 1.5-mile trail run; ages 11+); Sprint Tri (400-yard swim, 12-mile bike, 3-mile trail run; ages 18+); and Olympic Tri (1,600-yard swim, 23-mile bike, 6-mile trail run; ages 18+). Registration includes lunch from David’s Pizza. 

 

OUTDOORSY EVENTS 

Ask a Mechanic Anything (March 14): Learn bike maintenance tips and win prizes at Two Wheeler Dealer bike shop in Hayden, Idaho.  

OutLive Film Festival (March 20): Second annual festival of films that tell true cancer survivor stories of courage and healing lived outdoors. 7 p.m. at the Washington Cracker Co. building downtown Spokane. 

Big Horn Outdoor Adventure Show (March 20-23): Gear and resources for fishing and boating, hunting, backpacking, and shooting sports. Hosted by Inland Northwest Wildlife Council at the Spokane Fair and Expo Center. 

Reel Rock 19 (March 23): A fundraiser for the Bower Climbing Coalition at the Washington Cracker Building in downtown Spokane (4-8 p.m.). Climbing films, food and drinks, silent auction, and gear raffle. 

Wild & Scenic Film Festival (March 28): Films to inspire activism and a love for nature at the Panida Theater in Sandpoint. A benefit for Friends of Scotchman Peaks Wilderness. 

The Lands Council 40^th Anniversary Auction (April 5): Help protect the Inland Northwest’s forests, waters, and wildlife while bidding on outdoor packages and other cool items including a canoe formerly owned by Eddie Vedder of the band Pearl Jam. 

Ice Age Floods Presentation Series (April 15, 28, & May 14): Spokane County Library District hosts these three presentations from the local chapter of the Ice Age Floods Institute (pre-registration is required).  
Spokane Bike Swap (April 19): The biggest bike sale event of the year. Buy or sell used bikes and check out biking and outdoor recreation booths at the Spokane Fairgrounds. All proceeds benefit local cycling-related non-profit projects. 
Spokane Riverkeeper Earth Day River Cleanup (April 19): Be a part of the community effort to keep our river clean at this family-friendly Earth Day cleanup from 10 a.m. – 1p.m. at High Bridge Park near downtown Spokane.   

Stonerose Fossil Site Members’ Weekend (April 25-27): A members’ only fossil digging weekend at Stonerose Interpretive Center & Eocene Fossil Site near Republic, Wash., (8 a.m.-4 p.m. each day). 

Turnbull National Wildlife Refuge Restoration Project (April 26): Help with wildlife habitat restoration work at the refuge near Cheney, Wash., including tree potting, tree planting, fence removal, and tending to a pollinator garden. Light refreshments will be provided by the Friends of Turnbull NWR. 
Range to Ranch Overlanding Gathering (June 19-22): Nestled between Idaho’s rugged Sawtooth Mountains and the Lost River Range, this event at Swenson Butte Ranch offers a blend of off-road exploration, community connection, outdoor adventure, and camping in one of Idaho’s most scenic landscapes.  

Editor’s Note: Did we miss your favorite race, ride or outdoors event? Email lisa@outthereventure.com, and we will do our best to include it next year. 

The post Race, Ride, & Event Guide 2025  appeared first on Out There Venture.

In 2024, there are more people out enjoying our public lands trails throughout the Inland Northwest than ever before. Thankfully these and other trail improvements and new construction have given outdoor enthusiasts more miles to pedal and wander. 

• 2004: Trail of the Coeur d’Alenes established. In 2010 the 73-mile trail was named one of the top 25 trails in the nation by the Rails to Trails Conservancy.  

• 2005: The 3.5-mile Mickinnick Trail near Sandpoint opened to the public. The land was donated to the USFS by the Pleass family in 1997, and the trail was later developed through grants and local partnerships. 

• 2008: Ferry County Rail Trail Partners was formed to develop the former railroad line into a nonmotorized trail for Ferry County. The group was subsequently able to secure several grants to improve the trail surface and create trailhead access points.  

• 2010: Friends of the Bluff nonprofit was established to provide education and conservation efforts dedicated to Spokane’s South Hill Bluff property. 

• 2010: Lake City Trails Alliance was established to coordinate work on mountain bike and hiking trails in the Coeur d’Alene area. 

• 2010: Spokane’s Centennial Trail was designated a National Recreation Trail. In 2016 the trail was extended 2 miles to the west with the addition of a new section near Sontag Park for a full length of 40 miles. 

• 2012: The owners of Sherwood Forest (outside Sandpoint) partnered with Kaniksu Land Trust to protect 140 acres of forest land in a conservation easement while allowing for recreational access on a parcel that connects to Pine Street Woods. 

• 2012: The City of Colville considered declaring its Colville Mountain property surplus and available to sell for development. Due to an objection by a member of the public, the City Council passed a motion to retain the land as natural open space instead. In 2019 the city finalized a trail plan for the 256-acre property and in 2022 was additionally able to purchase an adjacent parcel to create a dedicated trailhead parking area. 

• 2014: The Mount Spokane State Park Comprehensive Trail Plan was updated to include Trail 290, the first mountain bike-specific, directional (downhill-only) trail within the park. Over the last decade, four trail bridges have been added to make tricky water crossings safer, especially for the exploding snowshoe use the park has experienced in the winter. In 2024, Mount Spokane State Park is working on an updated and revised trail plan. 

• 2015: The Empire Trails near Spirit Lake opened on private land managed by Inland Empire Paper Company. The 8-mile nonmotorized trail system requires either a daily fee or an annual pass for access. 

• 2018: The 9B Trails nonprofit was established to create and maintain nonmotorized trails in Boundary County, with subsequent trail projects on Enchanted Forest, Riverside Park, and Section 16 near Bonners Ferry. 

• 2018: Spokane Parks and Recreation secured an 884-acre addition that created a crucial connection between Liberty Lake and Mica Peak. 

• 2019: Rathdrum Mountain Park opened to the public with a nonmotorized trail system and a disc golf course. In 2024, a three-mile trail expansion via the StormKing Trails is in the process of being built through grant funding. 

• 2019: A memorandum of understanding was signed to allow the Cancourse Trails adjacent to Canfield Mountain to become a leased city park for Coeur d’Alene. The property was originally private land at risk of subdivision, but now boasts a trail system on private land connecting to adjacent USFS land.  

• 2020: The VTT (velo tout terrain) was established on 100 acres of conservation easement land adjacent to both Pine Street Woods and Sherwood Forest. Sandpoint-area nonprofits are currently in the process of developing a trail plan that will ultimately provide many additional miles of nonmotorized trails. 

Holly Weiler is a long-time recreationist who now helps build and maintain some of our region’s favorite trails through her work with Washington Trails Association. 

The post 20-Year Timeline of Local Trail Developments   appeared first on Out There Venture.

Lou and Mary Haymond were walking on a trail in the Plese Flats area at Riverside State Park when an off-leash dog charged them from more than 150 feet away. Lou moved in front of Mary as it snarled and lunged at them, but the border collie ran around Lou and bit Mary’s leg. They did all the right things—avoiding eye contact and not running, but it didn’t matter. The dog drew blood and the puncture wounds were deep. At the emergency room, the decision was made not to stich the wound tightly due to the potential for infection. After the attack, the owner leashed the dog, apologized profusely and offered to pay medical bills. But the damage was done.  

Dog attacks like this one often inspire a renewed focus on the topic of leashing your dog on public trails. While it’s the law in several areas, the rules in other public spaces are murkier. With more pups hitting the trails post-COVID, it is in everyone’s best interest to help create safe, positive interactions on the trail. It starts with knowing the rules and comes down to respecting others in the outdoors community.  

Don’t Worry! My Dog is Friendly!  

It’s one of the most common things you hear from an owner when you see an off-leash dog running up to you on the trail. After mentioning this article to my friends, every single person had an off-leash dog story. Some dogs are truly friendly, but that doesn’t account for how the person or animal being approached will react, especially if they have a reactive dog who is on a leash. One “friendly dog” was so excited to see a fellow trail runner, the dog knocked my friend on her backside after jumping up to greet her. Even friendly can go too far. 

We walk our dog, Fernie, with a gentle lead, which is a leash that includes fabric straps that go up over a dog’s snout. One reason is because Fernie is strong and has not an ounce of control when she sees wildlife. She will hurt herself trying to get to a rodent, which is to be expected—she’s part rat terrier. The other reason is due to her infrequent, but intense, reaction to other dogs. 

More often than we would like while out walking Fernie, another dog will run up to her with the owner waving their hands and yelling from a distance that we shouldn’t worry, their dog is friendly. Which is great for them, but not for our dog. It’s intense trying to hold her back and keep the other dog at a distance. If we fail, Fernie will happily remove a chunk of the approaching dog’s ear or nearest body part. 

Fernie’s reaction is even stronger if she’s on a leash, which she always is out in public. We could put a muzzle on her. But if the approaching friendly dog were on a leash or under voice control, it wouldn’t matter: there would be time to say, “that’s nice, but my dog is not friendly!” The off-leash-dog owner takes away that possibility and puts their own pup at risk. 

Lou was quick to point out that all dogs bite. Some are easily provoked, as he and Mary found out the hard way. Other dogs can take more to provoke, but they all have the potential to cause harm. Your friendly dog might be friendly with other friendly dogs. Maybe at the dog park your dog does the play bow and off they go running with glee. But how does your friendly dog react to dogs who are not so fun?  

Dog behavior is complex, and unlike children, we cannot have a sit-down talk to discuss their feelings. If Fifi is friendly and my dog wants to attack, Fifi might run away or might be ready for a fight. I’m sure neither of us wants to find out. Make sure Fifi is on a leash-y and avoid potential problems. 

Not all negative interactions with off-leash dogs involve altercations. While chatting with a backcountry hiker about this issue, she told a story about an off-leash dog that came into their lunch circle on a hike and proceeded to sample picnic items. The owner didn’t seem to mind, but the hikers who had their lunches pilfered by a stranger’s dog sure did. Rules in more remote areas might allow for off leash-dogs, but if your dog is prone to munching food from fellow wanderers, some form of restraint would be appreciated. 

Dogs in Natural Areas 

Another common thing you hear from dog owners is that they only let their hound off leash in natural areas away from lots of people. However, in parks designated as a natural-area or other wetlands-type areas that allow dogs, it’s even more important to keep them on leash. Areas that nurture nature are home to sensitive wildlife and plants. Dogs tromping around unattended or chasing birds and other animals is probably fun for the pooch, but is detrimental to wildlife and their habitat. Look at the dog laws before you go. Turnbull National Wildlife Refuge discourages visitors from bringing their pets, although dogs are allowed on leash. The Little Spokane and the Ragged Ridge natural areas, on the other hand, do not allow dogs (that includes paddleboard pups too). Riverside State Park staff encourages people to call park offices for clarification (Riverside State Park 509-465-5064 or Mount Spokane State Park 509-238-4258). 

Leash Laws at Washington State Parks 

Riverside State Park is regularly patrolled by rangers, and one of the biggest offenses is off-leash dogs. According to park spokesman Rex Schultz, dog related violations are at the discretion of the ranger that encounters the owner with an off-leash dog. More often than not, the ranger will give an Educational Contract, or warning, to the offender. If these contracts were tracked like they track citations, they would number in the hundreds each year. When rangers give a citation, it costs the owner of the off-leash dog $99. Fourty citations were given in 2023, and 2024 is on track to beat that number. 

Repeat offenders face stiffer penalties. “Any violation, or refusal to leash a dog after contact can result in a 48-hour expulsion,” reports Schultz. “Repeated occurrences could upgrade to a 30-day expulsion, and in rare occurrences, up to a 1-year expulsion.” Don’t get kicked out of the park. Bring your Discover Pass and your dog’s leash and use it.  

Leash Laws in Idaho 

Some people I spoke with erroneously believed that freedom-loving Idaho was a haven for off-leash pets. Yet, according to the City of Coeur d’Alene, dogs are not allowed off leash at many areas where off-leash dog infractions are common, including the Canfield Mountain hiking and biking trails. Idaho State Parks also requires dogs to be on leash, including at popular parks like Farragut and the Trail of the Coeur d’Alenes. 

Recall vs. Leash 

One of my friends often encounters the same dog on a trail, glued to its owner’s side. I imagine this is what they mean by absolute voice command. While this may keep their highly-disciplined dog from infringing on other peoples’ enjoyment of public lands, if leashes are required, it’s still illegal. More common are the frequent dog walkers with much-less-than-perfect voice command over their best friend who somehow think they have earned the right to leave the leash at home. Even with the best training, unless you can guarantee your dog won’t wander more than eight feet from you and will leave all people, animals and other dogs alone, it’s not considered recall and it doesn’t take the place of a leash.  

Why People Ignore the Leash Laws 

Dogs are family, for most of us. We want the best for our pups, and this often means letting them free to smell the smells and chase the balls. Most dogs are relatively well-behaved, and will eventually come back to those who feed them without causing much or any harm. But it’s up to us as dog owners to either find a place that’s safe and legal to let them go wild, or leash them up to protect other park users. 

Why You Should Care 

Another story I heard while researching for this article was of a woman who was out for a run when she encountered a German Shepard with a woman and her kids, who the owner later stated had “never hurt a soul.” But this time, the dog couldn’t decipher if the runner was rushing at the children he was set on protecting or just out for a jog. He attacked and drew blood, to the surprise of the owner. Do you want to be liable if your friendly dog attacks someone randomly for the first time? 

If you are one of the many people who insist on having your dog off-leash, I imagine it’s for the right reasons. They recall fairly well, they like to run, and who wants to be attached to a rope? I get it, but here’s why I deeply believe your off-leash dog only belongs in more remote areas where it’s legal—we live in a community.  

As users of public areas, it is not our individual space. If you go to a dog park, you can expect a dog to run up and greet you unannounced. Our busy trails should not be the same. By keeping our dogs on leash, we can respect our fellow humans and protect our animals. We can keep the startled dog from chasing the runner and sending her to the hospital. 

We each have the responsibility to avoid causing harm to others in our public spaces. It’s not about the ticket, or eventually getting kicked out of a park because of our choices; It’s about being civil to each other.  

The Dog Owner’s Mindset 

Washington State Parks ranger Paul Neddo reports that off-leash dogs is the top issue for park rangers, with park users complaining about this issue more than any other. When asked about the most frustrating part of dealing with off-leash dogs, Neddo was quick to respond. “It’s the self-centered mindset,” he says, going on to explain how offenders typically fall into three categories: 1. Prompted compliance, or those who quickly leash their dog when they see a ranger. 2. The people who rationalize their law breaking, claiming their dog is well trained and doesn’t chase. 3. Those who are offended by the “silly rule” and think they don’t need to. He encourages all three groups to think about the repercussions beyond what the dog owner might see.  

For example, the Deep Creek area at Riverside State Park, which is frequented by climbers, was also the hunting grounds of a cougar in 2017. Some of the climbers had off-leash dogs that would roam the canyon while they climbed, and a few smaller dogs went missing. Neddo speculates that the cat had a tasty pup treat or two, and subsequently, this new food source broke down its fear of humans. Eventually the cougar was killed as it had grown too comfortable in an area that is heavily used by climbers, hikers, and mountain bikers. 

Ranger Neddo encourages people to think beyond self interest and ask themselves, “Why should I be the exception to the rule?” If you choose to go to a public place with a leash law, he suggests that you respect fellow users, wildlife, and the rules. He also noted the entitlement of some off leash dog owners and the conflict in our society between individuality and responsibility when it comes to issues like this. While flaunting the law may feel like an individual choice, it is in fact putting the safety and enjoyment of others at risk and is a form of entitlement.  

What Can We Do? 

If a desire to be respectful of fellow users of parks and natural areas isn’t enough to motivate owners to leash their dogs, how do the rest of us respond? Some people claim to have mace or dog spray at the ready. Others keep treats on hand and will throw said treats to distract dogs. Some have suggested a milder spray such as citronella, as it doesn’t do lasting harm but is an effective deterrent. Shouting and carrying a big stick doesn’t always do the job.  

Mary Haymond’s bite wounds are slowly filling in after three years of healing, but still look terrible. She still tenses up around dogs, even on a leash, and it’s not uncommon to see off-leash dogs when she and her husband go on a walk. They carry pepper spray now and warn owners of off leash dogs that they have it. 

After the incident with the border collie, SCRAPS interviewed the dog owner. They learned this was not the first bite incident the dog has had. The owner reported letting the dog off leash because their yard is small and the dog has tons of energy. Scraps encouraged Lou and Mary to sue the owner, but they didn’t have the heart. Lou felt that the owner was remorseful and SCRAPS required him to now keep the dog fenced, install signs on said fence, and they require insurance that costs upwards of $400 per year per animal. The owner couldn’t afford it and returned the dog to the farm where he came from. 

The disregard for others displayed by this offending dog owner, and all other off-leash owners, leaves a lasting impact on those they encounter. It’s time to be better community members and responsible citizens and keep all dogs on-leash, no matter how well behaved they are, to maintain safe trails and parks.  

Shallan Knowles works as a graphic designer and mediator in Spokane and keeps her crazy dog on a short leash. She and her spouse publish Out There Venture and love to take their 9-year-old mountain biking at Riverside.  

The post Off-Leash Dogs on the Trail appeared first on Out There Venture.

EXPLANATORY STATEMENT 

Bikepacking is a method of recreation that entails riding your bicycle loaded with all of your camp gear across potentially wild terrain to get to and from a predetermined campsite. “The Packfiller Podcast” host and creator Pat Bulger went on his first bikepacking trip last summer, and he did not fall in love. Pat’s “against bikepacking” argument has been met with a spirited rebuttal from Out There’s “Everyday Cyclist” columnist, Justin Short. Read on for a “pro backpacking” argument from cyclist and regular contributor Carol Corbin, who ultimately would choose bikepacking again and again. Carefully review these arguments and make an educated decision on whether bikepacking should be your next great summer adventure. 

AGAINST ARGUMENT: A Cyclist’s first Bikepacking Trip 

By Pat Bulger 

Freedom to explore. At one with nature. Off the grid. Simple. These are just a few of the comments I regularly hear from cyclists who have entered the world of bikepacking. Long gone are the days of “tourists” who would load pound after pound of camping gear, clothing, and personal items onto their bike to slowly, arduously, pedal to some chosen destination to sleep on the ground and painfully do so again the next day. Bikes are lighter. Camping gear is packable and efficient. Bike bags are waterproof, rugged, and creatively designed. Bikepacking is here to stay.  

Then why do I dislike it the way a school librarian dislikes childhood joy? Last summer, I assigned myself the task of an overnight bikepacking trip. I had already purchased most of the equipment needed on, well, let’s be honest here, some random evenings with a glass of adult beverage and an open shopping web browser. The destination was decided upon as a “medium” distance to test everything out, stay the night, experience the “joy,” and pedal home the next day. The destination, beautiful Lake Benewah, was just outside of St. Maries, Idaho, about 45-50 miles each way depending on the route loaded into my GPS.  

Fast forward two days later, in 98-degree heat, on a rear flat tire that I had no energy to change for the last three miles, massive heat exhaustion, a sore back and neck from the “sleeping pad” I endured, GPS mistakes, and, I have to say that bikepacking can, well, take a hike.  

Here are my reasons why I’ll take a pass on bikepacking.  

1. I ride my bike for the feeling that I experienced as a child. The feeling of flying. The wind in my face. The speed. Bikepacking, as a close friend once said to me, is “like you’re a bird who’s had their wings clipped.” A fully-loaded bike with all of my gear was over 50 pounds. Fifty! Why not just give me a classic Schwinn Varsity with rubbing brakes?! Getting out of the saddle to climb, accelerate, or even relieve sit bone pressure was impossible, and maintaining any type of momentum was akin to pedaling with flat tires in tapioca pudding.  
 

2. Camping is great. Heck, even tent camping is great. But, after four hours in the saddle maintaining a scant 14 mph, I would have happily traded for a subpar hotel and a pizza place. Every time I moved the next morning I emitted verbal sounds that could only be described as “old man grunts.” This being said, I do have to attest to the great food and coffee options that have been made available to those adventuring out into the woods. Give me a proper RV and day trips from a campsite instead, please.  
 

3. Once arriving at your destination, there is little chance of obtaining any extra provisions. My wonderful camp host informed me that, should I want to grab some cold beverages or additional snacks, my closest option was a “short 17-mile drive” away. Yeah, I wasn’t about to add 34 miles to my adventure.  

I now fully understand why many bikepacking social media groups I follow tend to have a multitude of equipment for sale. Anyone want to buy some bike bags? 

AGAINST REBUTTLE: “Hold Your Horses, Pat” 

By Justin Short  

Don’t go selling your bikepacking gear just yet—we haven’t even been on an overnight adventure together. But before we go, we’ve got to talk about your route. I think you learned the hard way why you should never ever under any circumstances go bikepacking in the Palouse during the dog days of summer. There’s no amount of water you can carry that won’t be instantly vaporized along with all of the moisture in your body in that treeless hellscape.  

Heyburn State Park is a lovely destination, though, and there’s a much better way to get there when the Palouse has reached the temperature of the sun. Ride out the Centennial Trail to Coeur d’Alene; you’ll probably carry enough speed coasting from the South Hill to get halfway there. Get a good cup of coffee and a devastating pastry at the Bakery by the Lake, then make your way over the saddle to the far side of the lake for a delightfully scenic pedal to Beauty Bay Campground, where you’ll refill water bottles from the crusty old cast iron pump with the most delicious and refreshing water sipped by anyone ever.  

Okay, the climb over Caribou Ridge is a ball-buster, but it’s a cool, shady ball-buster. Ride the Trail of the Coeur d’Alenes down to Harrison, jump in the lake, get some ice cream, and then stock up on the much longed-for provisions, such as fizzy beverages and snacks for the return trip. You’re 11 miles from camp.  

And that brings me to my next point: never take directions from the camp host. I’ve listened to a well-intentioned camp host pour over my map for a half hour about some scenic route I needed to take; the map was upside down. Your host obviously wanted you killed if they recommended the 17-mile ride into St. Maries. Never mind the bike, that road is terrifying to drive in a semi. If you’re needing the services of a major metro area, Plummer, Idaho, is much closer, and the entire ride is on the bike trail.   

“Crunchy old man back” is a thing with which I am well acquainted. All I can say is, experiment with air pressure. My wife carries an inflatable body pillow and a feather pillow with her now, and I hear far less grumbling from her side of the tent these days.  

Finally, 14 mph is slow?!! That is literally flying by bikepacking standards. If I ever hit a double-digit average speed, it’s like 10 or 11 mph, tops. And I don’t even want to know how much my bike weighs when it’s loaded, but it’s a lot closer to ALL THE POUNDS than 50 pounds.  

So, let’s set a date during the fair weather for a fun and easy overnighter with the Gravel Braintrustees. I promise, there won’t be much bushwhacking, but one of us will definitely make you laugh so hard you’ll shoot fizzy electrolyte water out of your nostrils. 

FOR ARGUMENT: “People and Puffy Pants” 

By Carol Corbin 

It was only 37 miles, and mostly flat, but after only four “base-building” rides in the last three months, it was a relief to be out of the saddle. My tent, pad, and sleeping bag were set up for the night with clean, warm socks and a cozy base layer. As my travel companions gathered deadfall for a campfire, I wriggled into my puffy pants and was engulfed in warmth. But not just physical warmth. A soul warmth. A warmth that comes from a physically demanding day fading into a magical, starlit night. 

When I discovered bikepacking half a dozen years ago, it combined two things I love the most about being outside. Pedaling a bicycle and having everything I need to survive–and sometimes even be comfortable–in whatever level of wilderness in which I might find myself. Since that first ride with my five-year-old on the Palouse to Cascades Trail, I’ve spent many nights in tents, my faithful gravel bike outside, my dusty Revelate bags crowding around me, and another day in the saddle awaiting when I wake up. 

Over the years, I’ve come to know intimately that bikepacking is hard. Really hard. Throw-my-bike-off-the-side-of-a-mountain hard. On nearly every trip, there is at least one moment when I cry out in anguish, “Why can’t I be indoorsy?!” And yet, I still go. This particular trip, my puffy pants accompanied me on my fifth annual “Fishtrap Shakedown,” where a few intrepid bikepackers pedal from our front doors in Spokane to the “wilderness” of Fishtrap Recreation Area in the channeled scablands for an overnight review of just what this activity requires. 

“Why are you doing this?” For every time I’ve been asked this question by others, I’ve probably asked it of myself at least twice. And it’s hard to put into words. The meditative process of making a packing list, and then assembling dusty, trail-worn and intimately familiar gear, is blissful! As I press sleeping bag and tent into compression bags, zip headlamp and powerbank into a frame pack, and carefully tuck a fuel canister into my steel cup, cushioning it with a wool beanie, I picture myself reveling in the simplicities of life away from . . . everything. Everything but my tent, my bike, my people, and, ultimately myself. 

Through the years, my most memorable and empowering experiences have been bike-based. As have many of my closest friendships, and most memorable transient ones. From Melinda and Sue, my ride-or-dies for years, to Jean, who shared a Canadian campsite with us one night in July on her way to Mexico, these are friends whom I can suffer with, laugh with, cry in front of, and maybe even share a freeze-dried pasta meal with at the end of even the roughest trail days. 

Bikepacking strips away everything that isn’t essential. Not just things like furniture and climate-control, but personal insecurities, body image issues, work and family stressors. When I’m making camp after a long day in the saddle, it’s when I feel the most alive, the most connected, and the most, well, me. 

One doesn’t have to look far to find the cons of bikepacking. There is very little comfort and ease. The trail rarely ends in a cold beverage and a hot meal. There’s cold and wet, hot and dry. Mechanical failures, forgotten niceties and necessities, and no easy outs. Sunburns, bug bites, bear encounters, blocked trails, wet feet, cold fingers, cramped legs . . . the list goes on. There are a thousand reasons not to load up your bike and pedal into the wilds. 

But that warmth of the puffy pants and the friends who are the same kind of crazy as me? I’ll pedal a helluva lot farther than 37 miles for that. 

FOR ARGUMENT: “Bikepacking Magic” 

By Eric Deady 

Bikepacking can mean many things to many people, but for me, the best way to describe it is “transformative.” I have seen magic happen on bikepacking trips. The kind of magic that gives you a warm-fuzzy feeling and forces you to look within for its cause. I have seen nervous wrecks transformed into the kind of peaceful pedalers that we all wish we could be. I have seen bodies and minds transformed in ways that beg the question, why can’t I always feel this good?  

You could chalk it up to endorphins, dopamine, and a soup of brain chemicals, and you would be right to credit our biology for some of it. But not all. There is a magic that I have only been able to see and feel on bike trips that can sustain me for months or even years with its power, and it always leaves me yearning for more.  

So, you want some of that magic, eh? All you need to do is go take it! It’s there waiting for you on the top of mountains after a grueling climb. It’s there when your fingers threaten to stop working from the cold of a long, wet descent. It’s there whispering to you from the trees and rivers and clouds and dirt. It’s there when you least expect it and will always leave you a better person.  

You don’t need much to start bikepacking. Bikepacking, in its most basic form, is a person on a bicycle carrying their own camping gear, food and personal items, usually off of paved roads. How that happens, and with whom, is up to you. Of course, there are some things that can make your journey more comfortable, or less traumatic, but it’s all on a scale, and if we wanted easy, we would get in our cars and drive.  

Get the bike that’s comfortable to ride, and make sure it’s tuned, lubed, and loved. Plan a route that sounds fun, or challenging, or beautiful, and get that route onto your phone or GPS. Pack a backpack, or panniers, stuff sacks, or even burlap sacks full of whatever you might need for the time you’ll be out and start pedaling. Keep your senses alert, and your body in tune.  Be safe and smile. No matter what happens, you will find magic.  

The post The Great Bikepacking Debate appeared first on Out There Venture.

Cover photo courtesy Shallan Knowles

Don’t let summer pass you by: use this roundup of things to do in the mountains, lakes, rivers, trails, and small towns around our beautiful corner of the Northwest. 

1. Attend the Fur Trade Festival May 18 at the Kettle Falls Historical Center. Take a step back in time while enjoying a living history encampment and learn about the Pacific Northwest fur trade from reenactors discussing how traders lived, trapped, hunted, dressed, and communicated in the 1800s. 

2. Rent a boat from Carefree Boat Club of North Idaho and go tubing, water skiing, or wake surfing. 

3. Tube, kayak, or raft the mellow rapids of the lower Spokane River below downtown Spokane once the river level drops and the water warms up, typically in late June or early July. Be sure to end your trip at the TJ Meenach Bridge area to avoid large, more dangerous rapids downstream. Simplify your float by booking a shuttle and renting tubes from FLOW Adventures (509-242-8699). 

4. Take a good book on a walk to a public park or natural area near you and relax and read from a real paper book or copy of Out There. 

5. Ride or hike part of the Ferry County Rail Trail near Republic in Northeast Washington, then hit Curlew State Park for a swim. 

6. Use public transit to go on a hike from your house. Get creative with the hiking and bus routes to pull off an all-day wander.   

7. Paddle Echo Bay near Farragut State Park on Lake Pend Oreille and bring a spotting scope or binoculars to look for the resident mountain goats that are sometimes spotted on and around Bernard Peak. 

8. Run in your birthday suit (or fully clothed) at the clothing-optional Bare Buns Fun Run July 28. This annual tradition happens at the Kaniksu Ranch north of Spokane near Deer Lake.  

9. Hike the 4-mile roundtrip Similkameen Trail near Oroville, Wash., a beautiful rail-trail with amazing scenery and wildlife viewing opportunities. 

10. Round up some friends and take turns riding mountain bikes together at Spokane’s Riverside State Park for 24 hours at the 24 Hours of Riverside event May 25. 

11. Ride the bike park at Big White Resort near Kelowna, B.C., and then taste wine in B.C.’s renowned Okanagan Valley on your way back to the states. 

12. Take advantage of the some of the hottest or smokiest days of the summer to escape indoors to build on your rock-climbing skills at the Coeur Climbing Company gym in Post Falls. 

13. Spend a day giving back to the trails you love by joining a trail maintenance or construction project by one of our region’s many trail organizations. Locally, the Washington Trails Association, Evergreen East, Pend Oreille Pedalers, Idaho Trails Association, and Lake City Trails Alliance each organize trail projects all summer long that need volunteers. There are many other regional trails organizations that work in Inland Northwest wilderness and backcountry areas.  

14. Ride the new Cancourse mountain bike trails in Coeur d’Alene. 

15. Get over your fear of jumping out of a plane and sign up for a tandem skydiving trip with Skydive West Plains west of Spokane. 

16. Enjoy the traffic-free streets on Spokane’s South Hill near Manito Park for an evening of biking, walking, or rolling without watching for cars thanks to Summer Parkways, held June 18 from 6-9 p.m. 

17. Ride the Trail of the Coeur d’Alenes out of Wallace, Idaho, then enjoy a cold beverage and meal at City Limits Pub a few blocks from the trail. 

18. Try mountain bikes, catch shuttles to the top of the Camp Sekani trails, watch a MTB jump show, and enjoy adult beverages June 14-15 at the Spokatopia Outdoor Adventure Festival at Camp Sekani Park. Or participate in the Spokatopia Poker Ride for the chance to win prizes (June 15).  

19. Go road biking on one of the many scenic, low-traffic back road routes around Colville, Wash. 

20. Book a rafting trip on the Clark Fork River in Montana with ROW Adventures. The fun class III rapids and plentiful swimming opportunities make for a great day trip from Spokane or North Idaho.  

21. Hunt for bigfoot in Northeast Washington then Run the Bigfoot 5K and check out the Metaline Falls Bigfoot Festival June 15-16. 

22. Take a yoga class from Harmony Yoga in Spokane (check out their ad in this issue of Out There for deals). 

23. Pedal a “RailRider” on retired railroad tracks along the Pend Oreille River near Metaline Falls, Wash. 

24. Book a multi-day rafting adventure on Idaho’s Salmon River with a local outfitter like FLOW Adventures. 

25. Park near the entrance to the 42,000-acre Little Pend Oreille National Wildlife Refuge near Colville, Wash., and ride your bike on the 10-mile auto tour loop, making stops at interpretive sites or for short hikes. 

26. Visit an Inland Northwest old-growth forest grove, like the Ross Creek or Hobo cedar groves. Find an online guide at Outthereoutdoors.com/where-to-go-to-see-old-growth-forest-in-the-inland-northwest 

27. Bike to a farmers’ market in a neighborhood near you and go shopping for fresh, local food. 

28. Ride your bike from one of the Riverside State Park trailheads to Long Lake at the Nine Mile Recreation Area and go swimming or fishing. Campsites are available if you want to make it a bikepacking overnighter. 

29. Hike the 7 miles of trails at Pend Oreille County Park between Spokane and Sandpoint off of Highway 2. 

30. Surf the world’s largest standing wave at Lakeside Surf in Chelan. Whether you are an ocean surfer, river surfer, wake surfer, or have never surfed before, you’ll love getting out on this thrilling river-style wave. Book sessions in advance online. 

31. Walk or bike the Children of the Sun Trail, a new paved path that parallels Spokane’s in-progress north-south freeway. 

32. Buy a copy of the Washington State Birding Trail Palouse to Pines map from Audubon Washington and explore some of the best bird habitat in our area, documenting and learning about different species of birds as you go. 

33. Plan a bike tour on the low-traffic back roads of Eastern Oregon, like the 130-mile loop route through the Pained Hills and John Day Fossil Beds. Find info and other route options at Visiteasternoregon.com 

34. Connect as many trails as you can in the Dishman Hills Conservancy in Spokane Valley to create an epic day hike.  

35. After work, head to Post Falls to hike the trails in Post Falls Community Forest and then have a picnic dinner at Q’emiln Park or a pint at one of the breweries in town. 

36. Hike Kamiak Butte, an island of forest in the Palouse near Pullman. 

37. Raft some of the best whitewater in America on Idaho’s Lochsa River in May during peak runoff. These class IV and class III rapids are best experienced with a seasoned rafting outfitter like ROW Adventures. 

38. Take a mountain bike road trip to Moscow and spend a day or two riding the trails at Moscow Mountain. 

39. Learn to sail on a local lake by renting a boat with other sailing friends or taking a lesson. Fun to Sail offers sailing lessons for all abilities (Funtosail.com). 

40. Spend a few days riding the many new mountain bike trails around the Sandpoint, Idaho, area, staying in town or at a nearby campground. Find trail info at Pendoreillepedalers.org. 

41. Roadtrip the International Selkirk Loop that connects scenic byways and unique small towns in Washington, Idaho, and British Columbia, Canada. 

42. Rent a campervan from Gusto Vans in Spokane Valley and live the van life for a weekend or longer while exploring iconic Northwest parks and public lands. 

43. Take a kid or anyone with accessibility or disability requirements needs fishing at Post Falls Park Pond near Post Falls, Idaho. Fish easily from a bridge, shore, or fishing platforms with great odds for catching fish at this well-stocked pond. 

44. Rally friends to pedal down old train tracks on a pedal-powered rail bike in northeast Washington with NPOV Lions Railriders. Make a reservation at Lionsrailriders.com. 

45. Ride the new giant swing coming to Zipwallace near Wallace, Idaho, along with the superman zipline, and then stay the night in one of the new rental yurts!  

46. Take a mountain biking trip to Nelson, B.C. and ride trails in the Morning Mountain and Kokanee Creek Provincial Park areas then hit the hot springs at Ainsworth. 

47. Run wild on the Mountain Magic 5/10/25K Trail Run at Mount Spokane State Park on June 30.  

48. Get up early and do yoga while the sun rises in a public park or natural area. 

49. Backpack to an alpine lake you’ve never been to before. Find plenty of options in Rich Lander’s classic guidebook “100 Hikes in the Inland Northwest.” 

50. Ride the Silver Mountain gondola in Kellogg, Idaho, to mountain bike or hike around the huge trail network at Silver Mountain Bike Park.  

51. Walk or run the Dad’s Day Dash with dad on Fathers’ Day at Spokane’s Riverfront Park, June 16. 

52. Visit 20 parks in the Spokane area to hike, bike, play or participate in other fun activities as part of the Greater Spokane Parks Challenge. Once you sign up and finish the challenge, you’ll be entered to win raffle prizes, including cash and gift cards. Scan the QR to download the app on page xx of this issue to get started. 

53. Spend part of a day exploring the challenges in Mica Moon’s aerial park with bridges, tight ropes, and more in Liberty Lake, Wash.  

54. Kayak or go tubing on a calm stretch of Idaho’s St. Joe River.  

55. Mountain bike the Empire Trails that includes new trails near Spirit Lake, Idaho.  

56. Go ziplining with Timberline Adventures in Coeur d’Alene and experience seven zip lines and two sky bridges, and then have lunch in a tree house.  

57. Hike one of the many trails on Mount Spokane and hunt for huckleberries. 

58. Kayak in a glass-bottom boat on Wallowa Lake near Joseph, Ore., to experience the underwater environment in a whole new way. You can rent kayaks or sign up for a tour, including a night tour with lighted kayaks that illuminate the fish, boulders, and lake bottom for a magical paddling experience. Info at Jopaddle.com 

59. Canoe or kayak a stretch of the Pend Oreille River Water Trail in northeast Wash.  

60. Ride the Trail of the Coeur d’Alenes from Plummer to Harrison, Idaho, and go swimming at the beach.  

61. Ride the Wallowa Lake Tramway, a 3,700’ gondola ride to the peak of Mt. Howard in the Wallowa Mountains near Joseph, Ore. 

62. Ride the IMBA Epic Seven Summits mountain bike trail in Rossland, B.C. 

63. Sign your kids up for an indoor climbing camp at Wild Walls Climbing Gym in downtown Spokane. 

64. Bike to the Townshend Cellar tasting room in downtown Spokane to try some of their wines and get a “Wowler” wine growler filled to go.  

65. Explore some of the sites along the Ice Age Floods National Geologic Trail. 

66. Try kiteboarding or wing foiling on the Columbia River near Hood River, Ore.   

67. Ride your bike to one of Spokane’s smallest and coolest bars, The Baby Bar, downtown behind Neato Burrito. 

68. Run or walk the 5k at the Wallace Huckleberry Festival on Sunday, Aug. 18. 

69. Ride the 15-mile Route of the Hiawatha Trail, named “America’s Crown Jewel of the Rails to Trails.”  

70. Treat the family to a trip to Slide Waters water park at Lake Chelan in central Washington. There’s a lazy river, body slides, tube slides, surfing on the Lakeside Surf wave, downhill racer slides and more all with incredible views of the lake and mountains. 

71. Go fishing or paddling at Fish Lake Regional Park, near Cheney, Wash.  

72. Camp on Idaho’s Salmon River near Riggins, Idaho, or stay in town and go on a whitewater rafting day trip and enjoy the local nightlife in this cool river town.   

73. Go kayaking or boating on Lake Roosevelt and picnic on one of its many sandy, primitive beaches.  

74. Forage for wild berries, mushrooms, and plants that you know or use a guidebook to help you discover new ones.  

75. Hike or bike the Columbia Plateau Trail State Park through Turnbull National Wildlife Refuge from trailheads near Cheney, Wash. 

76. Go camping and tube the Touchet River at Lewis and Clark Trail State Park, near Dayton, Washington.  

77. Canoe or kayak the Little Spokane River. Use the Spokane Parks & Recreation weekend shuttle service (reservations recommended). 

78. Hunt for fossils by breaking open rocks at the Stonerose Fossil Site in the small town of Republic in northeast Washington (stonerosefossil.org) then check out the super cool interpretive center and go for a bike ride or walk on the Golden Tiger Pathway that starts in town. This is a great family outing! 

79. Spend a few days swimming and chilling on the city beaches in Coeur d’Alene and Sandpoint.  

80. Take a wildflower day hike on the Kettle Crest in late June, starting from Sherman Pass and hiking north toward Columbia Mountain. 

Learn About the Places Where We Play 

Join one of these educational nature outings hosted by the Spokane County Library District, including some outings led by Out There Venture writers! Unless otherwise noted, outings are for adults and registration is required. More info and sign up at Scld.org. 

81. Nature Journaling Hike: Glenrose Trail (June 13, 8–10:30 a.m.) 

Take an invigorating hike on the Glenrose trail in the Dishman Hills Natural Area with a break for a nature journaling exercise. This hike is moderately difficult along a 5.5-mile loop with an elevation gain of 1,500 feet. Led by Out There contributor Heidi Lasher.  

82. History Hike: Mt. Spokane State Park (July 9, 8–10:30 a.m.) 

Explore the upper elevations of Mount Spokane State Park and discover park history at Bald Knob Campground, the site of the Civilian Conservation Corps’ spike camp, and Cook’s Cabin Woodshed. This trail hike over uneven terrain is a 3.5-mile loop with an elevation gain of 400 feet is led by Holly Weiler, Out There contributor and board member of the Friends of Mt. Spokane State Park.  

83. Medicinal & Edible Plants Hike: Liberty Lake Regional Park (Aug. 20, 8–10:30 a.m.) 

Explore the trails at Liberty Lake Regional Park and learn about the medicinal and edible plants that grow wild along the route as well as tips for locating them. This hike is led by Karie Lee Knoke, Out There contributor and contestant on the TV series Alone.  

84. Hiking Safely Near Bears Presentation (June 12 & June 25) 

Learn how to recreate safely in bear country by taking the right precautions, plus learn grizzly and black bear identification, basic bear biology and phenology, and how to respond if you encounter a bear in the field, from Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife biologist Matt Brinkman (Cheney Library June 12, 6:30 p.m. and North Spokane Library June 25, 6:30 p.m.). 

85. Medical Lake Geo-Walk & Water Sampling: Waterfront Park (Aug. 21, 5-7 p.m.) 

Walk 3 miles along the trail around Medical Lake with Chad Pritchard, professor of Geology at EWU, and learn about the lake’s history and natural science and help gather water samples for stormwater research and pick up trash along the way (tween and teen friendly).  

The post Summer Bucket List appeared first on Out There Venture.

One summer day soon, you or me’ll be grinding up Beacon or Iller Creek, or maybe slipping up the pea gravel on Five Minute Hill or Trail 140, moondust pooling in streaks of sweat from overwrought body parts raw with the sandpaper sting of third-degree chafe. Over the dusty rasp of labored inhalations will come the sunny chirp of a fellow rider interrupting his offkey rendition of “Bicycle Race” to yodel “On your left!” Absent audible groaning, grunting, or popping of knees, but maybe a soft button click, with the white-noise whir of an electric motor he’ll glide by mid-verse. He may be wearing boat shoes. 

Cycling changes society. Women gained more independence from the invention of the bicycle than anything, to paraphrase Susan B. Anthony. Riding a “wheel” meant they could escape the stuffy confines of homebound man-dependence; cycling required even women riders wear pants, much to the ire of stodgy proponents of convention, men who deemed bloomers an effrontery to Victorian cultural norms. Adaptation continues rife with growing pains, in part because the pants have shrunk. 

From bloomers to Spandex, penny-farthings to carbon fiber, the cycling industry is fickle as a feather in the wind, though recent bouts of déjà vu evoke its cyclic nature. The first patent for an electric bicycle was approved in the U.S. in 1895. Batteries were cumbersome, charging nowhere, and the car, backed by Big Oil, rose handily to dominance. Forced into the backseat, electrically assisted cycles never completely disappeared, and are currently enjoying a comeback, with U.S. sales up about 270% since 2019, topping one million last year, largely due to improvements in battery technology.  

The E-Bike Boom 

Who’s buying all these bikes? According to Cycling Industry News, the vast majority are sold to those 45 and older. These are people who want to commute to work without getting too sweaty, or run errands in a more environmentally conscious way than a singly occupied car. Or they’re retired and want a fun way to get to town without packing up their RV. A husband who couldn’t keep up with his wife before buying an e-bike. A war-wounded veteran with chronic back pain. Anyone, really, who wants to ride farther, keep up with friends, or see more trails.  

Avid pedaller and peddler of e-bikes himself, Scott Willegalle, co-owner of Spokane’s North Division Bicycle Shop, says during his 38 years in the cycling industry he’s watched lower gear ratios expand access to more riders who ride more miles. But you can only spin so fast before you fall over. 

“The e-bike is the new low gear. It’s easier to climb hills. You’re going to increase your distance by a third. The amount of riding you can do volume-wise on an e-bike means you will be less fatigued than riding the same distance on a regular bike,” Willegalle touts.  

E-bike Backlash 

Speed differential while sharing trails has also stirred contention among conventional cyclists. In part, that’s because they tend to be purists by nature and nurture competitiveness. That guy in the boat shoes is riding more miles than me.  

Willegalle responds: “People who don’t have e-bikes are just jealous,” he says, while acknowledging that some people can’t afford them. “The whole thing about people being pissy about e-bikes is that they don’t have one.” 

While no doubt true for some, lack of clarity or outright flouting of rules foments indignation as well. For their part, administrators of public lands where e-bike use is permitted should provide ample clear signage, educate the riding public in posts and through outreach events, and enforce rules more strictly on public lands. Riders should know where their class of bike is allowed, and adhere to speed and use prioritization.  

Know Where You Can Ride Different Types of E-bikes 

Class 1 e-bikes are strictly pedal-assisted up to 20 mph. Class 2 e-bikes have an optional throttle-only mode, and are also restricted to 20 mph. Class 3 e-bikes utilize pedal assistance up to 28 mph, and may have throttle assistance (without pedaling) up to 20 mph. Around the Inland Northwest, there are a lot of different rules and levels of enforcement depending on where you plan to ride an e-bike. 

Currently, according to Washington State Parks, class 1 and 3 e-bikes are allowed on long-distance trails like the Columbia Plateau and Palouse to Cascades trails, as well as the Centennial Trail in Spokane. Those same classes are also allowed on roads within state parks, and on natural surface trails that allow bicycle use like the trail systems at Riverside State Park and Mount Spokane. Class 2 bikes are not permitted on trails in those state parks but are allowed on the same roads that cars can drive on.  

On Spokane Parks and Recreation trails popular with mountain bikers, such as Beacon Hill’s 50-ish miles of singletrack and trails on the High Drive Bluff and at Indian Canyon/Palisades, the situation is less clear. According to city staff, e-bike use is similar to that seen on Washington State Parks trails, although there are currently no rules regarding the use of e-bikes on city park lands. Clarifying e-bike policy for city park trails and properties, however, is reportedly in the works. 

 Spokane County conservation areas that sport popular hiking and singletrack bike trails, such as Iller Creek and Liberty Lake Regional Park, may also soon see clearer rules regarding e-bike use. While e-bikes of any kind are not currently allowed on any non-motorized Spokane County trails, the county is looking at that policy and planning is forthcoming that may make some clarifications and adjustments to existing e-bike rules. 

With the varying e-bike rules and lack of signage and enforcement on many Spokane-area trails, local trail users report widespread pedal-assist e-bike use that seems to create little to no conflict with their “acoustic” bike counterparts. Throttle e-bikes, which are effectively electric motorcycles that can speed up and down trails at high speeds without requiring pedaling, are also on the rise, and pose more of a threat of increased user conflict, injuries and liability concerns.  

Across the border on Idaho State Parks trails popular with mountain bikers, like those at Farragut State Park and pathways frequented by cyclists and walkers like the Trail of the Coeur d’Alenes and North Idaho Centennial Trail, class 1 and 2 e-bikes are allowed, although speed limits are in effect on some trails. E-bike rules may vary a bit on some of the trails around Sandpoint, like the Syringa trail system, that have a dual conservation and recreation purpose, so do your research before heading out on an e-bike spin. 

On U.S. Forest Service non-motorized trails in Washington and Idaho, e-bikes of any kind are not currently allowed, although they can be ridden on any trails or roads open to motorized travel, and enforcement of restrictions are scant. E-bikes are allowed on many federal BLM lands and trails as well as on many bike-friendly National Park pathways, but check before riding. 

E-bikes Are Here to Stay  

Even as regulations change, there is no doubt the e-bike will remain an outdoor recreation fixture for the foreseeable future. “They’ve opened the Pandora’s box of e-bikes, and you aren’t going to close it,” Willegalle rightly predicts with the self-satisfied smirk of the true believer. If you want to ride more miles, keep up with your friends, and “fear no hills or headwinds,” he can make you one too. 

Justin Skay recently found out firsthand e-bikes are fun, and already has friends he can’t keep up with, so his electric revolution might be just around the next bend. 

The post Pedal Power Plus: Navigating the E-Bike Revolution  appeared first on Out There Venture.

By Rick Shaffer

Cover photo courtesy Jessica Boatman

Is it summer yet, or is it just my bike saddle saying, “ride me?” It’s time to get our legs pedal-ready and lungs expanded for the climbs soon to be before us. The Trail of the Coeur d’Alenes, both sides of the Centennial Trail, Fish Lake Trail and some other eastern Washington trails are open. The Route of the Hiawatha will be rockin’ with an opening date of May 24 for another sensational season of tunnels and trestles.  

In chatting with folks online, on the phone and at different bike events, more people are looking for expanded, multi-day rides, especially as bikepacking takes off. The is where the Bitterroot 300 comes into play. The B300, as it is known to its fans, is a 300-kilometer loop ride that takes in the Trail of the Coeur d’Alenes, Route of the Hiawatha, Northern-Pacific (Nor-Pac) and the Milwaukee Road Rail-Trails all in one adventure. The ride is a good four- to five-day pedal while camping or staying in hotels, cabins, BnBs, etc.   

The suggested starting point on day one for the Bitterroot 300 is Historic Wallace, Idaho. Lodging opportunities abound, from the Wallace Inn to the Stardust Motel, Brooks Hotel, or vacation rentals. From Wallace, one takes the Trail of the Coeur d’Alenes to Mullan, where the multi-use, non-paved Nor-Pac goes up and over Lookout Pass into Montana. The Wallace to Lookout ascent is 2,000’ over 19 miles, but is all rail trail, so the incline is all under three percent. It is wise to get the biggest climb on the entire route out of the way first.  

Coming down the Montana Nor-Pac, the closed Borax Tunnel is encountered. Hundreds of feet prior to this trail block is a detour around the tunnel that can be ridden or walked. At Taft, there is a 2.3-mile uphill pedal on USFS-506, Rainy Creek, up to the east portal of the Hiawatha. 10 tunnels and seven trestles later, passing through Pearson, is the end of the Hiawatha on the way to Avery on the Milwaukee Road rail bed.  

Cyclists can choose to continue on the direct rail bed 10 miles to Avery with six more tunnels or drop down to the North Fork of the St. Joe River alternative route that traverses along a splendid stretch of waterway on a jeep road passing riverside campsites. In Avery, there are cabins, hostels, BnBs and food to accommodate travelers. 

On day two, head down the wide and scenic St. Joe River on the Milwaukee Road for 48 miles. Check ahead to see if the café in Marble Creek is open for some good eats and beverages. Possibly stop off at the Marble Creek Historical Area. The Milwaukee Road is a made up of a looser aggregate and is multi-use. In St. Maries, there are many lodging and eatery options available as well. Out here, there are more deer and elk in residence than people, so enjoy the ride. 

Day three—having arranged ahead of time a shuttle from St. Maries to Heyburn State Park on the Trail of the Coeur d’Alenes, as Idaho State Route 5 is not advisable to ride. To cover the entire length of the Trail of the Coeur d’Alenes, then pedal up to Plummer and then return back to Harrison at mile marker 15 for a 21-mile day or just ride to Harrison from Heyburn State Park for a shorter pedal. Enjoy some watersports at the beach in Harrison or just relax with ice cream in the sun. There are restaurants and bars and lakeview motels and BnBs available here.   

Day four is a 50-mile pedal back east through the Chain of Lakes, i.e. “Moose Country,” passing the towns of Cataldo, Enaville and Kellogg, where tasty and eclectic food and board can be found. At mile marker 42, with time permitting, take a short pedal over to the Old Mission State Park (the oldest standing structure in Idaho) and trail headquarters for a great historical stop with cyclists being welcomed free of charge. The second half of the ride is chock-full of Silver Valley history, passing the Bunker Hill smelter site, Sunshine Mine Disaster Memorial, and more. Soon, one arrives back in Historic Wallace with tales to tell. 

Anywhere along the B300, the path described above may be expanded by reducing the daily miles you ride to soak up the local scene. Stopping in Saltese, maybe camping in Marble Creek, or stopping in Kellogg would only improve the adventure. The B300 is a thrilling adventure through the wilds of North Idaho. For more information, a free trail map, and trip planning assistance, contact the Prime Minister of Wallace at rick@thewallaceinn.com or 208-691-9169. 

(Sponsored by Friends of the Coeur d’Alene Trails) 

The post Biking the Bitterroot 300 appeared first on Out There Venture.

Permethrin, picaradin, DEET, bracelets, candles, lotions, sprays. All I know at 11 p.m. when they whine past my ear and I smack my tentmate in the chest with my headlamp for the fifth time, trying to squash them before they gorge themselves on my blood, is that I. Hate. Mosquitoes.  

My significant other isn’t bothered by mosquitoes. They sometimes bite him, but rarely, and when they do, he says it doesn’t itch. I, on the other hand, am ready to murder someone by the third bite as it swells, gets red, and itches (sometimes for days!). He says it’s because I use bug repellant and he doesn’t, that the chemicals are actually an attractant. But the science seems to indicate that I just smell better. And I’m hotter. To mosquitoes, anyway. 

Mosquitoes are drawn to body heat, exhaled CO2, and kairomones–chemical signals that attract one species to another, for the benefit of the former. These kairomones are sensed using olfactory (smell) receptors. And mosquitoes have olfactory receptors that can sense carbon dioxide, lactic acid, ammonia, organic fatty acids, ketones, aldehydes, alcohols, and esters. The combinations of those smells are a strong attractant for them. There are many other factors at play as well, such as one’s number of skin glands, skin pH, metabolic rate, body mass, one’s breathing rate and intensity, as well as the microbes living on one’s skin. 

Figuring out the right solution to protect your flesh, blood, and sanity gets more confusing all the time. After some research, though, here’s my take on the 411 for avoiding these tiny terrorists on your next outdoor adventure. 

Permethrin 

Uses: A spray or wash-in option for clothes, footwear, tents, sleeping bags… any outer fabric that will be joining you on your trip. The treatment will last through several washes and is a staple for international travelers headed to places where malaria is common. Permethrin is the main ingredient used in clothing that is sold touting insect repellency. 

Pros: The treatment can be done ahead of time. Once fabric is treated and dry, there is no odor. It repels not just mosquitoes, but most other bugs as well. It doesn’t typically damage technical fabrics. 

Cons: The spray or wash is toxic to pets when it’s wet. It can be difficult to ensure thorough coverage with the spray and may take more than one treatment. Manufacturers recommend washing permethrin-treated clothing separately from other clothes, since it is designed for outer fabrics and should be kept away from other articles of clothing like underwear. 

Picaridin 

Uses: Picaridin was developed in the 1980s as a less offensive-smelling option to DEET. It is available in sprays, creams, and wipes. It’s touted as a synthetic compound that mimics substances in plants used to produce black pepper. It’s believed that picaridin works by blocking insects’ ability to sense their prey, but it doesn’t kill insects. 

Pros: It’s odorless. Well, not completely (in my opinion), but almost. Very little of it absorbs through the skin. That which makes it through comes out in urine. Picaridin doesn’t damage clothing and lacks the sticky residue of typical bug repellants. 

Cons: It is mildly toxic to fish. Because it has only been approved in the US since the early 2000s, it’s not as readily available as its prime competitor, DEET. And, in my experience . . . it doesn’t work on mosquitoes. 

DEET 

Uses: This tried-and-true anti-bug chemical has been used for years to keep the skeeters at bay. It comes in sprays, creams, and wipes. But not all DEET-bearing products are created equal. Many products splash “DEET” all over their label, but ultimately contain only 30% of the insect-fighting substance, padding the rest with alcohol or additives that try to mask the caustic smell reminiscent of endless summer nights, sticky sleeping bags, and burnt marshmallows. 

Pros: Simply put, mosquitoes hate it. Even Yellowstone mosquitoes. Even Great Lakes mosquitoes. Even (dare I say it?) Alaskan mosquitoes! They sell it everywhere, so when you run out (like on a kid-friendly, overnight bikepacking trip to Harrison on the Trail of the Coeur d’Alenes), it’s easy to replenish. 

Cons: It stinks! It’s easy to understand why the bugs hate it. No one likes it. No one! And it’s sticky. Once you spray it on, you’re committed to being camp-sticky, and stinky, in a big way until your next shower. It can degrade and discolor technical fabrics. You know, like your tent, your hiking boots, your top-of-the-line zip-off hiking pants, and the promotional logos on your swag freebie sunglasses. Some people also have lingering concerns about potential health risks from using DEET, even though the widely-used product has a long track record as a safe and effective topical mosquito repellent.  

While there are plenty of other bug repellant options on the market, from coils to bracelets, crystals, seances, and the blood of a goat, I’m not going to justify those options with space in this magazine. They don’t work. And while you either love or hate DEET, it’s the one thing that reliably keeps the wicked bloodsuckers away, and the only thing I trust with my delicate porcelain peel. 

Carol Corbin commits the first 5-10 minutes of every overnight stay in a tent to hunting mosquitoes with all available light sources, and once carried the slaughtered carcass of a Yellowstone mosquito on her kayak for a full day, just to deter other would-be bloodsuckers from attacking. 

The post The Buzz on Bug Repellant appeared first on Out There Venture.