Several significant improvements were finally wrapped up on the Spokane County Centennial Trail in October 2021.

For starters, the Carlson Road trailhead near the north end of the trail included a re-route of the trail that takes it off of the road, down a hill, and directly into Sontag Community Park. This trail addition makes it much safer now to cross Charles Road and eliminates pedestrian traffic on the narrow, steep section of road right next to Nine Mile Falls Dam.

While that project was wrapping up, so was the renovation on the Boone-to-Pettet segment closer to downtown Spokane. This portion of failed and crumbling sidewalk received a major upgrade including safe separation from the road, better curb accessibility, and new landscaping. Underground utilities were also upgraded throughout the project, which was a major benefit for the entire neighborhood.

Loreen McFaul, Executive Director for the Friends of the Centennial Trail, says, “Our Board of Directors and State Parks toured the span for our September meeting, and we were thrilled with the transformation. We challenged the City of Spokane to treat this span like High Drive’s renovation years back. They have exceeded our expectations with this project!”

Looking ahead, the Post Street Bridge renovation downtown is running smoothly. When it’s completed, it will provide a much-needed connection between Riverfront Park and Kendall Yards.

Spokane County’s beloved Centennial Trail is popular with runners, walkers, and cyclists. Photos: (top row, bottom left) Local athletes enjoy the Centennial Trail. // Photos: Jon Jonckers // (bottom middle, right) Nine Mile Falls Dam and Riverside State Park near Charles Road trailhead. // Photos: Derrick Knowles

For more stories about Spokane’s Centennial Trail, visit the OTO archives.

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The Carlson Trailhead is now officially open to the public. Beginning in March 2021, the Centennial Trail was rerouted away from Carlson Road that paralleled the Spokane River near the Nine Mile Falls Dam.

The new trail section is completely independent from the road and features some elegant switchbacks in order to keep the trail ADA compliant. Even better, this new section provides a fluid junction between Riverside State Park and Sontag Community Park in Nine Mile Falls.

By all accounts, this fresh ribbon of asphalt creates a greater connection to the community. Ultimately, this project is a win/win for everyone.

Meanwhile, the Summit Boulevard project from Boone Street to Pettet Drive is moving ahead smoothly. This particular project replaces crumbling sidewalks and curbing in the neighborhood and enhances connectivity for pedestrians and bicyclists to bus stops, parks, schools, and the West Central Community Center. The project has been part of Spokane community plans since 2007.

For more stories about the Spokane Centennial Trail, visit the OTO archives.

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For over four decades, ROW Adventures has been leading people on guided outdoor adventures here in the Inland Northwest and around the world. While the Coeur d’Alene-based company is most well-known locally for guided whitewater trips, ROW recently started offering fully-guided bike tours here in the Inland Northwest.

This new service includes several options for multi-day bike tours on trails like the Trail of the Coeur d’Alenes with the potential to link up to the Route of the Hiawatha and other North Idaho rail trail routes. These new tours will no-doubt be a hit with cyclists from around the world looking to explore the region’s truly world-class rail trail network, but they are also a great option for local cyclists who may not be comfortable with a self-supported multi-day bike tour.

Some of the biggest challenges for any DIY bike tour are the shuttle and having to haul all your own gear. ROW’s guided trips include meal stops, a sag wagon (van) providing support if riders need it, and comfortable hotel lodging each night. The tours also come with knowledgeable guides who can help you learn about the places you’re pedaling past, and is a great option for people who want to focus on the ride and get a good night’s rest each night.

Check out all of ROW’s bike tour options, including the Bitterroot Bonanza that includes biking, rafting, and kayaking in the same week, at Rowadventures.com/biking.

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Episode 6 – Centennial Trail Pilgrimage

By Chris Cindric

Back in 2018, I was seeking a pilgrimage of sorts. A walk with intent, reflection, companionship, and most importantly, beer.  So, after a campfire with some good friends and good, local beer, the El Camino de Spokane a Coeur d’ Alene (The Way of Spokane to Coeur d’ Alene) was born.  

We decided we would walk the entire Centennial Trail from the 9 Mile trailhead outside of Spokane to Higgins Point in Coeur d’ Alene.  The Centennial Trail runs roughly 39 miles in Washington and 24 miles in Idaho, so the entire hike would be around 63 miles (although in total we truly logged somewhere around 70). 

We broke the trail into 3 sections, hiking from 9 Mile to downtown Spokane the first day (16 miles); downtown Spokane to Post Falls the second day (29 miles); and Post Falls to Higgins Point the final day (18 miles). We carried what we needed on our backs, ate and drank at local breweries and restaurants along the way, and stayed at the nicest hotels we could find to lay our heads down. I would encourage you to give it a go.  It was definitely an adventure to remember. 

Check out these local resources:

• Friends of the Centennial Trail
• North Idaho Centennial Trail Foundation

Chris Cindric is a Senior Lecturer of Recreation and Leisure Services at Eastern Washington University where he teaches and advises a minor in experiential education and manages the EWU Challenge Course Program. He lives in Cheney with his wife, four children, and dog. 

To see previous episodes in the SPOvid-19 Local Adventure Series, click here.

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Who says you need to own a car to go on an adventure? Sure, it’s harder to get to national parks and wide swaths of wilderness on your own without one. As someone living in an urban area, I regularly feel an urge to be somewhere more natural, wilder, and more beautiful. And yet, if I wait to be on top of a mountain or alone in a forest to feel that itch scratched, I’ll almost never get the chance. Here are four ways to cultivate this spirit of adventure closer to home. 

Go Early 

Get up before dawn and ride your bike to a park with a beautiful vista. When you get to a good viewpoint, you can pour yourself a thermos of hot coffee and watch the sun come up. You’ll usually have the place to yourself and a chorus of birds.  

Suggested ride: Manito Park. For a mellow or family-friendly alternative: Take bus number 4 or bus up the hill and bike back down. 

Go Late 

Grab a friend and your headlamps and do a post-work sunset run. Yep, we’re tired after work, and it can feel intimidating to hit the trails or the streets with limited light. But there’s fun and motivation in coming together, and it can be a great way to train for that summer trip. Also, there’s something about headlamp light that makes things feel adventurous.  

Suggested run: Spokane’s Riverfront Park. You can start and end near the fountain, which puts you within walking distance to some awesome post-run takeout food options. 

Go Up 

Spokane is blessed with local climbing crags. Several you can even take a bus to! It’s amazing how even just a half day of climbing at a local crag on a sunny morning—even if it’s a short, moderate climb with no glorious view at the top—can generate a moment of connecting to that wild, scary, adventure feeling.  

Suggested spot: Dishman Hills. Use bus 90 or 94.  

Go Big 

Make an all-day adventure from your door. Pack up your backpacking pack and put on your boots. Throw in breakfast and lunch and even bring your camping stove. Bring a map and compass and plan to spend an entire day walking to some far-off destination. Getting up early, planning a route, heating up a quick meal with a camp pot, and feeling the familiar weight of your pack is all it takes to feel like you’re on an adventure. This is a great way to train, and there’s so much to see when we are looking at our surroundings with more observant eyes. This also works as an all day bike trip.  

Suggested trail: Centennial trail. Jump on the centennial trail at your nearest of favorite trailheads. Head all the way to Idaho, or link up to Riverside and Nine Mile Falls.

Get Creative

Check out bus routes that may take you someplace new. Get friends to join you in early morning or late night versions of your favorite local fun. And planning a bigger trip with a car rental or your own wheels can feel all that much sweeter when you’ve been building up to it. Wilderness and adventure are as accessible as your imagination and fearlessness to try something different. 

Ingrid Hannan is currently living in a big city for grad school but feels her real education happened mountaineering in the North Cascades, climbing rocks in the desert, skiing uphill, getting pummeled by ocean waves, and backpacking in glacial valleys. She escapes to wilderness to learn more whenever she gets the chance.  

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To help you make the most of your outdoor time and keep things fresh during the pandemic, the faculty of Eastern Washington University’s Recreation and Leisure Services Program in partnership with Out There Venture has created the SPOvid-19 Local Adventure Series.

Episode 4 – Biking & Urban Hammocking

This week’s adventure takes you on a bike ride to enjoy relaxing in a hammock at a city park. So, pack your snacks, grab your ENO hammocks and straps, and get ready to hit the trails.

This adventure features an approximately 16-mile bike ride, beginning on the Spokane River Centennial State Park Trail, going through Riverside State Park, and ending at Audubon Park in Spokane, which is an ideal place for setting-up hammocks or slacklines. The website for Friends of the Centennial Trail is a good resource with detailed information for trailheads, ADA-accessible parking information, and a trail map.

Begin your ride at the Military Cemetery trailhead, located on North Wright Road. Follow the Centennial Trail north towards the Bowl and Pitcher area of Riverside State Park. The trail will end around Seven Mile Road, where you can take the bridge across the Spokane River and then travel the scenic Aubrey White Parkway on the east side of the river. Once you’ve taken in the beautiful views of the Spokane River, bike to Audubon Park to set-up your hammocks and take a few minutes to relax. The park is filled with beautiful pine trees providing shade and ample opportunities for hammocking.  

The Centennial Trail is one the great recreation resources in Spokane — extending 39 miles from the Nine Mile Recreation Area of Riverside State Park all the way to the Idaho state border. The trail then continues 24 miles as the North Idaho Centennial Trail, extending through the city of Coeur d’Alene. Altogether, this two-state, National Recreation Trail is 63 miles long. With numerous access sites, choose among many different scenic trail segments for walking, biking, or running. If you bring your dog, keep it leashed and pick-up any waste.

One of the best parts of any outdoor adventure is the reward of relaxing at the end. Even better to chill in a hammock and enjoy gazing at the trees above. Please follow Leave No Trace ethics for hanging your hammock.

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The Spokane Centennial Trail has been selected as a finalist for the Google Street View Special Collection, which would place the Centennial Trail on a Google map under the Parks & Trails category. Google’s Street View trike would film the entire length of the Trail.

Benefits from being on the Google map include national exposure for the Centennial Trail, as Street View is now in all 50 U.S. states, and route clarification, as local users would be able to easier determine the topography of the Trail.

You can cast your vote here as many times as you like by November 30, 2009.

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