Big Tree Trail is an easy, 1.7 mile round-trip hike, with moderate grades throughout, to the Big Tree Botanical Area Interpretive Site. The trail begins just across from the historic guard station at the Lost Lake Campground entrance—or via a separate trailhead a mile up the road for those not staying at the campground.

Although considered wheelchair accessible, the trail surface is soft and may have some debris from wind events. Several park benches are placed along the trail for quiet nature contemplation, and an additional outhouse is available at the second trailhead location.

The surrounding forest has been shaped by various timber harvests, but still boasts many large trees. At the far end of the loop, a pair of 900-year-old Western larch trees hint at what the forest must have been like at some point before logging in the area accelerated.

At Lost Lake Campground, the work of the Civilian Conservation Corps in the area is clearly evident, including the historic Guard Station, built in 1841, located at the campground entrance.

Spacious campsites are available for a fee (first-come, first-served) and provide good access to Lost Lake, a non-motorized lake with a swimming beach and boat launch that’s perfect for canoes, kayaks, and stand-up paddleboards. There is also a day-use and picnic area. Be sure to take the short hike to the amphitheater at the edge of the campground, perfect for staging a family talent show.

Getting There

Lost Lake is located 27.1 miles northeast of Tonasket, Wash., via Havillah Road and West Lost Lake Road—or 29.4 miles west of the town of Republic via Highway 20 and Toroda Road. The trail starts near the historic guard station at the campground entrance. An alternate starting point is one-mile northeast of Lost Lake via Forest Roads 50 and 33.

Find recommendations for regional hiking trails and destinations in the Hike of the Month column.

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The recent round of nominations for Spokane County Park’s Conservation Futures program additions received eight applicants. A public meeting to present the nominations and discuss the process for determining which of the properties was held via Zoom on September 9th. Find updates, see survey results, and the latest news about Conservation Futures at Spokanecounty.org.

National Public Lands Day

Get outside and play (for free!) on National Public Lands Day, September 25! Discover Passes will not be required for day-use at Washington State Parks, Washington Department of Fish & Wildlife lands, and Department of Natural Resources lands all day.

Sept. 25 is also a National Parks fee-free day and a good time to plan a road trip to Mount Rainier or Glacier National Park.

Public Comments Sought on Fees & Rec Site Changes

The Colville National Forest is considering some fee additions and increases at several recreation sites across the 1.1-million acre northeast Washington forest. The complete list of locations and public comment information is available through September 30 on the agency’s website.

Some notable highlights include a proposal to include the recently restored Salmo Mountain Fire Lookout on the cabin rental reservation system, as well as the Frater Lake warming cabin.

Run for the Woods

The Kaniksu Land Trust will be hosting a fall fundraiser trail run event at Pine Street Woods in Sandpoint on October 9. All of the event proceeds from this first Run for the Woods will benefit the trust, so come run for a good cause!  

Volunteer Trail Projects

Lend a hand on one of these upcoming trail projects. If you can’t make it, remember to check out these refurbished trails once they are finished:

• Idaho Trails Association will be hosting project days in North Idaho this fall, including at Parker Ridge and Chimney Rock (Idahotrailsassocation.org).
• Washington Trails Association will be continuing work on Mount Spokane projects through September, then transitioning to trail improvements within Spokane County Parks. Look for a fall grand opening to the new trailhead and trail at Etter Ranch at the south end of Antoine Peak. Other project sites include Hauser Conservation Area and Slavin Ranch (Wta.org).
• Friends of Scotchman Peak Wilderness will be hosting a National Public Lands Day project at Goat Mountain on September 25 (Scotchmanpeaks.org).
• Evergreen East Mountain Bike Alliance is continuing work on the new trail 290 at Mount Spokane with approximately 0.5 mile remaining. Once snow returns, the focus will turn to a reroute of one of the steepest sections of the Edith Hansen Trail at Liberty Lake Regional Park (Evergreeneast.org).
• Blue Mountains Land Trust will be hosting a weekend project at Camp Wooten State Park with camping and meals included for a nominal fee, September 24-26 (Bmlt.org).

Holly Weiler is a long-time contributor to Out There Venture who plans to spend her fall finding gold in the nearby hills (larch season!).

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By Mike Lithgow

Connection to the land is at the core of Kalispel culture. The Kalispel people historically occupied and utilized an area of 2.3 million acres located in Northeast Washington, North Idaho, and Northwest Montana. This land is an incredibly diverse place, and the Kalispel were able to thrive on the resources that this landscape produced.

In 1914, the Kalispel were forced from their larger aboriginal landscape and isolated onto their Reservation through an executive order signed by then-President Woodrow Wilson. This executive order created a roughly 4,700-acre reservation for the Kalispel along the Pend Oreille River near Cusick and Usk, Washington. Much of this acreage lies within an active floodplain or on the steep slopes of the Selkirk Range, not nearly enough land for the Tribe to continue to sustain itself.

Much of the aboriginal landscape of the Kalispel are public lands managed by state and federal agencies. The concept of active management of these lands is not new, as the Kalispel have been managing this terrain using fire since time immemorial. Fire is an important ecological tool, but today’s landscape necessitates the use of additional modern forestry techniques.

To increase the pace and scale of active management and restoration of this landscape, the Kalispel Tribe decided to take a seat at the table with the other land managers by proposing a Tribal Forest Protection Act project called the Sxwuytn-Kaniksu Connections or “Trail” Project.

Where exactly is the Sxwuytn (su-who-y-tin)-Kaniksu Connections or “Trail” Project? And why the name Sxwuytn?

First, the name is a Kalispel Salish word meaning “trail or connections.” The name perfectly fits the purpose and intent of this project, which is to connect all people within the surrounding communities to the management of their surrounding landscape. The project’s nickname is “Trail.”

Secondly, the Trail Project is located on the Colville National Forest’s (CNF) Newport-Sullivan Lake Ranger District in Northeast Washington’s Pend Oreille County north of Newport. The project area consists of five large watersheds covering approximately 90,700 acres and surrounds the Reservation and other lands owned and managed by the Kalispel.

The project area is bordered by the Pend Oreille River on the west, the Idaho Panhandle National Forest on the east, and stretches to the southern boundary of the Newport-Sullivan Lake Ranger District. The north border follows the Middle Creek watershed’s north boundary.

Why is the Kalispel Tribe involved?

Along with requesting action on U.S. Forest Service lands surrounding their Reservation and surrounding communities, the Kalispel Tribe has contributed extensively to the project in multiple ways. The Kalispel Tribe of Indians shares extensive natural resource knowledge of the area by providing key specialists to participate in the interdisciplinary NEPA planning team.

Through grants and significant tribal funding, the Tribe was able to fill gaps for the project in the form of outside specialists to help support the planning process.

Finally, the Tribe has provided a representative to the Project Leadership Team and used their invaluable community network to engage members of the public.

What specific types of actions will occur in this project area?

This project includes a diverse array of prescriptions to improve the overall health of the watersheds that fall within the project area. Prescribed fire, commercial and non-commercial thinning, wetland restoration, aquatic organism passage, road maintenance and improvements, and road decommissioning.

There is also a prioritized list of recreation projects to improve the overall recreation opportunities in the area. The project that ranked highest is the Bead Lake Loop non-motorized trail project. This trail will be built with assistance from the Washington Trails Association (WTA).

Holly Weiler from WTA has been integral in the development of the recreation portion of this planning document. Without public participation and the collaboration of the Washington State Department of Natural Resources, United States Forest Service, and the Northeast Washington Forestry Coalition, a project of this size and scope would not be feasible.

Without this project, the landscape will fail to provide the safety, resources, and overall resiliency upon which tribal members and non-tribal communities depend.

To learn more about the Kalispel Tribe’s conservation efforts visit Knrd.org.

Find more news and recreation stories about the Kalispel Tribe or the Colville National Forest in the OTO archives.

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Welcome to The Trailhead, where the first stop should be the kiosk with important information that affects recreationists in our area! This new column, replacing the long-running “Hike of the Month” column, will serve as a round-up of interesting projects and plans for trails in the Inland Northwest.

Here’s what trail and recreation related news we have for his spring and early summer, along with a recommended hike!

Steptoe Butte State Park Closure

Park will be closed for road and parking lot repairs for up to 16 weeks this spring. The exact closure window is dependent upon weather conditions, so be sure to check the state parks website before a spring visit.

Great American Outdoors Act Funds Local Projects

Funding for the Great American Outdoors Act was signed into law August 2020 and will begin to address deferred maintenance needs on United States Forest Service (USFS) lands beginning this summer. Search the US Department of Agriculture website for a deeper dive into how this legislation will be enabling projects across the country. Some of the local projects slated to begin in 2021 include:

• Funding for 1,500 miles of deferred maintenance on backcountry trails across both Washington and Oregon through “shared stewardship” partnerships with USFS partner organizations.
• Trail maintenance on 110 miles of recreational trails within Hells Canyon National Recreation Area and the Eagle Cap Wilderness, along with the replacement of two 60′ bridges on the Snake River National Recreation Trail.
• A combination project on South Fork Boulder Creek Road north of Highway 20 on the Colville National Forest, including relocation of the current road and conversion of the former roadbed to a year-round multi-use trail (snowmobile in winter; non-motorized access to Taylor Ridge Trail in summer).
• Trail maintenance on 50 miles of trails near Bonners Ferry, Idaho.
• A trail resurfacing project and tunnel improvements on the Route of the Hiawatha Trail near Lookout Pass.
• Trail maintenance in the Mallard-Larkins and Upper St. Joe River areas.
• Improvements to both vehicle access and trails within the Ross Creek Ancient Cedar Grove, including a boardwalk to help protect tree roots from soil compaction while granting better accessibility for all visitors.

New Trailhead for Antoine Peak Conservation Area

Spokane County Parks will be building a new trailhead for Antoine Peak Conservation Area’s Etter Ranch addition over the course of the summer. The new access point will be located less than 1/4-mile from Trent Ave. in the Spokane Valley. Until the new trailhead is complete, access to this portion of Antoine Peak is only available under special permit for the trail construction crews who are busy building the new connecting trail to the existing trail system. Check the Washington Trails Association and Evergreen East Mountain Bike Alliance websites for volunteer opportunities that will grant a sneak peek!

Northeast Washington Trails Website

Northeast Washington Trails has a new page devoted to ways non-motorized trail users can get involved with trail maintenance projects stretching from the Okanogan Highlands to the Idaho Panhandle. Lend a hand to one of several nonprofits offering volunteer opportunities across northeast Washington, or share a conditions report about a trail issue you discovered while exploring an area. Learn more at Newashingtontrails.com/volunteer.

Hike of the Month for the May-June 2021 issue:

Holly Weiler is a long-time contributor to Out There Venture. If you know where to look, you’ll find her deep in a morel patch this spring.

[Feature photo: Mountain wildflowers in northeast Washington overlooking the Pend Oreille River valley. // Courtesy of Kalispell Tribe.]

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The name Wolf Trails conjures up a wild, enticing, and maybe even a tad forbidding place, but this trail system on the edge of town in Newport, Wash., is actually a sweet wooded area of gently rolling terrain adjacent to the Pend Oreille River.

With about 4-5 miles of interconnected loops, divided by State Route 20 into the “Upper” and “Lower” trail systems, hikers and mountain bikers can choose any length of outing they desire. Lower Wolf has a charming bench at an overlook of Ashenfelter Bay on the Pend Oreille River, where ducks, geese, and sometimes Tundra swans lounge in the calm water.

Spring is a favorite time of year, with the soft, damp trail; wildflowers blooming; and birds flitting about.  I saw a pileated woodpecker big as life on Upper Wolf in early April.

These trails were developed on land donated to the Colville National Forest decades ago by newspaper owner Fred Wolf for the express purpose of recreation. The Forest Service and the Pacific Northwest Trail Association have done a great job designing and maintaining this jewel of a trail system so close to town that within minutes of completing your hike, ride, or trail run you can be in Newport to enjoy a coffee at Union Street Perk or a burger and beer next door Kelly’s Bar & Grill, the second oldest continuously operating bar in Washington State.

Find directions and trail map at Newashingtontrails.com/wolf-trails/. Dogs are okay on leash. For trail conditions, call the Colville National Forest Newport Ranger District Office, 509.447.7300.

[Photos courtesy of Gayne Sears.]

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Deer Creek Summit SnoPark, Kettle River Range in northeast Washington.

Activity:

Snowshoe, Cross-Country Ski, or Hike (trail open year-round).

Longtime residents of the Inland Northwest know the best way to take full advantage of our four seasons is to splurge for an annual SnoPark permit each winter. Without that pass, adventurers will find their options severely limited as snow piles up in the high country and covers the access roads leading to many of our region’s trailheads.

There are three main types of SnoPark permits, and recreational users should give a little consideration to their favorite types of activity and frequency of use before making a decision about which permit to purchase. A one-day pass is $20, an annual pass is $40, and for those who also Nordic ski in specific groomed locations across the state, a special grooming sticker can be added for a total of $80 annually. This is a per vehicle permit that cannot be transferred between vehicles. For the hike described here, a special grooming sticker is not required.

As part of a program of providing a dedicated funding source for snow removal in parking lots across the state, the SnoPark system is vast. Statewide in Washington there are 40 SnoParks designated for non-motorized use, and another 80 open to motorized use, which can be utilized by human-powered adventure seekers who follow the same basic etiquette as those who recreate along potentially busy roads.

These trailheads would otherwise be inaccessible as snow begins to accumulate in the mountains. Most SnoPark visitors I meet have their own favorite access point, but it’s also fun to take the permit on a tour of other areas. One such location is the Deer Creek Summit non-motorized SnoPark located along Boulder Summit Road in northeast Washington’s Ferry County.

Located at the northern terminus of the Kettle Crest Trail in the Colville National Forest, visitors to this SnoPark have several recreational options at their disposal. (WTA page for Kettle Crest Trail.) In addition to being a great place to snowshoe, the site receives occasional grooming for Nordic skiing and offers backcountry skiers a place to earn their turns. The site has low avalanche danger, but winter visitors should always consult avalanche forecasts before a trip and come prepared with safety equipment for winter backcountry travel if planning to venture off the main trail system.

There are two parking locations at Deer Creek Summit, and for the hike described here it can be easiest to park at the south side of Boulder Creek Road. From here the easiest hike is to take the west side of the South Loop Trail as an easy out and back snowshoe hike where the main draw is the westward views along the trail. The trail is wide, since in the summer it’s an access road leading to the Taylor Ridge trailhead. Since this trail is occasionally groomed for Nordic skiing, snowshoe users are asked to keep off to one side and avoid walking on the set tracks following grooming.

The viewshed along the South Loop Trail has changed substantially in recent years, as this area was heavily impacted by the 2015 Stickpin Fire. As a result, visitors must be aware of the potential for falling trees in the event of high winds.

On a clear and calm day, the skeleton trees create interesting shadows in the forest. This trail has an unobstructed view to the west, making sunset a particularly nice time to visit. For the easiest hike, turn around at the Taylor Ridge Trailhead kiosk and retrace one’s steps to return to the SnoPark lot.

Visitors can choose to extend the hike farther south along the Kettle Crest Trail, or even try winter camping on the surrounding Forest Service land.

Deer Creek Summit via west side of South Loop Trail

• Round-trip distance: 4 miles
• Rating: Easy
• Elevation gain: 480 feet
• Map: Deer Creek Nordic Sno-Park Groomed Trail System
• Getting there: From Kettle Falls, take Highway 395 northwest across the Columbia River. Continue 15.9 miles north on Highway 395. Turn west on Boulder Creek Road and continue 11.6 miles to Deer Creek Summit SnoPark.
• Volunteer: Watch for upcoming opportunities to volunteer on local trails by checking wta.org/volunteer and sorting to “Eastern Washington” under the region tab. Group size limits are dependent upon current Covid-19 guidelines.

Holly Weiler believes in winter sports for winter sanity. Find her snowshoeing and skiing all over the Inland Northwest, getting maximum value out of her SnoPark permit.

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Bill Way and the NEWTS 

It began with a simple outdoor adventure. In about 2013, Bill Way’s friend (who happens to be Out There’s own Derrick Knowles) asked if Way would hike with him to find an obscure trail he’d seen on a map of the Colville National Forest. The goal was to determine whether the trail might make for a good mountain biking route.  

“What Derrick found on an older map was the end of the Taylor Ridge Trail,” says Way—a feeder to the Pacific Northwest Trail on the Kettle Crest. Three miles of this trail, known as the “Tom Creek” section, had been washed out about 20 years ago “in a tremendous rainstorm.” Trail maintenance had ceased at that time. 

With some difficulty, they found the trail. To Way, a retired teacher who lives outside Colville, it was clearly full of potential for mountain biking, with the restored segment and potential future road access resulting in a 20+ mile, shuttleable ride with exciting shifts in elevation, big trees, and water access.  

First, though, would come a significant amount of work. Way formed The Northeast Washington Trailblazers (NEWTS), a nonprofit dedicated to promoting non-motorized outdoor recreation and establishing trails and routes in northeast Washington. It quickly grew to over 100 members. Way served as president for four years and is currently on the group’s board. Taylor Ridge was the instigator for the group’s formation. Once the members held meetings, though, other projects came to the fore and were also undertaken, notably including work on the Colville Mountain Trail and the Sherman Creek Wildlife Area.  

Much of the trail’s work is facilitated and coordinated through Kristin Ackerman, the Eastern Washington Regional Coordinator of the Pacific Northwest Trails Association. “Bill is great. He’s a champion. I wish we could clone him,” Ackerman says. “We’ve seen him handily outwork younger, less experienced volunteers. In and out of the field, Bill is an invaluable member of the trail community.” 

The work of volunteers and partnering organizations like the NEWTS, says Ackerman, is “super critical” when it comes to a functional and expanding trail system. “The recreation departments, especially in the Forest Service, they’re not getting as many resources as they need to take care of all of our trails.” 

Current NEWTS president Matt Monbouquette (owner of Colville bike shop Adventure Peddler) says he’s working to “fill Bill Way’s very large shoes…Bill’s leadership has been the cornerstone of the organization for a long time. His passion for the outdoors and creating new places for people to recreate is inspiring.” 

“The Taylor Ridge Trail is really the crown jewel of the NEWTS organization,” Monbouquette says. “Due to the persistence of Bill and the NEWTS group we did work on the trail with the blessing of the Forest Service, and now the Forest Service is sending work crew/trail parties to the trail to work on it annually. That is really our biggest achievement and the main focus of the organization the past few years.” 

Way cautions those interested in similar efforts to be prepared for physical work and to recognize that things probably won’t move quickly. “It just takes a long time sometimes,” he says, given that working on trails you’re likely partnering with trails organizations, the Forest Service, state or national parks, and/or the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife, all with rules and regulations to follow. For those who’d like to tackle their own projects, Way recommends contacting an organization like the Washington Trails Association for advice—or, of course, a group like the NEWTS (Northeast Washington Trailblazers on Facebook, or email newasts [at] gmail [dot] com).  

For his part, Way finds that the effort and patience required for stewarding public lands are well worth it. “It has taken quite a bit of my time sometimes, but it’s been very rewarding to see things come together. It’s given me connections to people that have maybe similar interests but maybe I wouldn’t have known. I’ve learned a lot about how to get things done,” he says. “Plus, I love to go out and hike and bike and ski on the trails, too.” 

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Sometimes a reasonable day hike is enough. Sometimes you need to push your mind and body to see how far you can go. The following recommendations are for hikers and trail runners who want to cover some serious distance in a single-day push.  

Okanogan Highlands—Kettle Crest Trail 

Trail Distance: 30 miles one way 

The Kettle Crest Trail is a National Recreation Trail and segment of the newest long-distance National Scenic Trail, the Pacific Northwest Trail. Experience its beauty as it skirts 10 named peaks and goes directly over the summit of an 11th, Copper Butte. To do this traverse as one long push, start by dropping off a shuttle vehicle at the northern terminus, Deer Creek/Boulder Summit, then drive around to Highway 20 to start at Sherman Pass. The trail heads north while contouring around the summits along the way, offering views of both the Selkirk Mountain Range to the east and the Cascade Range to the west. Time this traverse to finish at sunset for spectacular views of a post-fire landscape as the route concludes through the Stickpin burn of 2015. (HW) 

Okanogan Highlands—Mini Kettle Crest 

Trail Distance: 8 miles roundtrip  

To try this traverse as a shorter option without a long shuttle required, start at Sherman Pass and take the Kettle Crest Trail north as far as the Columbia Mountain Loop. A spur trail leading northeast to the summit intersects the main Kettle Crest Trail at the 2.4-mile mark. This trail circles the mountain for great views in all directions, with a secondary spur trail leading directly to the summit where a restored historic fire lookout cabin awaits visitors. Return to the Kettle Crest via the same spur trail, and then retrace the route south back to Sherman Pass for an 8-mile version of the Kettle Crest North traverse. (HW) 

Selkirk Mountains—Long Canyon Creek Trail 16 

Trail Distance: Choose your own adventure length 

This (mostly) gentle, sloping trail works its way up the aptly named Long Canyon until it connects to Pyramid Mountain Trail No 7 at around 12 miles. The canyon offers shelter from warm temperatures thanks to the beautiful hemlock and cedar forest, as well as several mild and refreshing creek crossings. This is an out-and-back trail that allows for turning around anytime, but it can also be turned into a loop at its junction with Parker Ridge and Pyramid Mountain trails. This makes for a brutal 30+ mile day, but the views once out of the canyon are worth it. The trail is accessed via Copeland Road north of Bonners Ferry and is perfect for a long run in the woods without a summit. (AM) 

Cabinet Mountains—Rock Lake Trail 935 

Trail Distance: 8 miles roundtrip 

This adventure near Trout Creek, Mont., begins with a spicy creek crossing right out of the gate (bring extra shoes and tie them to a tree for the return crossing). The trail follows an old mining road for the first three miles, leading happy runners through beautiful meadows before reaching the Heidelberg Mine site—a perfect history break—and then climbing up to some beautiful falls before reaching the lake. For much of the run, one is surrounded by views of tempting peaks. Jump in the lake with the fish before heading back down for a pleasant descent (and oh, right, that last creek crossing). This trail is also the means of accessing several of the Cabinet Wilderness Area’s peaks, including the off-trail adventures of Ojibway and Rock Peak. (AM)

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That has changed with the recent development of the Colville Mountain trail system on the outskirts of the city. Volunteers with the Northeast Washington Trailblazers (NEWTs) hiking and mountain biking group worked closely with the City of Colville to create single-track trails on the edge of town. The loop trail system consists of 3.5 miles that offer visitors good views of the Colville Valley, including a bird’s-eye view of Main Street. Visitors can choose to extend their visit by ascending old logging roads above the loop trail. This is the route to the big cross on the hillside above town, and there’s a small picnic shelter nearby that’s great for a rest break before continuing the circuit and returning to the base of the mountain.

May is the perfect time to visit, as the hillsides are covered in arrowleaf balsamroot and other spring wildflowers, even as the surrounding mountainsides may still be coated in a layer of snow. The trail system is a moderate hike that’s great for the entire family, or a challenging mountain bike ride with some good climbs and descents.

From the parking area at the end of May Road, begin the circuit by starting up the old road bed. Approximately a quarter mile from the start, the single track trail drops just below the roadbed. Pick up a copy of the trail map at the small trail kiosk at this location. Then hike, run, or ride the contouring trail as it darts in and out of small drainages along the edge of the mountain

Distance: Up to 4.5 miles round-trip

Rating: Moderate

Getting There: Take Highway 395 north to Colville, Wash. When Highway 395 makes the bend west onto 5th Ave. just north of downtown Colville, continue north on Main Street. Main Street turns into May Road and dead-ends at the small parking area for the Colville Mountain trail system (It is 1.3 miles from Hwy 395 to the trailhead on May Road).

Give Back to Your Trails: Join Washington Trails Association for spring trips to Manressa Grotto on May 12, 13, and 15; register at wta.org/volunteer. //

Holly Weiler is a hiker, backpacker, trail runner, and skier. She writes the Hike of the Month column for Out There.

Feature photo: Holly Weiler

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