This area has both a secluded loop of singletrack (avoid when thawing or muddy) and a flat, open path with a great view of downtown and Mount Spokane. The wide gravel path, named Rimrock Drive (closed to motorized vehicles), runs along the edge of Palisades Park, about a mile out and back, and is ideal for hiking with a group or walking trail-sturdy strollers if it isn’t too snowy.

With rocky outcroppings that overlook the city, it’s a joy in winter to just take a few breaths and watch the steam rise up from the downtown buildings. Mount Spokane, visible toward the north end of this hike, often has a snowy cap this time of year that makes for a nice landmark view.

Explore the singletrack that loops at the center of this park through native brush, meadows, and pines, but bring navigation if snow or ice may obscure the trail.

Find more stories about hikes close to downtown Spokane and ways to explore Spokane’s urban outdoors in the OTO archives.

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What makes this a great winter hike is its flexibility in trail distance and access to afternoon winter sun, which thaws these trails a bit more than spots like Riverside State Park that stay shaded most of the winter.

The Bluff has over 20 miles of trails that are great for winter hiking, mountain biking, and dog walking, as long as the trails are not icy, muddy, or in a freeze-thaw cycle that will damage the trail tread.

Choose any direction and you’ll find singletrack that rises and falls, snakes around pine-cluttered turns, and runs straight and long on open faces of the Bluff. It’s a great place to catch the winter skyline or an early sunset, watching as the colors fade into the silhouettes of our Northwest pines.

Visit the Friends of the Bluff website for more info, including a trail map.

Spokane’s High Drive Bluff: (top left) Sunset view from the top of High Drive Bluff. // Photo: Julie Pomerantz; (top right) View from upper bluff looking south over the Latah Valley. // Photo: Amy McCaffree ; (upper right) Runners along High Drive // Photo: Erik K.; (bottom) Snowfall doesn’t often linger on the trails. // Photo: Aaron Theisen

Find more stories about the High Drive Bluff in the OTO archives.

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