The hike to Kirkwood Ranch is gorgeous, although moderately difficult due to rocky terrain and areas of steep drop-offs. Hikers should come prepared with trekking poles, and it might not be a good selection for visitors with small children or pets. The area does have cacti, poison ivy, and the potential for rattlesnakes. But after navigating the tricky canyon trail, the Kirkwood Ranch historic site has fantastic camping for those who make the trek, including lovely flat campsites with picnic tables and backcountry bathrooms that even have flush toilets! Be warned that the trailhead parking lots can fill up on peak weekends and during spring break, and you may need to park farther away and extend your hike a mile or so.

The main Kirkwood Ranch cabin hosts a USFS volunteer who can provide site interpretation and a small museum is located on the grounds. It’s about 6 miles one-way with little elevation change (but does have some steep climbs and descents). The trail continues past the ranch for those seeking a longer visit. Or, if the hike seems too much, there’s always the option to engage a local jetboat operator for a day’s tour of the Snake River Canyon.

Getting There: Kirkwood Ranch is accessed via Upper Pittsburg Landing. From Lewiston/Clarkston take US 95 eastbound through Grangeville to Whitebird. Turn on Old US 95 to cross the Salmon River, then continue on Forest Service Road 493 over Pittsburg Saddle. Just before Lower Pittsburg Landing (campground and boat launch), turn left on Deer Creek Road to Upper Pittsburg Landing, which dead-ends at the Kirkwood Ranch Trailhead on the Snake River National Recreation Trail.  

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Construction of California Creek, the main singletrack trail at Mica Peak Conservation Area, just wrapped up at the end of July 2020 in spite of new complications placed on volunteer projects due to COVID-19. This project has been years in the making, and while the trail has been open and accessible to the public for most of the last year, the much-needed finishing touches are now finally in place—including a completed trailhead and new trail signage. This newest trail in Spokane County is a prime destination for fall exploration. 

Spokane County Parks acquired the initial 910 acres of Conservation Futures land in 2013, with an additional 884 acres added in 2018. The public property starts at 2,800 feet elevation and ascends to 5,100 feet (the summit at 5,200 feet is not part of the Conservation Area property). Since the parking lot sits at 2,725 feet and reaches the conservation area via a trail easement, all routes to Mica Peak include serious elevation gain. It also makes the area fantastic for year-round exploration with a well-maintained road to the trailhead. Fall is a prime season for a visit to take in the seasonal color transitions, but the area is also fun to explore via skis or snowshoes in winter and has fantastic wildflowers from spring into summer. 

The parking lot sits at the end of Belmont Road and just outside the conservation area. Visitors have two choices for a route up from behind the initial gate, both via old logging roads: the route on the left is a conservation easement leading to the county property in 1 mile, whereas the route on the right enters the conservation area via an adjacent Department of Natural Resources (DNR) property. The latter route is recommended since it quickly leads to a singletrack trail and has better views, but visitors can also consider entering one way and exiting via the other option.  

When the DNR trail connects onto Mica Peak Conservation Area, continue up a short hill to the main access road through the property. Continue hiking up the roadbed, passing the powerlines, until reaching the first trail sign for California Creek to the left. The first half mile is a narrow connector road to the main California Creek Trail, which is signed and heads immediately uphill on the right. The views improve with every turn as the California Creek trail winds its way up the south face of Mica. The big, climbing turns allow for sweeping views eastward to Idaho’s Mica Peak, westward into Spokane, and southwest to the Palouse.  

Originally entitled “Mica Peak Conservation Area” in the Hike of hte Month column in the September-October 2020 double issue.

Trip Details

• Round-trip distance: 8.6 miles 
• Rating: Difficult 
• Elevation gain: 1,934 feet 
• Getting there: Take Washington State Route 27 south from Spokane Valley. Turn east on Belmont Road at the town of Mica. Continue on Belmont Road for 4.5 miles to where it dead ends at the parking lot for Mica Peak Conservation Area.

Support Local Trails 

Watch for upcoming opportunities to volunteer on local trails by checking the wta.org volunteer page and sorting to “Eastern Washington” under the region tab. Group size limits are dependent upon current COVID-19 guidelines.  

Holly Weiler loves exploring the trails of the Inland Northwest and helping to build new trails as the Eastern Washington Regional Coordinator for Washington Trails Association.  

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