The Center of the Universe, Wallace, Idaho
Wallace, Idaho is one of my favorite places ever. It is a tiny, old mining town in North Idaho, about an hour east of Coeur d’Alene. It is a town with a population of 800 that has had to restart many times. In the late 1800’s, miners discovered one of the largest silver deposits in […]
Ben Burr Nature Trail, Spokane, WA
Between Liberty Park and Underhill Park, in Spokane, is the Ben Burr Nature Trail. Part of the Rails-to-Trails Conservancy, it is a paved trail that connects to the Centennial Trail, which I have written about a few times, and also has many access points to the named parks. IT IS ALSO THE TRAIL WHERE I […]
Stevens Lakes, Murray, Idaho
This is hike 30 in 100 Hikes in the Inland Northwest: Popular among weekend campers, this hike quickly leads from Interstate 90 to an area of quiet alpine lakes in the western reaches of the Bitterroot Mountains. The lakes are situated at the brink of timberline below Stevens Peak and just a ridge west of […]
Spokane River Loop, Riverside State Park, Spokane, WA
I was supposed to be backpacking for two days on Mount Hood. It sure seems like many of my sentences begin with “I was supposed to.” Sigh. I was especially excited about this trip. This trip was to a place I have never been, with people I have never met. And I had nothing to […]
Deep Creek Canyon Loop, Riverside State Park, Nine Mile Falls, Washington
Deep Creek Canyon is so beautiful. You walk through the forest, along a ridge, then through a field, before you cross a beautiful bridge and then walk along the river. I hosted this full moon night hike for my group, Inland Northwest Hikers. I was so lucky to do it with Barbarian Scientist, My Therapist, […]
Northrup Canyon, Steamboat Rock State Park, Washington
Go hike Northrup Canyon right now. Go! If you wait any longer, then you’ll miss this. It is vibrant and lush and overrun with countless marmots, but as the heat of summer in central Washington sets in, the green will turn brown, wildfires will smother the crystal blue skies, and rattlesnakes will be out. I […]
Spokane South Hill Bluff, Spokane, Washington
100 Hikes in the Inland Northwest lists Spokane South Hill Bluff under their Three City Choice Hikes. I had already written about their first choice, Tubbs Hill, and their second choice, Q’emiln Park. It is described in the text as: An evolving network of trails in Spokane graces the south-facing slope below High Drive and […]
Bernard Peak, Farragut State Park, Athol, Idaho
Farragut State Park is an incredible place, but somehow only one trail made it into 100 Hikes in the Inland Northwest, and it ended up on the last page of the Appendix: Farragut is a sprawling park on a former military camp on the shores of Lake Pend Oreille east of US Highway 95 and […]
Indian Cliffs, Heyburn State Park, Plummer, Idaho
Indian Cliffs is in the Appendix of 100 Hikes in the Inland Northwest: Heyburn State Park, 6 miles east of Plummer, Idaho, and then north on the shore of Lake Chatcolet, has a couple of nice trails. Indian Cliffs Trailhead is passed just after crossing railroad tracks before turning into park headquarters, where details can […]
Round Lake State Park, Sagle, Idaho
Two years ago, I would never suggest Round Lake as a hike unless you asked for suggestions for a place to take children or seniors or the very unathletic. How rude. Truly. Within that time, I was watching what was happening to my so-called peers as we tackled big goals and set our sights on […]