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I realize many of you are distraught about no snow in our mountains.
And so am I. I haven’t skied a single day this year, yet. A seasoned skier or outdoors person must realize, we are at the mercy of Mother Nature, when we venture out. WE MUST TAKE THE BAD WITH THE GOOD! Hopefully, snow will come soon. The best way to get outdoors, is to snowshoe, hike, bike in the areas that are usually too snowy to play in. The reason I bring this up, has another bit of bad news. If we don’t get our normal snowpack, our summer will be very poor and very dangerous. Because of the possibility of less snowpack, it’s time to get out and hike before forest fires and forest closures are enforced. Below are a variety of areas to consider. Marie Creek Trail #241 https://www.inlandnwroutes.com/marie-creek.html The Marie Creek trail is located due north of Woof Lodge Bay, and is a pleasant walk along Marie Creek and a huge cliff band. This hike can be extended by following old trails and current roads to make the hike a loop. Wallace L Forest Conservation Area https://www.blm.gov/visit/blue-creek-bay-recreation-site-and-trail This BLM area is on the north side of Wolf Lodge Bay, with its trailhead on the east shore of Blue Creek Bay. The trail wonders around a 700+ acre forest with several trail options. Way back on the NE corner is a section of the Mullan Trail. Elk Creek Falls National Recreation Area https://www.inlandnwroutes.com/elk-creek-falls-national-recreation-area.html This area is a great visit any time of the year. It is located about 44 air miles south of St Maries, Idaho. Altho there may be some snow on the trails, it’s an easy hike with a half a dozen waterfalls to visit. GIANT WESTERN RED CEDAR GROVE https://www.inlandnwroutes.com/giant-cedar-grove-trail.html While you are in the area, NE of the town Elk River at about 12 miles, is the Giant Western Red Cedars. Do not miss this side trip. The Giant is in the width of 12-18 feet in diameter. Mineral Ridge, BLM Hike https://www.inlandnwroutes.com/mineral-ridge.html By now, most people have walked this trail because of its ease and close to CDA. If you want a slightly harder workout, hike this trail clockwise. And when you get to the Caribou shelter, be sure to walk the mile out to the Wilson Overlook. Mount CDA Trail #79 https://www.inlandnwroutes.com/mount-cda-trail-79-caribou-ridge.html This trailhead is located about .5 miles south of the Mineral Ridge parking lot, in the Beauty Bay Camp Grounds. But be aware…this trail is long and moderately difficult, due to its elevation gain. Navigation Trail # 291 https://www.inlandnwroutes.com/navigation-trail-291.html This low land trail skirts the west side of the Upper Priest Lake Thoroughfare, and leads to the south end of Upper Priest Lake. To further your hike, you can continue up the west shore line for as long as you like. Revett Lake https://www.inlandnwroutes.com/revett-lake.html Check with the Idaho roads to make sure the road to Thompson Pass is at least open to the pass. The actual trailhead is about 1 miles SW of the Thompson Pass parking area, up a road. It’s a relatively easy and short hike to a nice high country lake. To extend your hike, walk the left or SE shore to the back of the lake. But I would suggest returning on the same side of the lake. The NW “trail” is poor at best and not a good choice this time of the year. Lowe & Upper Blossom Lakes https://www.inlandnwroutes.com/blossom-lake.html This great hike starts at Thompson Pass, and has a rebuilt trail to all three lakes. But be aware, this time of the year, the trail may be snowy. The Upper Lake is an easy walk, and has a slightly more difficult trail to Pear Lake to extend your hike. Sullivan Lake Trail # 504 https://www.inlandnwroutes.com/sullivan-lake-shore-line.html This hike skirts the east shore south to the Noisy Creek Campgrounds. If by chance you have a kayak or Canoe, you can return via the lake. Be sure to carry your paddling gear with you if you do this hike/paddle. And padlock your boats to a tree when you are hiking. In this area are several attractions worth doing. Pulaski Trail https://www.inlandnwroutes.com/pulaski-tunnel-trail.html Just 1.5 miles south on the downtown Wallace, is a great trail to experience an easy trail to an old mine that Ed Pulaski used to save many firefighters lives during the Great Fire of 1910. The entire length of the trail has infosigns to guide you and tell the heroic story of how Ed Pulaski saved the firefighters. Mickinnick Trail #13 https://www.inlandnwroutes.com/mickinnick-trail.html Outside of Sandpoint, Idaho is the Mickinnick Trail, that offers a good workout and even better views. However, take you snowshoes or traction devises. A big draw of this trail is the Winter Wonderland for photography. SPOKANE COUNTY CONSERVATION FUTURES PROPERTIES https://www.inlandnwroutes.com/spokane-county-conservation-futures.html If you want to stay close to Spokane, check out the nearly two dozen conservation properties. All over Spokane County are open spaces the county has accumulated just for people to get outside and enjoy the uniqueness of Spokane County trails. A great challenge is to hike all of the properties in one year. It will help your mood and build your muscles all at the same time. And don’t forget the Washington Scablands, in my BLOG #102 THINGS TO TAKE ON WINTER HIKES Most importantly, PLEASE read and memorize several sections of our website. They are RESOURCES, HINTS, WEATHER, AND MEDICAL INFO. This knowledge is a must for anyone venturing into Nature, any time of the year. Always carry more warm clothes than you think you might need. Weather can change rather fast in the mountains. Carry your 14 ESSENTIALS and plenty of toe, hand and body warmers. If the sun is out on your hike, be sure to apply sun tan lotion before you leave home, and as needed along your hike. Take lots of water and food to fuel your walk. David and I suggest that you download the app AirFlare. It’s a rescue app that weights nothing and only costs $4.99 a year. All you have to do, if needed, is push the SOS button, and stay where you are. Just remember, rescues take many hours to reach their victims. Stay where you first push the button. If you move, they may be looking for your location in the wrong place. If any of you have questions about anything on our website, please feel free to contact me, by using the envelope at the bottom of every page of our website, it will go directly to me. If your inquiry is upcoming, please email me at least three days before you hike day. David and I would like to Thank all of you who used our website. In 2025, we had 57,000 hits. Thank You, Chic David https://www.inlandnwroutes.com
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HI READERS, HIKERS, SNOWSHOERS, AND ALL TYPES OF SKIERS
It’s sad that Winter isn’t happening as it should, but it can be a good thing, also. West of Spokane is the Washington Channeled Scablands. Often during late Winter early Spring, Winter is raging around Spokane, and the Scabs can be a shorts and t-shirt walk. But do always carry the gear to stay comfortable. The winds can be brutal. Below are places to survive the lack of Winter. Please carry your 14 ESSENTIALS, and other personal gear to stay safe. Arm yourself with Google Earth satellite views for reference once you get into the depth of these areas. Maps and brochures are a must.' DO NOT FILTER AND STAY AWAY FROM ANY WATER OUT IN THE SCABS. THAT INCLUDES YOUR PETS. Wear sturdy boots and BE AWARE, this is rattlesnake country. Most likely, you won’t see any because it’s too cold. But with the weather we’ve been having, precaution is a must. Avoid south facing rocks, brush, trees. If they are out, they are sunning themselves to get warm. They are cold blooded critters. By using poles, you can probe areas you can’t see. There are also shin guards made of plastic that will prevent snake bites. No matter where you hike in the Scabs, do it safely, and carefully. When you hike out there, discuss the route and landmarks with your companions, from the start of the hike, to the objective. You may walk around a mesa, and have unfamiliar views. I often use my poles to mark intersections, off trail walks, and the walk down to Towell Falls, with arrows back to the trailhead. Make them obvious, large, and so you can’t miss them on the return hike. Hiking in The Scabs require the skill to pay very close attention to your route and where you going and returning to. Most these hikes are simple out and back hikes. But the Quincy Lakes area requires better Google Earth images. Any where you hike, xc ski, snowshoe, etc. in Winter, be 100% able to spend the night. You never know what can happen. To read about the items and skills needed to hike, read our RESOURCES, HINTS, AND THE WEATHER SECTIONS. And remember….KNOWLEDGE IS THE NUMBER 1 item on your checklist. Without KNOWLEDGE, you put your self and others in harms way. All of the below hikes are on this local website. Relatively Easy Hikes EASY STEAMBOAT ROCK https://www.inlandnwroutes.com/steamboat-rock.html Steamboat Rock is a mass of basalt that is 1 sq mile is size, and stands 700’ above the campgrounds. Once on top, walk either way around the elongated rock. Take a phone picture of where you summited the rock, so you are assured that it is your way down. The views all around the rock are interesting geological features. https://wenatcheeoutdoors.org/2022/11/21/steamboat-rock-its-not-a-rock/ Because the rock is basalt, I strongly suggest sturdy boots and hiking poles. FISHTRAP LAKE https://www.inlandnwroutes.com/fishtrap-lake.html FishTrap Lake is only about 25 miles west of Spokane, an offers an easy up to 6.5 mile hike around the lake. In some places, there are hooknose beaches, and pot holes to see. Waterfowl is very common here. HAWK CREEK FALLS S.P. https://www.inlandnwroutes.com/hawk-creek-falls-sp.html As you drive to Hawk Falls, you may think it’s in a blah setting. But that will change as soon as you turn off the Miles Creston Road N, and you see this waterfall you’ll be hooked. The slightly more difficult walk out to see the Columbia River, is worth the effort. Along the route are long beaches in Winter, several caves, and a small sand dune below a steep Cliff. LENORE CAVES AND LAKE https://www.inlandnwroutes.com/lake-lenore-caves--mesa.html The walk to the caves are easy and interesting to see. To extend your walk, look for a route above to the basalt cliffs. Wander about on these mesas for views. PALOUSE FALLS S.P. https://www.inlandnwroutes.com/apps/search?q=Palouse+ The Palouse Falls are the official waterfalls of Washington State. It can be viewed from several observation points along the rim. But de aware…it is a very popular park to visit. The falls drop 198’ into a spectacular plunge pool. SUN LAKES S.P. https://www.inlandnwroutes.com/dry-falls-sun-lakes-sp.html This park offers many very interesting attractions. Like the Cliff and plunge pool, of what was once the largest waterfall on earth. There are hikes down around the plunge pool lakes, and gigantic basalt mesas. It’s also a full amenity campground. TURNBULL NATIONAL WILDLIFE REFUGE https://www.inlandnwroutes.com/turnbull-nwr.html This area is a short distance west of Spokane and offers nice walking trails and wildlife viewing. Be sure to take your binoculars. Many bird species migrate thru this area. And moose are seen there. MODERATE HIKES HOG CANYON FALLS https://www.inlandnwroutes.com/hog-canyon--falls.html Real close to Spokane is a stair step waterfall named Hog Canyon. Technically it’s part of the FishTrap lake,but requires a different area to walk to. The falls drop seven times thru a narrow channel, and are best viewed from across an area where you first view the falls. NORTHRUP CANYON https://www.inlandnwroutes.com/northrup-canyon.html This area was added to the Steamboat Rock S.P. years ago and are a must see. It is a 7+ mile round trip hike with a gain of about 570’. Once past the old homestead buildings, the trail climbs gently to where you get your first view of the lake. I suggest you go off trail here and walk around the lake’s east side, and have lunch above the lake with a view. Other interesting things to see are the largest tin can collection you’ll ever see. They are from the days the Grand Coulee Dam, where workers camped and had a mess hall. Fall colors are great here ESCURE RANCH AND TOWELL FALLS https://www.inlandnwroutes.com/escure-ranch.html The first thing you notice driving into the parking area, is the unique farm buildings across Rock Creek. While hiking here, walk over to the buildings and see how to build a building that will last many lifetimes The hike to Towell Falls is only 3.2 miles one way, and drops 147’ point to point. But the trail undulates with a total of 530’ gain and lose However, as you see the falls for the first time, MEMORIZE YOUR WAY DOWN TO THE FALLS. When you leave to head back, KNOW YOUR PREVIOUS DESCENT ROUTE. It looks different from the falls. In full runoff, there are 4 falls, but only two are continuous. QUINCY LAKES & ANCIENT LAKES, DUSTY LAKE https://www.inlandnwroutes.com/breezy-hill-ancient-and-dusty-lakes.html These hikes are a bit more complicated, but well worth your time to see what makes this whole area a geological wonder. And there’s several falls and lakes to photograph. They are located NE of the GORGE AMPHITHEATER. FRENCHMANS COULEE https://www.inlandnwroutes.com/escure-ranch.html For those who want to see some great scabland geology, this hike is for you. There are several lakes, and sometimes more than three waterfalls. This hike is a must do. Thank You all for a great year on our local website. Chic David InlandNWRoutes.com |
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