Stubblefield Lake Loop

Leaving Spokane and driving west down Interstate 90 isn’t usually where one might envision pretty nature existing. Yes, the farms and desert are pretty in their own way, but most people don’t want to go hiking on a farm. This area has some real hidden treasures though. To get to Hog Lake from Spokane, drive west on Interstate 90 and take exit 254 for Fishtrap/Sprague Highway and turn left. Les...

Iller Creek hike leads you on a 5 mile loop through lush shaded forest to a ridge with excellent views of the Eastern Washington Palouse. I love the variety of trees through the forest on this hike! Half way through the hike you reach the Big Rocks (Rocks of Sharon) which is a popular rock climbing destination! Continue on through the loop back through a birch forest. I like to hike this lo...

Saltese Uplands Conservation Area is one of the conservation areas owned by Spokane County. Only a short drive from I-90, it's popular for hiking, mountain biking, and horseback riding, though I have only hiked it so far. The outer loop of the trail is about a 3.6 mile loop, with ~649 feet of elevation gain. There are plenty of spur and connector trails to make the hike more interesting. From t...

This 8 mile loop hike begins from Liberty Lake Regional Park, just 30 minutes away from Spokane! The first mile follows a dry grassy meadow and swamp. Make sure and look for beaver dams and houses! The trail winds up into the hills above Liberty Lake. At 2.0 miles, you reach one of Spokane's last old growth cedar forests.Continue to follow the switchbacks another mile and take in the views ...

To the layperson, the Palouse, an area that comprises some 4,000 square miles in parts of Washington and Idaho, looks to be rolling hills of grass. In fact, the Palouse is a complex geological wonder. And there is no better place to view the Palouse than from Steptoe Butte, which is located in the Steptoe Butte State Park in Washington (Whitman County).The vast majority of what people see on th...

Just northwest of Spokane, in Ford, Washington, there is a stretch of road along the Spokane River that has a few Avista parks. These parks are not marked on the roadway and even looking at Avista's website does not give a clear description of their locations. From Spokane, Take 291 W to Charles Road and then turn right onto W Long Lake Drive. You will drive past a lot of private properties for...