By Jon Jonckers
Cover photo courtesy of Jon Jonckers
First published in 1987, “100 Hikes in the Inland Northwest” became an instant success. The popular guide is one of four guidebooks published by Rich Landers, an award-winning outdoors writer and avid outdoorsman best known for his long career at The Spokesman-Review. For more than 40 years, Landers inspired readers with stories from his adventures that celebrated the natural beauty, wildlife and outdoor traditions of the Pacific Northwest. His writings blend deep ecological knowledge with a lifelong passion for hiking, hunting, paddling and other outdoor pursuits.
“Ira Spring and Harvey Manning launched the 100 Hikes series with an environmental edge,” says Landers. “That paved the way for me to enhance ‘100 Hikes in the Inland Northwest’ with the environmental watchdog themes I’d already introduced to the region’s Outdoors coverage in The Spokesman-Review. If I was going to invest years into this project, it was going to be much more than a trails guidebook.”
Roughly 15 years later, Landers published the second edition, which included some new hikes, some spur trails, some backpacking loops and additional information. When asked about working on the second edition with his publisher, he recalls, “Mountaineers Books has been a leader introducing the public to outdoor recreation and the responsibility that goes with it to protect our natural resources. The editors I’ve worked with have been excellent.”
A few years after the second edition gained notoriety, Landers joined Facebook. At the time, he still worked at the Spokesman, and he had written a few other books, so naturally he started writing posts about anyone who had completed all 100 hikes. Years later, he’s still posting about century hikers. Many of the hikes are difficult, many have been affected by wildfire and many have near-impossible roads to reach the trailhead. But it’s worth mentioning that two people completed all 100 hikes in 2025.
Just as any parent refuses to admit to having a favorite child, Landers refuses to admit to having a favorite hike. But he will admit to liking certain hikes for certain reasons and seasons. However, when asked which hike he believes is the most difficult when you factor in elevation, remoteness, high-clearance vehicle requirements, and shortest season, he had a great answer. “Right now, that would be British Columbia’s Earl Grey Pass Traverse in the Purcell Wilderness, which is basically closed because of enormous damage by wildfire and wind. Too bad. It’s a fantastic route. Jump on it if it’s ever reopened.”
But keep in mind that Landers is a well-documented prankster. He’s the kind of hiker who might tell you that you’re almost there, even if you have seven miles to go. Technically, the route is closed at this time, and it could just as easily be his favorite hike or somewhere far down the list, so do your own conditions research before attempting it.
Finally, if you’re a fan of “100 Hikes in the Inland Northwest,” do yourself a favor and check out his other books at your favorite local bookstore.
