Waterfront Park at Medical Lake Fed by natural springs, Medical Lake west of Spokane is a tranquil gem that’s fairly shallow, with an average summer-time water temperature of 74 degrees. Waterfront Park, located on the lake’s south end, provides a small sandy beach and roped-off swimming area, with a nearby restroom (checked daily during summer) […]
Lake Swim Spots for Kids: Fun Family Favorites Read More »
Pend Oreille County is a wild and beautiful corner of Washington with some of the most diverse wildlife of anywhere in the Northwest. Iconic critters like grizzly bears, wolverine, moose, wolves, and although rare, even caribou roam the scenic, rugged mountains less than two hours north of Spokane. But come this time of year, the
Pend Oreille Swan Festival: Witness the Winged Migration in Your Back Yard Read More »
IT’S A UBIQUITOUS SUMMER PHRASE in Spokane: “Going to the lake.” For some, the body of water referenced is Coeur d’Alene; for others, Newman or Hayden lakes. For many, though, the “lake” in the phrase is Priest, probably the most popular water destination in the area and certainly the most scenic (apologies to Pend Oreille
Paddling Upper Priest Lake As Easy As 1, 2, 3,*** Read More »
Does it seem like I’m always asking people to do stuff on this blog? Well here another one. Please make your voice heard in support of non-motorized recreation. This comes courtesy of the the Pend Oreille Pedalers: Pedalers, Please take a moment on Sunday as the rain pours to complete a survey on the Priest
Take the Priest Lake Trail Survey Read More »
“The sight of Harrison Peak hovering above its namesake lake at the headwaters of the Pack River provides one of the loveliest backdrops in all of North Idaho,” according to Thad Laird. He ought to know since he wrote a Climber’s Guide to North Idaho and the Cabinet Wilderness. Make no mistake; Harrison Peak and
Harrison Lake: Great Views in the Selkirks Read More »
Inland Northwest trip ideas for North Idaho and Washington: including the Silver Valley, Lake Pend Oreille, Salmon River Canyons (ID); and Kettle River Country, Pend Oreille River, and Lake Roosevelt (WA).
32 Spring & Summer Inland NW Trip Ideas Read More »
Open water swim events combine athletic challenge with some of the most spectacular scenery in the Inland NW. Whether you’re a competitive swimmer chasing a PR or just want to cross something epic off your bucket list, there’s a summer swim for you. Long Bridge Swim | Aug. 1, Sandpoint, ID: The Northwest’s premier open water event covers 1.76 miles the length of
A hesitant swimmer dives into open water for a cause bigger than herself. By Ammi Midstokke Cover photo courtesy of Ammi Midstokke One hundred thousand years ago, humans embarked on their first known and intentional swims, diving into the Mediterranean Sea in search of clams and marine meals. While they witnessed many forms of mammalian life instinctually paddling through
Baptism by Open Water Read More »
By Ammi Midstokke Cover photo courtesy of Ammi Midstokke Tucked into the folds of the North Cascades, in the Methow Valley, rests a little town between some other little towns, all of them simultaneously celebrating their charm while hoping to remain undiscovered. Home to what is arguably the nation’s best cross-country skiing in winter, the foothills and surrounding mountains
Some Ultras Are Better Than Others Read More »
The shuttle-based, nonprofit Panhandle Bike Ranch pedals forward amidst support and opposition. By Barry Campbell Cover photo courtesy of Kruz Robles Sandpoint is evolving into a first-rate biking destination, and its mountain biking trails regularly draw riders from all over the Northwest and beyond. Hidden away in the forested hills high above Lake Pend Oreille, Panhandle Bike Ranch is quietly—or at least trying to
A New Kind of Bike Destination in North Idaho Read More »
