Cruise Miles of Nordic trails minutes from downtown at Mt. Spokane Cross-Country Ski Park The center of the universe when it comes to cross-country skiing (also known as Nordic skiing) in the Inland NW is at the Mt. Spokane Cross-Country Ski Park at Mount Spokane State Park. The park, in fact, is one of the […]
Skinny Ski Central Read More »
We took our son up to Mt. Spokane to ski for the first time when he was a month shy of his 2nd birthday. It was darling to watch him all bundled up sliding down the hill for the first time, but also a little terrifying when he took off down the hill away from
The Snow Play Gateway Read More »
Explore new trails and old favs in this evolving mountain town An hour north of Spokane in the beautiful Colville River Valley, Chewelah is best known by outdoorsy types for its proximity to 49 Degrees North Mountain Resort. Yet the ubiquitous natural beauty and proximity to huge swaths of public land have buoyed the development
Fall Adventures Chewelah, Wash. Read More »
Photo: Jesse Harding, courtesy of the Ferry County Rail Trail Hikes, Rides, Scenic Drives, and Mountain Town Exploring in Northeast Washington The cool little town of Republic, Wash., near the Canadian border in northeast Washington is a well-rounded, old-West outpost. The community has weathered various mining and logging booms and busts over the years and
Fall Road Trip: Republic, WA Read More »
Saturday, September 23 is the launch of a new fundraiser event for the Riverside State Park Foundation, with all proceeds going toward park projects and enhancements. This event features your choice of a mountain bike course or run/hike course. Each course features stations with a bean bag toss to earn a poker card at each
Hike or Mountain Bike and Play Poker for Riverside State Park Read More »
The Inland Northwest is home to hundreds of lakes within an hour’s drive in any direction. When the temperatures start to rise, it’s time to get out on the lake! Pick something in the list below you might enjoy, then find the corresponding number for details on which lakes make the best fit for your
38 Things to Do at the Lake Read More »
A Tour of Southeast British Columbia’s Wild Lakes, Backcountry, and Mountain Towns Planning time away from daily life’s demands and executing a great road trip can be stressful and a lot of work. But a truly excellent trip can quickly and completely obliterate anxious feelings from unfinished work you inevitably leave behind. This past May,
The West Koot Route: A Family Road Trip in Southeast British Columbia Read More »
Shortly after getting off-route on a backcountry backpacking trip in northcentral Idaho, I heard about Topo Maps+, a backcountry navigation and mapping app developed by 45-year-old Spokanite Stephen Johnson. Talking with him, I learned that the Topo Maps+ app was built to be a simple navigation solution for people like me who would rather be
Local Backcountry Navigation and Mapping App Read More »
Coeur d’Alene couple fill niche with quality, insulated van window covers. For a long time, Coeur d’Alene locals Dave and Kelly Dutro made a name for themselves by sharing their passion for trails through Trail Maniacs (trailmaniacs.com). But This Van Life, their vehicle window cover business, has quietly taken over a corner of the outdoor
The first guidebook in my personal collection was a copy of Rich Landers’ 100 Hikes in the Inland Northwest, purchased circa 2001, when hiking and backpacking were brand new sports to me. That initial copy was from a late printing of the 1987 book, and when the second edition came out in 2003 I wasted
Summer Picks from “100 Hikes in the Inland Northwest” Read More »
