We recently spent a long weekend in Spokane, Washington. And honestly, I was pretty stoked to hang out with ponderosa pines and zero humidity for a few days. I’m only sort of joking when I say that I’m in danger of picking up and relocating to the Pacific Northwest. If it didn’t get so dang cold up there I probably would. So to all of our friends in Austin who would be devastated if we left (yes, devastated–I do think that highly of myself) and family who’s sick of updating our contact info in their address books, you’re safe. But between the pine trees, forests, mountains and rivers, there are plenty of outdoor activities in Spokane, Washington that sound the call of the wild. As John Muir said, “The mountains are calling and I must go.” Although, in Spokane’s case, it’s a lot more than mountains.
Whitewater Rafting
We took a two-hour trip on the Spokane River while in town. It was wild fun and involved full wetsuits. Weather that weekend was unseasonably cool. Now, there are plenty of rafting companies and guides out there, but we think Wiley E. Waters is the best, so let them take you on the wild ride through Bowl & Pitcher and Devil’s Toenail. You won’t regret it.
Boating
There are some 75 lakes within a two-hour drive of Spokane. Seventy-five! That’s a lot of options for watercraft of all shapes and sizes, from speedboats to fishing boats, to our personal favorite, kayaks. So bring your own or rent one, just get on the water! You can even paddle or jet ski right in the Spokane River. Preferably nowhere near Spokane Falls…
Skiing
Mount Spokane is only 35 minutes by car outside the city. That means skiing, snowboarding, tubing, you name it, are less than a day trip away. Heck, you could drive out to the slopes after work to get a few runs in if you wanted to. And if that’s not enough, there are four more ski mountains within two hours of the city (including Lookout Pass, Silver Mountain in Idaho, and Schweitzer Mountain).
Hiking
Riverside State Park is the largest state park in Washington and it’s literally on the other side of the river from the city of Spokane. The 40-mile Centennial Trail goes all the way to the Idaho Boarder is partially within its boundaries. You can walk in the woods for hours if it strikes your fancy. And if you get bored with that, there’s Turnbull National Wildlife Refuge and Iller Creek Trail, too.
Mountain Biking
Strap on your helmet, cause there are so many mountain bike trails in Spokane you won’t know where to start. There’s also Beacon Hill and Camp Sekani, which include ramps and a skill park. Also, there’s the Iller Creek and Summit Loops and Mount Spokane is a local fave. Most are so close you don’t even have to load your bike in your car if you don’t want to.
Rock Climbing
Did you bring your shoes? Man, I wish I would have, because there are plenty of places to climb around the city. Start at Minnehaha where there are literally dozens of walls and see where the day takes you. Or, if it’s a challenge you want, head to Dishman Hills for almost nothing under 5.11.
And when you’re sweaty and dirt and have torn all your fingernails and there’s a gash on your shin that finally stopped bleeding (all signs off a successful day in the outdoors), head to Allie’s Vegan Pizzeria and Cafe or Boots Bakery to refuel with vegan pizza, cookies, beer, whatever it was you couldn’t stop thinking about during that last hard climb. You deserve it.
Have fave outdoor activities in Spokane? Share them! Wander on!
Alisha is a freelance outdoor journalist and photographer based in Ogden, UT. She loves backpacking, hiking, mountain biking, kayaking and snowboarding (even though she’s terrible at it). She’s also pretty sure she’s addicted to coffee. alishamcdarris.com