Garfield, Washington

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 th...

Formerly a Washington State Park, Kamiak Butte County Park is a hidden treasure on the eastern border of the state. An "ecological island" rising more than 800 ft from the surrounding hills of Palouse, the butte is home to a high country desert on its southern side and a lush forest on its shaded...

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 Sp...

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 clim...

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 ...

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 ele...

Wander through a classic Inland Northwest pine tree forest as you climb up to Mineral Ridge. At the top, explore historical Caribou Cabin and take the spur trail to the left to an abandoned mine. There is a lot of history scattered on this short loop hike! Continue past the cabin and take in v...

Looking for a short adventure hike on a road trip or a beach to hang out at for a weekend? Tubbs Hill features a 2 mile loop trail that winds along the shoreline of Lake Coeur d'Alene and through an Inland Northwest pine forest. You will see wildlife such as deer, squirrel, and many wildflowers...

Black Bay Park is home to a short series of paved trails and has a new bathroom facility! There's also a rope swing over the river and plenty of spots to swim or launch a kayak or sup if you're looking to cool off on a hot day. There are beautiful wildflowers in the summer but the park is very qu...