Five-Star Trails: Spokane: 30 Spectacular Hikes in the Inland Northwest - Softcover

Marlin, Seth

Softcover

ISBN 10: 1634041348 ISBN 13: 9781634041348

Publisher: Menasha Ridge Press, 2020

Synopsis

Explore the Best Trails of Spokane, Washington!

Peaceful waterfalls, dramatic mountain vistas, bountiful state parks, and, of course, the spectacular Spokane River―there’s no better place to hit the trails than the Spokane area. With the expert guidance of local author Seth Marlin, you’ll find plenty of popular routes and hidden hiking treasures.

These 30 five-star hiking trails are for all levels and interests, and they range widely in elevation, distance, and difficulty. Marlin details everything from easy strolls in scenic locations to thrilling treks atop mountains. GPS-based trail maps, elevation profiles, and detailed directions to trailheads help you get to where you’re going. Trail descriptions and expert insights into the history, flora, and fauna of the routes enhance your enjoyment along the way. Ratings for scenery, difficulty, trail condition, solitude, and accessibility for children help to ensure that you quickly find the perfect trip.

Save time and make the most of your hiking adventures. Experience the best of Spokane’s breathtaking scenery, varied terrain, and amazing wildlife. Lace up, grab your pack, and hit the trail!

About this title

About the Author

Seth Marlin is an award-winning, internationally-published author, activist, educator, and poet. He holds an MFA in Creative Writing from Eastern Washington University and is the author of Shred, a chapbook of slam poetry. He is a former web editor for Willow Springs and is also the author, under pseudonym, of critically-acclaimed Iraq War blog Calm Before the Sand. He has blogged on science and the outdoors for both Bark and Newfound, and his stories and verse have been extensively published, having appeared in Spark, Knockout, Railtown Almanac, RiverLit, The Fiction Desk, Syntax & Salt, and Silk Road Review, among many others. His short story “A Practical Guide to the Resurrected” won the 2016 University of Glasgow Prize for Science Fiction and the Medical Humanities, and his upcoming novella “Vigil” is set to be serialized by speculative fiction magazine The Colored Lens, in the spring of 2020. In his spare time, he is a passionate camper and outdoor enthusiast, and for the last decade he has made his home in Spokane with his wife and children.

Excerpt. © Reprinted by permission. All rights reserved.

Medical Lake Loop

Scenery: 4 stars
Trail Condition: 5 stars
Children: 5 stars
Difficulty: 1 star
Solitude: 3 stars

GPS Trailhead Coordinates: N47° 34.675' W117° 41.540'
Distance & Configuration: 3.0-mile loop
Hiking Time: 1.25 hours
Highlights: Peaceful lake views, extensive forest cover, access to several parks along the route
Elevation: 2,396' at lowest point, 2,434' at highest
Access: Open 24/7; no fees or permits
Maps: USGS Medical Lake, WA; cp.spokanecounty.org/scout/map
Facilities: Restrooms, picnic benches, and paved parking at trailhead; numerous rest stops along the trail
Wheelchair Access: Yes
Comments: Dogs must be leashed
Contacts: City of Medical Lake Parks and Trails, 509-565-5007, medical-lake.org/parks-trails; Spokane County Parks, Recreation & Golf, 509-477-4730, spokanecounty.org/1383/parks

Overview

This well-paved, gently graded loop winds through and around the town and lake of the same name. It’s perfect for families with children as well as older and disabled hikers; plus, it boasts ready fishing access as well as numerous benches and rest areas. The local lake is named for the purported therapeutic properties of its mineral-rich waters, but even if you don’t care to swim, the views of the water, numerous parks, and extensive tree cover are sure to be a balm for the spirit.

Route Details

Begin at the Medical Lake Access North Trailhead, at the far northern end of the lake. In the parking area, make note of the historical placard that details the park’s history as a popular local recreation spot dating back to the 19th century. If you’re interested in fishing, pay heed to the notice put up by the Washington Department of Fish & Wildlife, which lays out specific regulations regarding the use of fly lures.

If you’ve brought along your dog, please keep it leashed and under control, and avail yourself of the waste bags provided―even though this route lies close to town, a pack-in/pack-out ethos is still solid trail etiquette. Every hiker shares an obligation to keep these outdoor spaces beautiful for others.

From the parking area, the paved trail winds south, following the western lakeshore through dense stands of pine and fir. Springtime hikers may be lucky enough to spot wildflowers amid the undergrowth, so have a camera and a plant guide ready. As you make your way south, you’ll notice a striking view to the right of a rock formation overhead―this marks the edge of the Eastern State Hospital grounds and forms the boundary between the cities of Medical Lake and West Medical Lake.

Continuing south, you come to a rest stop off to the left in 0.5 mile. This marks Duffy’s Point, named for local resident Vincent “Duffy” Ready III, who passed away in 2016. His family dedicated a memorial bench where weary walkers can pause for a bit to gather themselves and enjoy a little peace and quiet overlooking the water. When you’re ready, return to the trail.

The path stretches south for another 0.5 mile and then opens onto a vast clearing: this is Waterfront Park, one of the town’s popular recreational spots. Head south past the baseball diamond off to the right, making note of the picnic tables and grills near the water’s edge―for day trippers in town with family, this represents a potentially ideal spot for a picnic or a swim. Otherwise, keep following the trail south and over the rise; then take a left at South Lefevre Street, heading east.

From here, the trail parallels Lefevre Street for a little more than 0.3 mile. Before long you’ll arrive at the Medical Lake Access South Trailhead, which affords still more paved parking as well as restrooms, picnic areas, and a public boat launch. Continue another 0.3 mile, following Lefevre Street as it curves left; then take another left onto South Jefferson Street, and follow it north for the next 0.7 mile.

The pines and park lawns soon transition to sleepy residential areas, giving you a feel for the town of Medical Lake itself. As a precaution, keep left to follow the designated bike/pedestrian trail―there’s no sidewalk for most of this section, and you’ll be sharing the road with local vehicle traffic. If you’re so inclined, feel free to detour into Coney Island Park, roughly halfway through this section. Take some time to relax on the green, well-manicured lawn; then continue north when ready.

When Jefferson reaches Fourth Street, take a left. In about 0.2 mile, the trail draws close to the lake again, and you enter the final stretch of this hike. By now the parking area where you began should be in sight. As the trail curves around, Fourth Street turns into Maple Street, and you reach your point of origin, closing the 3-mile loop. Remember, as always, to dispose of any animal waste or picnic trash―and congratulate yourself on a successful hike!

Nearby Attractions

Waterfront and Coney Island Parks are accessible directly from the trail. Also check out nearby Turnbull National Wildlife Refuge, the site of the next three hikes.

Directions

From Monroe Street in downtown Spokane, drive westbound on I-90 for about 7 miles; then take Exit 272 toward WA 902 West and Medical Lake. In 0.2 mile, bear right at the fork; then, in 0.1 mile, take the second exit off the traffic circle to continue west on WA 902. In 1.9 miles, proceed straight through a second traffic circle and continue west on WA 902; then, in 3.7 miles, WA 902 becomes Brooks Road after it crosses Lefevre Street. In 0.3 mile, turn left (south) onto North Howard Street; then, in 0.1 mile take the second right onto Fourth Street. Finally, 0.2 mile farther, turn left into the parking area for the Medical Lake Access North Trailhead.

Edition details

• Publisher: Menasha Ridge Press
• Publication date: 2020
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 1634041348
• ISBN 13: 9781634041348
• Binding: Paperback
• Number of pages: 216