Free Outdoor-Themed Entertainment 

• There are several fee-free days coming up for Washington State Parks (as well as lands managed by Washington Fish and Wildlife and Washington Department of Natural Resources): Sept. 27 marks National Public Lands Day, Oct. 10 is World Mental Health Day, and Veterans Day is Nov. 11. Visit Washington parks without a Discover Pass for each of these. 

• Chelan-Douglas Land Trust continues to host monthly guided “Hike for Health” events, with hikes planned on Sept. 13 at Cashmere Canyons Preserve and the final hike of the year on Oct. 11 at Saddle Rock Natural Area. Additionally, the group will partner with the Wenatchee Valley Astronomy Club (supplying telescopes at the event!) for a guided night hike on Sept. 23. 

• Join Inland Northwest Land Conservancy for a free guided hike at Glen Tana in the Little Spokane River Valley on Sept. 13. This recent conservation acquisition is not yet open to the public, so joining one of INLC’s guided hikes is the only way to get a sneak peek.  

Fundraisers, Contests, and Events 

• Dishman Hills Conservancy will host its annual Wild at Heart fundraiser dinner on Sept. 27 from 5:30 to 8 p.m. Tickets for the event are available through the DHC website. 

• Join Wenatchee River Institute for its fourth Annual Sunset & S’mores fundraiser on Oct. 1, from 5-7:30 p.m. in Leavenworth. While the event is fee-based, the organization offers “pay what you can” pricing for those wishing to attend. Tickets include dinner, drinks, and organized activities for a family-friendly event. Advance registration required. 

• MedWAR Challenge is coming to Mount Spokane State Park on Oct. 4. Teams of four will tackle an approximately 10-mile course while solving medical scenarios, in an event that is most similar to a Spartan race meeting a wilderness first aid course. A successful team will have a member with a bit of a medical background along with a member who knows a little map and compass (no GPS allowed). Registration of $250 per team includes event t-shirts, post-race dinner, and on-site camping. 

• Washington State photographers, take note. The annual Washington Trails Association photo contest is currently open, with a deadline of Oct. 6. Photographers can submit multiple photographs in each available category for a chance to win fun prizes. There are several main categories, along with a bonus category depicting random acts of kindness captured on trail. See Wta.org for full contest rules and to submit your entries. 

• Have a photo of a National Recreation Trail? American Trails hosts an annual photo contest for photos taken on a designated National Recreation Trail. That deadline is Dec. 15, which gives photographers plenty of time to capture fantastic fall color shots from our region’s trails. 
  
  

Stewardship, Conservation, & Volunteer Opportunities 

• The Idaho chapter of Backcountry Hunters and Anglers will be partnering with OnX for a Public Lands Packout along the lakeshore of the Pend Oreille Wildlife Management Area on Sept. 13. Hike from the Clark Fork Drift Yard Boat Launch, or bring your own boat to explore and lend a hand to clean up the shoreline. The event will start at 9 a.m. and conclude at 1 p.m., followed by a barbecue. 

• Chelan Douglas Land Trust will mark “Make a Difference Day” with a day of maintenance work at Saddle Rock on Oct. 25. 

• Evergreen Mountain Bike Alliance is hosting Larch Fest on the Kettle Crest, Oct. 2-5. There are multiple days of riding and socializing, with a trail maintenance project planned for Oct. 4. 

• Friends of Palisades will host its annual fall cleanup event on Oct. 11 from 9 a.m. to noon at Palisades Park west of downtown Spokane. Plan to arrive a little early to enjoy coffee, hot cider, and cookies ahead of the event. 

• Friends of Scotchman Peaks Wilderness will celebrate National Public Lands Day on Sept. 27 with a maintenance project on East Fork Trail #563 followed by a fun cook-out event at the trailhead. The last project of the season will occur on Oct. 1 on the Star Gulch Trail. Advance registration required. 

• Great Burn Conservation Alliance is offering a noble reason to make the trek to Weir Creek Hot Spring on Sept. 20, as they are hosting a beginner-friendly site cleanup activity to mark World Cleanup Day. The group will meet at the Lochsa Lodge to enjoy breakfast, followed by spending a couple hours devoted to the site cleanup, and then participants may choose to stick around for an optional soak in the spring. 

• Idaho Trails Association will celebrate National Public Lands Day on a project with fantastic views. Join them on Sept. 27 for maintenance work on the Chimney Rock Trail. 

• Join members of the Northeast Chapter of the Washington Native Plant Society for a series of fall cleanup events. The group will start on Sept. 5 at Underhill Park in Spokane. On Sept. 13 the focus turns to Polly Judd Park, and on Sept. 19 a project is planned for the Fearn Conservation Area at Riverfront Park. The work will include a general cleanup of each park, along with a main focus of removing invasive plant species in order to replant with native plants. Advance registration is requested. 

• Spokane Nordic will be hosting a series of trail maintenance days, aimed at preparing the Mount Spokane State Park Nordic Trails for early grooming as soon as snow returns to the mountain. Lend a hand Sept. 6, 7, and 27, as well as Oct. 11 and 12. 

• Washington Trails Association will be gradually moving from the mountains toward the valley as the fall progresses, with fall projects planned at Fishtrap for National Public Lands Day on Sept. 27 along with multiple project days at Mount Spokane and Mica Peak throughout September. By October, the work will move to lower areas to provide some fall maintenance for the trails before winter. 

The post Inland NW Trail & Outdoor News  appeared first on Out There Venture.

Free outdoor entertainment 

• Mark the calendar for National Public Lands Day on Sept. 28! It’s a fee-free day for both Washington State Parks and National Parks for those looking for an outdoor adventure to celebrate the occasion. Or make it a day of service, since many local nonprofits will be hosting volunteer opportunities on this date to give back to the public lands that make our region’s recreation opportunities so fantastic! Washington State Parks will offer an additional fee-free day on Oct. 10 to mark World Mental Health Day.  

• Join Friends of Scotchman Peak Wilderness for their end-of-season ascent of Scotchman Peak on Oct. 6. They promise this hike’s pace will be “slow as an old goat,” so it’s perfect for an introduction to this gorgeous landscape, where the view from the summit could include both fall colors and Lake Pend Oreille far below so long as the weather cooperates.  

Contests! 

• Spokane Falls chapter of Trout Unlimited and Spokane Women on the Fly are teaming up for the Spokane River Scavenger Hunt, a fly fishing adventure, on Sept. 14. Teams of two will compete for a chance to win a guided fly-fishing trip during this free event, with points awarded based on different species of fish caught and bonus points available for wildcard categories like filling a Spokane Riverkeeper bag with trash collected along the way. 

• Washington Trails Association’s annual Northwest Exposure Photo Contest is a fun opportunity to share Washington-specific photos for a chance to win prizes and be featured in WTA’s annual calendar. There are several photo categories, with a deadline of Oct. 6. 

Conservation, Stewardship & Volunteer Opportunities 

Please see each organization’s website for full registration information. 

• Evergreen Mountain Bike Alliance will be hosting a work party on Sept. 14 at Loup Loup Ski Bowl to do some hand-finishing work behind the mini excavator on a new trail.  

• Friends of Scotchman Peaks Wilderness will be hosting a fun and informative day of service at Morris Creek to mark National Public Lands Day on Sept. 28. The work project is easily accessible and not overly strenuous, perfect for an introduction to trail maintenance. The project will be followed by a fun outdoor barbeque to celebrate the work! 

• Great Burn Conservation Alliance will be hosting a meadow restoration weekend Sept. 27-29. Working out of Kelly Creek Trailhead, volunteers will backpack to Hanson Meadows for on-going restoration and monitoring work. 

• Idaho Trails Association will be hosting a weeklong backcountry project working on the State Line National Recreation Trail, a portion of the Idaho Centennial Trail, out of St. Joe Lake on Sept. 8-14. This trip has pack support to help carry tools and equipment to the basecamp. 

• Inland Northwest Land Conservancy will be partnering with Friends of Palisades on Oct. 5 for a fall clean-up event. Help pack out any trash and get this popular area ready for winter. 

• Pacific Northwest Trail Association will be hosting a fun introduction to trail work through a Trail Eyes 101 on Sherman Trail near the gorgeous Kettle Crest on Sept. 21. This volunteer opportunity will focus on the basics of trail maintenance in a small group setting, helping to make this trail better for everyone. 

• Spokane Nordic Ski Association will be hosting a series of trail days on weekends throughout the fall in order to prepare the Nordic ski trails at Mount Spokane State Park for the snow that is sure to be better this winter than it was last year!  

• Washington Trails Association will be wrapping up the backpacking trail work season in September and transitioning to day work parties, with several offerings at Mount Spokane State Park and Mica Peak Conservation Area. They will also be partnering with the Friends of Palisades Park, Backcountry Horsemen of Washington, and Inland Northwest Land Conservancy for a National Public Lands Day project in September, plus a bonus NPLD project at Fishtrap in early October. 

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EXPLANATORY STATEMENT 

Bikepacking is a method of recreation that entails riding your bicycle loaded with all of your camp gear across potentially wild terrain to get to and from a predetermined campsite. “The Packfiller Podcast” host and creator Pat Bulger went on his first bikepacking trip last summer, and he did not fall in love. Pat’s “against bikepacking” argument has been met with a spirited rebuttal from Out There’s “Everyday Cyclist” columnist, Justin Short. Read on for a “pro backpacking” argument from cyclist and regular contributor Carol Corbin, who ultimately would choose bikepacking again and again. Carefully review these arguments and make an educated decision on whether bikepacking should be your next great summer adventure. 

AGAINST ARGUMENT: A Cyclist’s first Bikepacking Trip 

By Pat Bulger 

Freedom to explore. At one with nature. Off the grid. Simple. These are just a few of the comments I regularly hear from cyclists who have entered the world of bikepacking. Long gone are the days of “tourists” who would load pound after pound of camping gear, clothing, and personal items onto their bike to slowly, arduously, pedal to some chosen destination to sleep on the ground and painfully do so again the next day. Bikes are lighter. Camping gear is packable and efficient. Bike bags are waterproof, rugged, and creatively designed. Bikepacking is here to stay.  

Then why do I dislike it the way a school librarian dislikes childhood joy? Last summer, I assigned myself the task of an overnight bikepacking trip. I had already purchased most of the equipment needed on, well, let’s be honest here, some random evenings with a glass of adult beverage and an open shopping web browser. The destination was decided upon as a “medium” distance to test everything out, stay the night, experience the “joy,” and pedal home the next day. The destination, beautiful Lake Benewah, was just outside of St. Maries, Idaho, about 45-50 miles each way depending on the route loaded into my GPS.  

Fast forward two days later, in 98-degree heat, on a rear flat tire that I had no energy to change for the last three miles, massive heat exhaustion, a sore back and neck from the “sleeping pad” I endured, GPS mistakes, and, I have to say that bikepacking can, well, take a hike.  

Here are my reasons why I’ll take a pass on bikepacking.  

1. I ride my bike for the feeling that I experienced as a child. The feeling of flying. The wind in my face. The speed. Bikepacking, as a close friend once said to me, is “like you’re a bird who’s had their wings clipped.” A fully-loaded bike with all of my gear was over 50 pounds. Fifty! Why not just give me a classic Schwinn Varsity with rubbing brakes?! Getting out of the saddle to climb, accelerate, or even relieve sit bone pressure was impossible, and maintaining any type of momentum was akin to pedaling with flat tires in tapioca pudding.  
 

2. Camping is great. Heck, even tent camping is great. But, after four hours in the saddle maintaining a scant 14 mph, I would have happily traded for a subpar hotel and a pizza place. Every time I moved the next morning I emitted verbal sounds that could only be described as “old man grunts.” This being said, I do have to attest to the great food and coffee options that have been made available to those adventuring out into the woods. Give me a proper RV and day trips from a campsite instead, please.  
 

3. Once arriving at your destination, there is little chance of obtaining any extra provisions. My wonderful camp host informed me that, should I want to grab some cold beverages or additional snacks, my closest option was a “short 17-mile drive” away. Yeah, I wasn’t about to add 34 miles to my adventure.  

I now fully understand why many bikepacking social media groups I follow tend to have a multitude of equipment for sale. Anyone want to buy some bike bags? 

AGAINST REBUTTLE: “Hold Your Horses, Pat” 

By Justin Short  

Don’t go selling your bikepacking gear just yet—we haven’t even been on an overnight adventure together. But before we go, we’ve got to talk about your route. I think you learned the hard way why you should never ever under any circumstances go bikepacking in the Palouse during the dog days of summer. There’s no amount of water you can carry that won’t be instantly vaporized along with all of the moisture in your body in that treeless hellscape.  

Heyburn State Park is a lovely destination, though, and there’s a much better way to get there when the Palouse has reached the temperature of the sun. Ride out the Centennial Trail to Coeur d’Alene; you’ll probably carry enough speed coasting from the South Hill to get halfway there. Get a good cup of coffee and a devastating pastry at the Bakery by the Lake, then make your way over the saddle to the far side of the lake for a delightfully scenic pedal to Beauty Bay Campground, where you’ll refill water bottles from the crusty old cast iron pump with the most delicious and refreshing water sipped by anyone ever.  

Okay, the climb over Caribou Ridge is a ball-buster, but it’s a cool, shady ball-buster. Ride the Trail of the Coeur d’Alenes down to Harrison, jump in the lake, get some ice cream, and then stock up on the much longed-for provisions, such as fizzy beverages and snacks for the return trip. You’re 11 miles from camp.  

And that brings me to my next point: never take directions from the camp host. I’ve listened to a well-intentioned camp host pour over my map for a half hour about some scenic route I needed to take; the map was upside down. Your host obviously wanted you killed if they recommended the 17-mile ride into St. Maries. Never mind the bike, that road is terrifying to drive in a semi. If you’re needing the services of a major metro area, Plummer, Idaho, is much closer, and the entire ride is on the bike trail.   

“Crunchy old man back” is a thing with which I am well acquainted. All I can say is, experiment with air pressure. My wife carries an inflatable body pillow and a feather pillow with her now, and I hear far less grumbling from her side of the tent these days.  

Finally, 14 mph is slow?!! That is literally flying by bikepacking standards. If I ever hit a double-digit average speed, it’s like 10 or 11 mph, tops. And I don’t even want to know how much my bike weighs when it’s loaded, but it’s a lot closer to ALL THE POUNDS than 50 pounds.  

So, let’s set a date during the fair weather for a fun and easy overnighter with the Gravel Braintrustees. I promise, there won’t be much bushwhacking, but one of us will definitely make you laugh so hard you’ll shoot fizzy electrolyte water out of your nostrils. 

FOR ARGUMENT: “People and Puffy Pants” 

By Carol Corbin 

It was only 37 miles, and mostly flat, but after only four “base-building” rides in the last three months, it was a relief to be out of the saddle. My tent, pad, and sleeping bag were set up for the night with clean, warm socks and a cozy base layer. As my travel companions gathered deadfall for a campfire, I wriggled into my puffy pants and was engulfed in warmth. But not just physical warmth. A soul warmth. A warmth that comes from a physically demanding day fading into a magical, starlit night. 

When I discovered bikepacking half a dozen years ago, it combined two things I love the most about being outside. Pedaling a bicycle and having everything I need to survive–and sometimes even be comfortable–in whatever level of wilderness in which I might find myself. Since that first ride with my five-year-old on the Palouse to Cascades Trail, I’ve spent many nights in tents, my faithful gravel bike outside, my dusty Revelate bags crowding around me, and another day in the saddle awaiting when I wake up. 

Over the years, I’ve come to know intimately that bikepacking is hard. Really hard. Throw-my-bike-off-the-side-of-a-mountain hard. On nearly every trip, there is at least one moment when I cry out in anguish, “Why can’t I be indoorsy?!” And yet, I still go. This particular trip, my puffy pants accompanied me on my fifth annual “Fishtrap Shakedown,” where a few intrepid bikepackers pedal from our front doors in Spokane to the “wilderness” of Fishtrap Recreation Area in the channeled scablands for an overnight review of just what this activity requires. 

“Why are you doing this?” For every time I’ve been asked this question by others, I’ve probably asked it of myself at least twice. And it’s hard to put into words. The meditative process of making a packing list, and then assembling dusty, trail-worn and intimately familiar gear, is blissful! As I press sleeping bag and tent into compression bags, zip headlamp and powerbank into a frame pack, and carefully tuck a fuel canister into my steel cup, cushioning it with a wool beanie, I picture myself reveling in the simplicities of life away from . . . everything. Everything but my tent, my bike, my people, and, ultimately myself. 

Through the years, my most memorable and empowering experiences have been bike-based. As have many of my closest friendships, and most memorable transient ones. From Melinda and Sue, my ride-or-dies for years, to Jean, who shared a Canadian campsite with us one night in July on her way to Mexico, these are friends whom I can suffer with, laugh with, cry in front of, and maybe even share a freeze-dried pasta meal with at the end of even the roughest trail days. 

Bikepacking strips away everything that isn’t essential. Not just things like furniture and climate-control, but personal insecurities, body image issues, work and family stressors. When I’m making camp after a long day in the saddle, it’s when I feel the most alive, the most connected, and the most, well, me. 

One doesn’t have to look far to find the cons of bikepacking. There is very little comfort and ease. The trail rarely ends in a cold beverage and a hot meal. There’s cold and wet, hot and dry. Mechanical failures, forgotten niceties and necessities, and no easy outs. Sunburns, bug bites, bear encounters, blocked trails, wet feet, cold fingers, cramped legs . . . the list goes on. There are a thousand reasons not to load up your bike and pedal into the wilds. 

But that warmth of the puffy pants and the friends who are the same kind of crazy as me? I’ll pedal a helluva lot farther than 37 miles for that. 

FOR ARGUMENT: “Bikepacking Magic” 

By Eric Deady 

Bikepacking can mean many things to many people, but for me, the best way to describe it is “transformative.” I have seen magic happen on bikepacking trips. The kind of magic that gives you a warm-fuzzy feeling and forces you to look within for its cause. I have seen nervous wrecks transformed into the kind of peaceful pedalers that we all wish we could be. I have seen bodies and minds transformed in ways that beg the question, why can’t I always feel this good?  

You could chalk it up to endorphins, dopamine, and a soup of brain chemicals, and you would be right to credit our biology for some of it. But not all. There is a magic that I have only been able to see and feel on bike trips that can sustain me for months or even years with its power, and it always leaves me yearning for more.  

So, you want some of that magic, eh? All you need to do is go take it! It’s there waiting for you on the top of mountains after a grueling climb. It’s there when your fingers threaten to stop working from the cold of a long, wet descent. It’s there whispering to you from the trees and rivers and clouds and dirt. It’s there when you least expect it and will always leave you a better person.  

You don’t need much to start bikepacking. Bikepacking, in its most basic form, is a person on a bicycle carrying their own camping gear, food and personal items, usually off of paved roads. How that happens, and with whom, is up to you. Of course, there are some things that can make your journey more comfortable, or less traumatic, but it’s all on a scale, and if we wanted easy, we would get in our cars and drive.  

Get the bike that’s comfortable to ride, and make sure it’s tuned, lubed, and loved. Plan a route that sounds fun, or challenging, or beautiful, and get that route onto your phone or GPS. Pack a backpack, or panniers, stuff sacks, or even burlap sacks full of whatever you might need for the time you’ll be out and start pedaling. Keep your senses alert, and your body in tune.  Be safe and smile. No matter what happens, you will find magic.  

The post The Great Bikepacking Debate appeared first on Out There Venture.

An evening spent stargazing can be the perfect activity during the mild late spring months. Local opportunities range from a short night hike before returning home to spending a night under the stars within developed campgrounds, to backpacking to a remote mountain location. I love to watch for special nocturnal events like lunar eclipses, meteor showers, and high aurora forecasts, although any chance of a clear night sky and an opportunity to view the Milky Way can be enough to send me out the door. Here are some tips on what to bring and where to catch some starry nights.

WHAT TO BRING STARGAZING

I like to pack a headlamp with a red light option to help protect my night vision when I go, and I usually bring either a picnic blanket or a hammock for kicking back to watch the stars with an unobstructed view. It can be helpful to plan enough in advance to treat a picnic blanket with permethrin to help prevent ticks, as some of the best regional stargazing opportunities are to locations where they may be present. Aside from those items, I change my gear for each outing to match the amount of time I will spend outside. Some of my trips are limited to an evening stroll under a dark sky just after dusk, where I might not need much more than a water bottle, a snack, and a jacket, while others require camping or backpacking equipment and perhaps more than a day of advance planning. If I am spending the entire night outdoors, I usually set an alarm to ensure I’m nudged awake at the darkest time of the night or just-in-time to view the peak of a meteor shower.

WHERE TO GO IN MAY AND JUNE

It’s important to consider where the snowline is currently, as some trips are appropriate year-round, and others may have limited access until closer to summer solstice. Here are a few of my favorite places to go to catch the stars.

Fishtrap Recreation Area: Located just west of Spokane and accessed off I-90, this Bureau of Land Management (BLM) property is my go-to spot for last minute plans, like when the predicted aurora activity is high, but I have a 9 a.m. meeting to get back to the next morning. If I don’t want to stay out late, I start a sunset hike on the trail system and exit under the stars. If I can spend the night, the entire area is open to either dispersed camping or backpacking. I have spent several weeknights at Fishtrap over the years, stargazing all night before making a cup of coffee in the parking lot and hurrying home for a morning meeting. My access point is the Folsom Farm site, since there is an outhouse in the parking lot and picnic tables near the old farm barns. There is also lots of bird activity at Smick Meadows at dawn and dusk.

Farmer’s Landing on the South Loop Trail is a great backpacking option for this large recreation area of over 9,000 acres. The Hog Canyon Loop is located within this property, with a lovely overlook near the waterfall (note that the waterfall itself is on private property). The major selling point—proximity to Spokane—is also the one detractor, since this one can have a little light pollution from city lights and is on the flight path of most approaching planes heading into the Spokane International Airport. Know that it will not be the darkest of dark skies, but for anyone looking for a short, easy, and free option close to Spokane, this is fantastic.

Riverside State Park, Mount Spokane State Park, and Liberty Lake Regional Park: While night hiking isn’t possible at the State Parks, which close at dusk, and is very limited at Liberty Lake, which closes at 10 p.m., each of these have fee-based campgrounds that can offer prime night sky viewing with excellent proximity to Spokane. Riverside’s Bowl and Pitcher campground is open year-round, giving this park the widest range of opportunities, although it has the most light pollution as well.

Liberty Lake Regional Park’s campground opens June 1. When camping at Liberty Lake, I like to walk from the campground to the outdoor amphitheater and use the wooden benches as a perfect platform for viewing the night sky. A comfy sleeping pad or yoga mat can provide a little cushion.

Mount Spokane’s Bald Knob Campground (or Quartz Mountain Lookout for those lucky enough to manage to book it) has both the best view of the night sky and also the surrounding lowlands with its location at over 5,000’ elevation. Mount Spokane’s campground opening date varies each year, however, based on when the snow melts from the summit road; it’s early- to mid-June most years.

Telford and Swanson Lake Wildlife Area: These are actually two different properties, with Telford managed by BLM and Swanson Lakes managed by the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW). Note that a Discover Pass is required for accessing any of the WDFW parking lots, but BLM requires no parking permit. Most of the public land here is located just south of Highway 2 east of Creston, where the two properties connect and provide nearly 33,000 acres of fantastic exploration options with numerous wetlands and several small lakes accessed via several different trailhead options. There are very few trees on either parcel, so leave your hammock behind and prepare for the possibility of ticks. These two properties are not near any major population centers, so there is very little light pollution. On a clear night, this can be some of the best lowland stargazing in Washington.

Douglas Creek Canyon: Located farther west and south of Highway 2, Douglas Creek Canyon is another BLM property open to both camping and backpacking. It is just southeast of the Waterville Plateau and has nearly 15,000 acres of public property with multiple trailheads. An old railroad grade runs through a portion of the canyon, or visitors can explore off-trail to find areas to spend the night under the stars. Much of the area was originally used for dryland farming and sheepherding, and the ruins of old homesteads still exist on portions of the landscape. There are a few trees for hammock options, although these are mostly located in the draws and along streams. It’s easier to bring a picnic blanket to spread on an open area of ground, although this is another location where ticks can be found.

The Kettle Crest: The spine of the Columbia Highlands is one of my favorite locations to visit in all seasons, and for several reasons. In addition to prime stargazing, the Kettle Crest also has some of the best local lupine displays shortly after the snow melts. But note that sometimes the snow lingers into June. Prepared backpackers planning trips to the right trailheads can take advantage of year-round stargazing, such as Sherman Pass in the middle (accessing Sherman Peak and Columbia Mountain, or Snow Peak Cabin, which is rentable) and Deer Creek/Boulder at the north end (accessing Profanity Peak). Both main trailheads are accessible in the early season, even if the snow sometimes lingers through May.

Wait until June and car camping possibilities begin to open up at the free campgrounds along Albian Hill Road on the east side of the Kettle Crest. Jungle Hill, Wapaloosie, Old Stage, and Stickpin all offer free car camping options (limited facilities). There is also a fee-based campground at Sherman Overlook. All these campgrounds have nearby hiking trails that connect to the main Kettle Crest National Recreation Trail, a portion of the Pacific Northwest Trail, so this is a great area to plan a longer visit and do some exploring.

Salmo Priest Wilderness and Sullivan Lake: This far northeast corner of Washington is a great area for choosing your preferred comfort level, although those who are willing to get by with the least comfort (backpackers) may also need to wait for the snow to melt for the best access. Sullivan Lake has fee-based campgrounds at both the north and south ends of the lake, which will open for the season beginning May 17, and where the picnic table can double as the prime stargazing location. There are also numerous free dispersed campsites in the area with limited amenities, most of which are nicely treed for relaxing in a hammock while still providing a nice view of the night sky. Moon Flats, just north of Sullivan Lake, has the most apt name for stargazing, but the dispersed sites also extend up Sullivan Creek Road where the creek provides a lovely soundtrack to nocturnal viewing.

As the snow begins to recede, more strenuous options become available. A night trek up Noisy Creek to Hall Mountain is among the earliest options, since the road to the trailhead is usually snow-free even if the summit is not. For June, one of my favorite spots is to hike a portion of the Salmo Loop counterclockwise to Little Snowy Top. There is one perfectly-placed tree at the top for attaching a hammock connected to the remaining pilings from the former fire lookout. Enjoy unobstructed views in all directions and especially overhead.

Wenaha-Tucannon Wilderness and the Blue Mountains: The far southeast corner of Washington also has spectacular dark skies. The Tucannon River drainage is accessible in May and has several free (with Discover Pass), first-come/first-served campgrounds located on Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife property just outside the National Forest boundary. I once spent a fantastic night under the stars at one of the campgrounds following a meeting in Walla Walla, then finishing my drive home early the next morning. But hikers and backpackers also have many options here, especially in June as the snow melts from the high country. The views, day or night, from Oregon Butte and the Mount Misery Trail cannot be beat. This is the best place to try glamping paired with stargazing, with several historic Forest Service guard stations available to rent in the area.

Holly Weiler is the Eastern Washington Regional Coordinator for Washington Trails Association and is fortunate enough that sleeping under the stars in the wilds of eastern Washington is part of her job.

The post Spring and Summer Stargazing appeared first on Out There Venture.

• National Public Lands Day (NPLD) falls on September 23rd this year. It’s a fee-free day for both National Parks and Washington state lands. Discover Pass fees will additionally be waived on October 10th for World Mental Health Day.
• Spokane County Library District will be hosting a mushroom foraging for beginners class on September 20 from 6-8 p.m. in the North Spokane meeting room. Attend to learn about some of the edible mushrooms found in our region!
• Join the Methow Conservancy for a series of free events, both in person and online, during September and October. Highlights include an in-person presentation on lynx and wildfire, a field trip through the newly acquired Sunny M. Ranch property with a focus on the forest, and a Zoom presentation on bats from WDFW. (Methowconservancy.org)
• Free guided hike destinations with Inland Northwest Land Conservancy during September include Waikiki Springs, Palisades Park, and Saltese Uplands. (Inlandnwland.org)
• The Dishman Hills Conservancy’s annual dinner and auction fundraiser will be held on October 16 at CenterPlace Regional Event Center. (Dishmanhills.org)

Let Your Voice Be Heard!

The Blue Mountains region, consisting of the Umatilla, Wallowa-Whitman, and Malheur National Forests, is currently undergoing a revision of its existing Forest Plan. A series of public meetings is planned throughout September and October, including an online Zoom meeting option on October 10. Join any of these and then consider providing formal comments to help guide the process. For more information, contact Sm.fs.bluesforests@usda.gov.

Conservation & Stewardship Opportunities

• The annual Spokane River Cleanup with be held on September 16. Sign up with The Lands Council for this self-guided event, with designated trash collection sites in multiple locations along the Spokane River. (Landscouncil.org)
• Friends of Scotchman Peaks Wilderness have several trailwork events planned through the month of September, including a NPLD project at Regal/Morris Creek on September 23. They will wrap up the trailwork season on September 30 with a project at Goat Mountain. (Scotchmanpeaks.org)
• Spokane Nordic will have several weekend days of volunteer trail maintenance in September and October in preparation for the upcoming Nordic ski season. (Spokanenordic.org)
• Evergreen Mountain Bike Alliance will be offering a fall weekend’s worth of work parties in the Methow from September 29-October 1, with camping available at Upper Beaver Creek Campground and the work happening on nearby Blue Buck and Lightening Creek Trails. Food included, but advance registration required. (Evergreenmtb.org)
• Okanogan Highlands Alliance will be partnering with Pacific Northwest Trail Association on September 9 for a day of heavy restoration work on Beaver Lake Trail. PNTA will be hosting a variety of additional projects throughout September and into early October, working on the Kettle Crest and near Sullivan Lake. (Okanoganhighlands.org and pnt.org)
• Idaho Trails Association (ITA) and Washington Trails Association will be partnering on the Jackson Creek Trail in North Idaho near the Salmo-Priest Wilderness the first weekend after Labor Day. Join either crew as they work to meet in the middle at the WA/ID boundary! ITA will additionally be hosting a National Public Lands Day project at Chimney Rock in the Idaho Selkirks, while WTA will be celebrating the organization’s 30th anniversary of the trail maintenance program with a return to Iller Creek Conservation Area in Spokane Valley for annual maintenance on September 18, as well as a project at Fishtrap Recreation Area near Cheney, Wash. (Idahotrailsassociation.org and wta.org) //

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By Carol Corbin

I live in the Inland Northwest . . . and I don’t ski. I think there are about five of us non-skiers in the region. We’re like unicorns. Or Yeti, if Yeti hated being cold and was averse to strapping frictionless sticks on his feet and careening down hills at break-neck speeds. I love being outdoors and am intentional about building that into my life year-round, but, despite living in Spokane for 17 years, my twice-used snowboard molders away in the basement, couched in memories of greenish-yellow bruises and unceremonious flailings out of chairlifts.

It’s no secret that recreating outdoors in the winter comes with its own set of challenges. Limited hours of daylight, frigid temperatures, snow, wind, icy trails, cold and flu season, and the seasonal gloomies can all add up and make it tough to just get out the front door. But, get outside we must, sometimes, for sanity. Here are a few things I’ve found that get me from October to May without losing my marbles.

GO SNOWSHOEING

I’ve always heard that if you can walk, you can snowshoe. That being said, the very first step I took on a pair of snowshoes, I stepped on the back of my right shoe with my left foot and abruptly crashed into the nearest snowbank. Thankfully, snow is forgiving, and I immediately learned that when you fall on snowshoes, it’s easiest to get back up if you roll onto your knees first.

Snowshoeing is a relatively low-barrier activity. You need a solid pair of hiking or snow boots, a good three-layer clothing system (moisture wicking next to the skin, insulating mid-layer, and wind/water/weatherproof top layer), and maybe some poles, and you’re set. If you don’t want to spring for your own pair of snowshoes until you know if you’ll like it, you can rent them from many local outdoor gear shops like REI and Rambleraven in Spokane. Spokane Public Libraries offers snowshoes in their “Library of Things” too. Increasingly, ski resorts offer snowshoe rentals as well.

For a beginner-friendly route with scenic views, I recommend Hauser Conservation Area, located north of Spokane Valley, between Newman and Hauser Lakes. This loop trail of just over a mile features lovely forest land, very little elevation gain, and views of Hauser Lake. Parking is free and does not require a pass. More information about the area can be found on the Spokane County Conservation Futures website.

Another nearby snowshoe adventure can be found at Round Lake State Park in Sagle, Idaho. There is a parking fee of $7 for Idaho residents and $14 for out-of-state drivers. The 1.8-mile Trapper’s Trail leads around the lake and is open to hikers and snowshoers. The longer, 2.5-mile Outer Loop Trail is open to hikers, fat bikers, snowshoers, and skiers.

TAKE A SPIN ON A FAT BIKE

My first and truest outdoor love is biking. A firm believer in the “N+1 = the right number of bikes” formula, I bought a fat bike in spring of 2018. My Salsa Mukluk does it all, albeit slowly, and has been a go-to for slow mountain biking, even slower bikepacking, and glacial (pun intended) snow biking. The irony that in order to keep my feet warm while biking in the winter I choose to wear army surplus mukluks (for their sturdy canvas shell and cozy felt liner), while pedaling a Mukluk has only now dawned on me. Fat biking has seen an explosion in popularity, and therefore the trail infrastructure has evolved to support it. It’s a great time to test the trails on these fun big wheelers. Pack provisions like food, water, and handwarmers.

Ski Resort Trails & Bike Demos: Ski resorts like 49 Degrees North boast mixed Nordic/snowshoe/fat bike trail systems so that if, like me, you find yourself in a relationship with someone who skis or snowboards, you can still have fun in the snow while they’re careening down hills, trying not to break themselves. These facilities will often host fat bike demo days during the winter, so if you’re “fattie curious,” you can try before you buy. Locally, Mojo Cyclery has a fleet of rental fat bikes also.

Take a Fattie Road Trip North of the Border: Rossland, B.C., boasts a thriving fat biking community with regular grooming weeks before the downhill resorts are even open. The team at Revolution Cycles will rent you a bike, give you the rundown of the trails, and, if you’re there on the right day, introduce you to the lead groomer. If you like climbing, you can even park in town, hop on your fat bike, and pedal up to the groomed trails! In typical Canada bike fashion, though, you’ll be riding either up or down a hill. I’m pretty sure Canadians don’t understand “flat.”

Miles of Groomed Fat Bike Trails at Spokane’s Riverside State Park: If you haven’t met Frank Benish out on the trails in Spokane’s Riverside State Park, well, you just don’t go out there enough. Frank spends most of his winter on a groomer, dialing in fat bike-friendly trails out of the Deep Creek, Wilbur, and Marchand Trailheads in the park. Because of the heavy user traffic in the Park, it can be difficult to maintain good fat bike tracks, and educating other users about how to properly care for groomed trails is a challenge. If you get out there after a good grooming run, however, the trails are magnificent! Beginner-friendly loops with limited elevation gain bring out the best in every rider. Discover Passes are required at all Riverside State Park trailheads.

Sandpoint’s Fat Bike Mecca: Pine Street Woods in Sandpoint has been snowy since the beginning of November this season. There are about six miles of groomed trails with beginner-friendly routes from the Pine Street Woods parking area, with more advanced single-track from the VTT Trailhead. There are two bike shops in Sandpoint offering fat bike rentals this season—Syringa Cyclery and Greasy Fingers Bikes N Repair. Looking to explore the trails with others? Pend Oreille Pedalers will be leading group rides this winter. More information can be found on the trail group’s Instagram and Facebook pages, @pendoreillepedalers.

TRY WINTER CAMPING

If you’re like me and can only go for a certain period of time without sleeping in a tent before you start to feel like you don’t know who you are anymore, there is always winter camping. And even though winter camping is not for the faint of heart, it is possible and can even be fun. . . in its own way. When planning your first night of winter camping, I suggest keeping it local, with a solid exit strategy. Not, say, driving a hundred miles into the central Oregon wilderness, hiking eight miles on snowshoes in frigid temperatures, and then tucking in to bed, anticipating 18 inches of snow in the morning. (Not that I would have done that. It just seems like something someone might do.)

Where to Go Snow Camping: Members of the Spokane Mountaineers can snow camp at the Mountaineers’ Chalet at Mount Spokane. Be advised, the rest of the mountain is closed to camping in the winter. The Chalet is a great option, if you’re a member, since there is a ready exit strategy in, well, picking up your sleeping bag and going inside. And the sky views at night are well worth the trip.

Fishtrap Recreation Area west of Spokane in the Channeled Scablands is another beginner-friendly winter camping destination. As with many areas managed by the Bureau of Land Management, dispersed camping is allowed year-round. There are no amenities in this area, though, so plan to pack in all your food, water, and means for using “the facilities.” Also plan to pack out all your trash.

Winter Camping Gear: If you aren’t already equipped with the necessary warm, high-insulation, and waterproof or water-resistant winter apparel and winter-worthy camping gear, it can be hard to find rentals appropriate to the occasion, but Eastern Washington University and the University of Idaho outdoor programs offer mountaineering and camping gear. You can also buy the gear you need new at outdoor gear shops or find quality used items at Rambleraven in Spokane. Don’t skimp on a warm, weather-resistant tent, insulated sleeping pad, and a nice, warm sleeping bag rated for well-below freezing. You could be in it for 12 hours or more since there’s not much else to do in the winter once the sun goes down.

The Inland Northwest is an amazing place to live, and having all four seasons is one of the things that makes it great. There’s nothing like fresh-fallen snow on a bluebird day! So, even if you don’t ski or snowboard, you can find ways to enjoy (or at least survive) being outdoors all year long.

Carol has been exploring the woods, trails, and rivers of the Inland Northwest for the last 17 years. Working for Inland Northwest Land Conservancy helps her pursue her personal mission of getting more people outside for nature’s physical and mental health benefits. 

The post How to Survive Winter if you Don’t Ski appeared first on Out There Venture.

Explorer Backpacks Free for Checkout

Spokane Conservation District is now offering Explorer Backpacks for checkout to local families with K-12 students. Each pack can be checked out for up to two weeks and includes educational materials on one of five different themes (trees, rocks and soil, water, pollinators, and snow).

This program can be paired with Spokane-area libraries’ Check Out Washington Pass, which includes a Discover Pass for free entry into Washington State Parks (and other state-managed lands). The library kits additionally include binoculars and field guides and the check-out period is seven days. Plan a family adventure!

NE Washington Forest Road Closures

The Sullivan/Newport Ranger District of the Colville National Forest will have some temporary closures for road improvement work this fall, impacting access to several popular hiking and backpacking destinations on the forest.

Both Highline Road and Sullivan Creek Road will be closed for several weeks, preventing vehicle access to trailheads for Sullivan Mountain and Crowell Ridge, Gypsy Meadows, Thunder Creek, Shedroof Cut-off, Salmo Mountain, and the Salmo Loop.

Hiker access to Crowell Ridge will need to start at the Red Bluff or Halliday Trail trailheads, and hiker access to the Shedroof Divide will only be available at Pass Creek Pass.

Parking Lot Work at Slavin

Improvement work for trailhead parking at Slavin Conservation Area southwest of Spokane began in September, with completion expected in early November.

Spokane County Parks will do their best to ensure the trails are still accessible during the majority of the work, but there may be times when access is temporarily closed to allow crews to complete crucial steps of the process. Be sure to check Spokane County Park’s website before a visit to Slavin this fall.

Saltese Uplands Expansion

By early October, Saltese Uplands Conservation Area near Liberty Lake, Wash., will grow by 10 percent! Spokane County Parks is expected to close soon on a 54.6-acre addition to the popular hiking, mountain biking, and trail running destination.

Fall Trail Projects Need Volunteers

Trail work and public lands stewardship projects continue to seek volunteer help across the region. Fall brings cooler temperatures and plenty of work to be done to keep trails in good shape after high summer use and prepare them for the upcoming ski, fat biking, and snowshoe season.

• Join the Friends of Scotchman Peaks Wilderness for a trail maintenance project at Napoleon Gulch in early September, or for their end-of-hiking-season trek up to the summit of Scotchman Peak in early October. Advance registration required.
• Pend Oreille Pedalers will host Thursday evening trail work events throughout the fall. Check their website for meeting locations.
• WTA has continuing projects at Mount Spokane State Park and within several Spokane County conservation areas, and will be hosting a National Public Lands Day project at Fishtrap Recreation Area.
• Pacific Northwest Trail Association’s season continues through the beginning of October, with several drop-in or backpack volunteer opportunities in northeast Washington.

Holly Weiler is a long-time contributor to Out There Venture and writes The Trailhead column for each issue.

Find more trail recommendations in the Hike of the Month column.

The post Inland NW Trail & Outdoor News: Fall 2022 appeared first on Out There Venture.

Free Park Days – Spring 2022

Washington State Parks celebrates Earth Day on April 22 with a fee-free day. The National Parks Service commemorates the first day of National Park Week with a free-entrance day on Saturday, April 16, 2022. Be aware that Washington State Park SnoPark season extends through the end of March, and fee-free days do not extend to SnoPark lots.

New Name & Closures at Palouse Falls

Designated the official state waterfall of Washington in 2014, Palouse Falls has grown in popularity as well as visitor management issues in recent years. Earlier this year, Washington State Parks Commission approved both a land classification change and a new name — Palouse Falls State Park Heritage Site. The Heritage designation recognizes the cultural, historic, and natural significance of the area.

As a result now, the public access area known as Castle Rock and the social trails leading down the cliffs and to the plunge pool are permanently closed. Overnight camping is also no longer permitted. Still allowed is public access to the upper viewing area during the park’s hours of operation.

Palouse to Cascades Trail Renovated Bridge Opening Soon

The Beverly Bridge is set to open this spring, creating a safe crossing over the Columbia River for non-motorized trail users on the Palouse to Cascades State Park Trail, near Vantage, Wash. The Beverly Bridge dedication will be held Friday, April 8, at 1 p.m. Access the bridge from the Huntzinger Trailhead, with a half mile walk to the ceremony.

The old Beverly Bridge (left) and while undergoing renovation (right). // Photos by Marilyn Hedges, courtesy of Palouse to Cascades Trail Coalition.

Local Trail Projects

Spring trail projects will begin to ramp up in March! Recreation enthusiasts are asked to remember that if your favorite activity is leaving an indentation of 1″ or more in the trail surface, please wait to play until another day. Mud season is very hard on our favorite trails.

• Evergreen Mountain Bike Alliance – Eastern Washington Chapter: Look for a variety of volunteer opportunities in the spring, with Evergreen East focusing spring efforts of local mountain bikers on new trails within Mica Peak Conservation Area, Liberty Lake Conservation Area, and the Mackenzie Natural Area, along with annual maintenance at Beacon Hill.
• Washington Trails Association: WTA will focus efforts on new trails for Etter Ranch at Antoine Peak and the Dishman Hills Conservancy, along with annual maintenance work at Hauser Conservation Area, Antoine Peak, Iller Creek, Stevens Creek, Liberty Lake, and Fishtrap. Find the WTA calendar of volunteer trail work parties online. The next one is on March 30 at Dishman Hills, in Spokane. WTA hosts volunteer opportunities throughout Washington State, in 11 different regions.
• Inland Northwest Land Conservancy: INLC hosts trail maintenance days as well tree thinning projects and invasive weed eradication at Waikiki Springs and Rimrock to Riverside. More details about INLC volunteer work online.

Find signup links on the Out There stewardship volunteer calendar Outthereoutdoors.com/volunteer-scheduling.    

Learn About Local Nature With Bioblitz

Join members of the iNaturalist community and have a little friendly science competition by participating in a bioblitz challenge event, April 29 to May 2, 2022.

To join the challenge, download the iNaturalist app if you don’t have it already. Then look up the Northern Rocky Mountain Challenge under “projects.” Then during the weekend of the event, collect observations from one of the participating areas, which includes Boise, Bonner County, and Boundary County in Idaho; Lincoln County and Red Lodge in Montana; and Pend Oreille County in Washington. The area that has the most participants per capita will win the challenge, plus it’s a fun way to explore the flora and fauna of our region.

For folks in Spokane County, you can also participate in a bioblitz with Inland Northwest Land Conservancy at Rimrock to Riverside on April 30 (find details and register online).

Yellowstone Turns 150

Yellowstone National Park commemorates its 150th anniversary this year! Official anniversary date was March 1st. Throughout this year, plans to host in-person and virtual events as well as park projects. A virtual video series is currently available online (free).

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Fall is hunting season, so before you visit any public land area, check the local wildlife hunting calendar. For safety, be sure to wear bright orange or pink on the trail. (OTO)

Fishtrap Recreation Area (Sprague, Wash.)

Fishtrap Recreation Area boasts 9,000 acres of recreational land managed by the Bureau of Land Management. The main Fishtrap trail system has three major access points and contains a looped trail system totaling nearly 9 miles. 

This area is easily accessible from I-90, where the beauty of the landscape far surpasses what one might expect while looking out the car windows.

The well-marked North Loop Trail is located on Fishtrap Lake Road just west of the Fishtrap Resort. Follow it past vernal ponds and wetlands, copses of trees and shrubs, mima mounds, and basalt outcroppings.

Extend the visit by adding on the South Loop Trail, which includes a kolk carved by glacial lake Missoula floodwaters and cliffs overlooking Fishtrap Lake. Rarely does this trail receive enough snow to require snowshoes or traction devices.

Midnight Mountain (Republic, Wash.)

Midnight Mountain is located just northeast of Republic on Lambert Creek Road. This hike can make an excellent out-and-back trail on its own, connecting to the Kettle Crest National Recreation Trail in 4.1 miles. 

It’s also easy to combine Midnight with a short hike south on the Kettle Crest Trail and then connect via the nearby Old Stage Road #1 Trail to return to the parking area in an approximately 10-mile loop.

Midnight boasts some of the largest western larch in the area and offers sweeping views to the west and even north into Canada. This hike is classic Kettle River Range, with everything from large old growth trees to open grassy meadows and clumps of sagebrush.

It is open range land, so watch for cattle and be sure to treat all water. Snowshoes may be required as fall turns to winter, so be sure to inquire on trail conditions with the Colville National Forest.

Little Pend Oreille National Wildlife Refuge (Colville, Wash.)

The Little Pend Oreille National Wildlife Refuge has several trails from which to choose, along with miles of hiking behind refuge gates. The Old Timers’ Trail is a challenging option, although only from the standpoint of locating and navigating the route, which is completely unmarked.

Get there via the Buffalo-Wilson Road off Kitt-Narcisse Road at an unsigned pull-off beneath the powerlines. The out-and-back trail consists of a mixture of singletrack and old road beds and is lightly traveled, making it an excellent place to watch for wildlife. The forest boasts both western larch and aspen groves, along with many low-growing native shrubs. 

In the event locating the Old Timers’ Trail proves too difficult, the Mill Butte Trail is an excellent alternative. The parking lot is at the park headquarters and the 4.2-mile trail begins just across the road.  

Sullivan Lake (Metaline Falls, Wash.)

Sullivan Lake boasts a large, National Forest campground at either end and is a popular summer camping destination. In the fall the campgrounds close for winter, and it becomes a quiet destination for fall color hikes.

The Sullivan Lakeshore Trail is one of the main attractions in the area, with one trailhead at Noisy Creek Campground on the south end of the lake, and another near the boat launch at East Sullivan Campground. In the fall it may be necessary to park near the campground gates and hike to access the trailheads.

The lakeshore trail is 4 miles one-way and can easily be shuttled for groups with access to two vehicles. The trail has fantastic views of the lake and passes through aspen groves that will likely have lingering fall colors.

Other nearby options for exploration include the Noisy Creek Trail at the south end of the lake, the restoration area around the former Mill Pond site just north of Sullivan Lake (including barrier-free interpretive trails), and Elk Creek Falls.  

Blossom Lake (Murray, Idaho)

Blossom Lake is an easy-access alpine lake accessible from just off the pavement at Thompson Pass on the Idaho/Montana border. The lower lake is a 6.4-mile roundtrip hike with numerous options for extending the outing.

At 1,300′ elevation gain, it is a relatively easy hike through a forest featuring many western larch. To extend the main hike, continue on trail at Blossom as it ascends higher up the basin to Upper Blossom Lake.

Additional hikes are also accessible from the same trailhead parking area. Revette Lake has its own access trail but is located just one basin west of Blossom Lake.

Just across the road from the parking lot is access to the Idaho Centennial Trail, the 1,311 mile-long distance hiking destination that can be sampled here. Do check road conditions for this hike before leaving home, however, as the road will be closed by the first major snowstorm of winter. Snowshoes or traction devices may be required.

Upper Priest Lake (Nordman, Idaho)

Fall is the ideal time to visit Upper Priest Lake. The majority of the motorboats have been placed into winter storage and the main campgrounds close, making the usually busy area quiet and peaceful. Access to both Upper Priest and the north end of the Lakeshore Trail remains available from the Navigation Trailhead at the USFS Beaver Creek Campground until the snow becomes too deep. 

For a forest experience, hike the Navigation Trail to Plowboy Campground on Upper Priest for a 6-mile roundtrip hike. This trail is mostly flat and deeply wooded, and fall mushrooms can be a main attraction. The trail doesn’t access the water until reaching Plowboy, an excellent turn-around spot.

For more lake access, hike the Lakeshore Trail instead. It starts just south of the boat launch and extends 7 miles along lower Priest Lake. It also has sections that stay within the trees, but it has frequent access to shoreline along the main lake. 

In the event winter snows prevent access to Beaver Creek Campground, it is generally still possible to access the southern end of the Lakeshore Trail for an out-and-back hike from that location.

Holly Weiler is a long-time contributor to Out There, and provides each Hike of the Month.

The post 6 Inland NW Fall Hikes For Nature Lovers appeared first on Out There Venture.

From boating, paddling, and adventurous watersports to serene recreation, family activities, and ways to chill and relax, OTO writers share their ideas.

Here are 31 ways to enjoy, explore, & find summer fun at Inland Northwest lakes.

Click link to read the corresponding story.

1. Do yoga on a paddleboard
2. Go bikepack fishing
3. Ride the Columbia Plateau Trail to a channeled scabland lake
4. Open Water Lake Swimming
5. Boat-in Happy Hour on Lake Coeur d’Alene at Harrison
6. Meet the Pirate of Sandpoint’s City Beach & take a ride on a pirate ship
7. Visit Priest Lake
8. Wildlife Spotting
9. Lake Kayaking with Kids
10. Wing foiling
11. Surfing at Lake Chelan
12. Visit Lake Pend Oreille
13. Boat-in camping *
14. Hang out on a beach
15. Explore local history *
16. Take an e-bike tour of Lake Chelan **
17. Paddleboard tour around Lake Chelan **
18. Hike or bike for views **
19. Paraglide above and over Lake Chelan **
20. Take a wine-tasting tour **
21. Go mountain biking on a lakeside trail *
22. Hike along a lake shore *
23. Paddle or hike to Upper Priest Lake *
24. Go Fishing ^
25. Find a Campsite ^
26. Rent Lake Toys ^
27. Go sailing and ride the wind ^
28. Take a Cruise ^
29. Hunt for Treasure ^
30. Watch the Fireworks ^
31. Play on an Island ^ & paddle to get there *

*5 Adventures on Priest Lake’s Western Shore

**5 Ways to Experience Lake Chelan

^ 8 Adventures on Lake Pend Oreille

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