While well-developed with campsites, trailheads, water stops, and other amenities on the western side of Washington, the Palouse to Cascades Trail becomes more remote and difficult the farther east one travels from the Cascades.

The Palouse to Cascades Trail Coalition has been working with Washington State Parks to make upgrades to the trail, including repairing or rebuilding old trestles; installing tent pads; and placing portable toilets, water sources, and Wi-Fi hotspots.

The Coalition is also partnering with businesses along the trail to carry supplies for long-distance cyclists, hikers, or horseback riders who might need aid on their eastern Washington journey.

While work on the Beverly Bridge near Vantage was put on hold following the death of one of the workers in early August, a soft opening of the bridge is anticipated for November 2021.

The Coalition has been successful in creating camping in Ralston, working with State Parks and the Friends of the Tekoa Trestle on re-decking the Tekoa Trestle, and continuing to partner with small towns and businesses along the trail for more amenities in the future. 

Learn more at Palousetocascadestrailcoalition.org.

Find more stories about the Palouse to Cascades Trail in the OTO archives.

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Retreat dates are September 24-26, 2021, and includes a workshop to develop your skills as a trail runner and prevent injury, nourishing meals from locally grown food, yoga to re-center and refocus, and the opportunity to build community with fellow female runners and give back to the land through fireside chats and community science.

To learn more and sign-up, visit basecampcascadia.org/runintothewild.

The post Women’s Trail Running Retreat, Sept. 24-26, 2021 appeared first on Out There Venture.

We asked some of our friends in the Inland NW outdoors community to share their go-to adventures in hopes that others will find some inspiration to get out there and explore someplace new this summer.

Here are 34 ideas, recommended by 15 notable outdoor enthusiasts in the Spokane region, to inspire new outdoor adventures. (OTO)

Recommended by Paul Knowles, Spokane County Parks Special Projects Manager

Cube Iron Roadless Area

Take a hike through hemlock-cloaked mountains and up to alpine pocket lakes. Located north of Thompson Falls, Mont., a few hours from the Spokane area, the trails in the Cube Iron benefit from more active trail maintenance than other areas due to the Cube Iron Cataract Coalition and its volunteers.

Hiking into Cabin Lake is great for those transitioning from day hiking to backpacking for the first time.

Recommended by Katie Wiseman, Outdoor Programs at REI

BLM Rock Creek Management (Escure Ranch)

Hike some of the lesser-travelled old roads for some solitude or stick to the popular hike or mountain bike ride to Towell Falls.

The Backcountry Horsemen and BLM have significantly improved the trailhead and parking area, which now sports toilets, water for horses, corrals, and over 13,000 acres of shrub-steppe and hiking on old, gated ranch roads.

This time of year wildflowers are in full bloom and Towell Falls is at its peak. Keep a look out for ticks and rattlesnakes, and make sure to bring water, sunscreen, and a hat as there is very little shade.

Escura Ranch (left); trail running at Antione Peak Conservation Area; Blossom Lake (lower right). // Photos: Shallan Knowles

Recommended by Lindsay Chutas, Mountaineer and Local Conservationist

Glacier Peak, Chair Peak and the Tatoosh Traverse

Accessed from the east Cascades, this backcountry route offers climbing variety and is “more adventurous than slogging up Adams or St. Helens,” adds Chutas.

Tatoosh offers beautiful views of Mt. Rainier while still being more removed from crowds of visitors. Chair Peak is an alpine climb that gives you the flavor of bigger climbs, yet it’s not too far from the road.

Because of a long hike in, Glacier Peak quickly limits the number of users to this wild and remote place.

Recommended by Alana Livingston, Wander Spokane

Mary Jane’s Farm (Moscow, Idaho)

Livingston owns Wander Spokane, a Spokane-based tour company that takes guests on food, wine, beer, and other tours covering local history, art, architecture, geology, and even medicinal plants, and when she explores, she asks the locals for their favorite hidden gems, the quirky, weird places that not everyone visits.

One of her favorites is Mary Jane’s Farm, where thoughtful, hand-made backpacking meals by the same name come from.

You can also tour the farm and starting in 2022, book a glamping site at the bed and breakfast. This destination has been featured in National Geographic and the New York Times for its whimsical, back-to-the-earth experience, and it’s right in our back yard.

Recommended by Mary Kate & Ryan Griffith, Spokane Outdoor Family

Deep Creek Canyon

A family favorite through ancient volcanic rocks and riverbed, kids can scramble over logs and rocks on a fun exploratory adventure and maybe even see a rock climber scaling the walls.

This hike is best after early spring when water in the creek has dropped, and you can explore the creek bed.

Kayaking Plese Fats to 9 Mile

Another great family adventure that’s best paddled July-September, this scenic section of flatwater on the Spokane River offers an excellent intro to paddling for kiddos.

Floating along Riverside State Park you have the possibility of seeing, osprey, deer, moose, and other forest creatures.

Turnbull National Wildlife Refuge

A hike or scenic drive around Turnbull offers a glimpse back in time to the Ice Age Floods that swept through our area and carved out this unique landscape. Take your binoculars and keep an eye out for all sorts of birds and wildlife while you tour the forests, grasslands, and wetlands.

Hiking McKenzie Conservation Area

Managed by the Spokane County Parks, Recreation and Golf Department, this forested getaway has several trails, including a short walk on an old road to Turtle Rock, with views of Newman Lake and Mount Spokane.

Camping at Mount Spokane’s Bald Knob Campground

This easy weekend getaway at Mount Spokane State Park features hiking, sunsets, and late-season huckleberry picking. The nearby trails are also popular with mountain bikers and equestrians with the cooler temperatures in the summer.

Camping at Swan Lake

Activities close to camp at the three campgrounds around the lake on Northeast Washington’s Colville National Forest include fishing, paddling, swimming, road and mountain biking, and hiking.

(Left-Right) Bridge at confluence of Deep Creek and the Spokane River; Kayaking the Spokane River. // Photo: Aaron Theisen; Bird watching at Turnbull National Wildlife Refuge. // Photo: Crystal Atamian.

Recommended by Ken Carmichael, Ponderosa Back Country Horsemen

Riverside State Park

While Carmichael is an avid equestrian, his local recommendations for summer adventure have trails for hikers and mountain bikers as well as horses and their riders. With over 9,000 acres of public land only five minutes from downtown Spokane, Riverside State Park is top on his list.

For horses, it features an equestrian campground, arena, round pen, obstacle course and 80 miles of trails. There are seven trailheads to accommodate trailers and even more for those hoping to hike, mountain bike, or just catch beautiful views of the Spokane River.

Fishtrap Recreation Area

This Bureau of Land Management-managed slice of sagebrush, grasses, and ponderosa pine provides easy access for day outings west of Spokane at I-90 exit 154.  Multiple trails and lakeshore access make this place popular for hiking, fishing, mountain biking, kayaking, and horseback riding.

Riverside State Park // Photos: Shallan Knowles

Recommended by Dave Dutro, Trail Maniacs Race Director

Post Falls Community Forest

Explore this well-developed system of signed trails for human-powered recreation, including several crags for beginning to intermediate climbers as well. This is also a great spot for a short or long trail run, a family hike, or just enjoying nature and relaxing.

Independence Creek/Coeur d’Alene River Trail

For a fun multi-day, multi-sport adventure, Dutro suggests packing your trail shoes and mountain bike and heading to Independence Creek in the Coeur d’Alene River area. The Independence Trail is a perfect summertime run, with multiple creek crossings for the chance to cool down, and several options for loops that combine trails and road running.

The next day, pedal your heart out on the Coeur d’Alene River Trail. There are excellent fishing holes and beautiful views so plan ahead to maximize this adventure.

Blossom Lakes

Near the Idaho Centennial Trail and Thompson Pass, the trail to the lake is a beautiful trail run by day and beginner backpacking adventure by night. The subalpine lakes are a beautiful summertime treat for those who make the trek.

Palouse Divide Trail System

These multi-use trails are great for mountain biking and running but are also open to ATVs on the double-track. While trail use is varied, it is also low. There is good camping nearby so you can make a weekend of it.

Clark Fork River Trail

A great trail tip for anyone headed to Quinn’s Hot Springs Resort, include a run, hike, or mountain bike ride on the Clark Fork River Trail near St. Regis. What better way to earn that end of the day soak then by breaking a sweat on the trail? The trail provides beautiful views and makes a great day outing any time of year.

Recommended by Niki Sibley, Ultramarathon Runner and Outdoor Lifestyle Advocate

Front Door Forays

“Leave the car in the driveway for this adventure. It’s easy to forget that some of the best running to be had is out your very own front door,” says Niki Sibley. “So turn your abode into an aid station and start cranking out those miles! And who knows, you just might inspire the whole neighborhood to get moving.”

Bike downtown, with your kids (Photo: Derrick Knowles, middle), and anywhere near where you live (Photo, right: Jon Jonckers).

Chris Conley, Evergreen East Mountain Bike Alliance President

Trail #257 Coeur d’ Alene Mountain

A short drive from Spokane near Beauty Bay with an easy, mostly paved 3.5-mile road climb, this mountain bike trail is easily accessible to most intermediate riders.

Drop in for a fast, fun, and flowy 3-mile descent through old growth forest on well-maintained single-track trail. There is some exposure towards the bottom, but the trail is wide and could easily be walked if necessary.

Abercrombie Mountain

Near Metaline Falls two hours north of Spokane, this epic out-and-back backcountry ride can’t be beat (it’s also an excellent hike). The 7.6-mile, 4,300′ climb can be intense, but the view from the top makes it all worth it. Pack plenty of food, water, and a jacket for the summit, even in the summer.

After taking in the views, enjoy the full descent back to the car. “With loose, technical rocks at the top to fast and flowy loam at the bottom, it’s one of my all-time favorite rides,” Conley says.

Jungle Hill Loop

Three hours from Spokane with lots of awesome camping spots, the Kettle Crest offers miles of rugged single-track trails, and this loop is a favorite of many riders. “I prefer to camp at the Jungle Hill campground and ride clockwise to Sherman Pass and finish with the Jungle Hill descent,” says Conley.

This is a big ride with plenty of punchy climbs and long, flowy descents with some of the best views around.

Recommended by Melinda DuPree, Evergreen East Board Member

Mount Hope Cemetery Road Ride

Twenty miles south of Spokane on the corner of Valley Chapel Rd. and North Kentuck Trails Rd., this picturesque country cemetery in the small community of Mt. Hope makes for a scenic road ride destination. The ride out Valley Chapel Road includes a few crossings and views along Latah Creek. The north end of the road is a stretched-out climb/descent from the valley while the southern climb/descent is steeper and includes broad views in the Palouse.

Hayden Lake Loop Ride

This 27-mile road ride departs from Honeysuckle Beach on North Idaho’s Hayden Lake for a loop around the lake on Hayden Lake Rd., English Point Rd., and Lakeview Dr. The road rolls up and down for 2,000’ of overall climbing with views of North Idaho that will give you lake-cabin envy.

Recommended by Jim O’Hare, Spokane Bicycle Club

Spokane Area Road & Paved Path Rides

Check out the SpokeFest loops choosing from the 9, 21, or 47-mile distances on the Spokane Bicycle Club’s website (Popular Rides tab).

The Fish Lake, Centennial, Children of the Sun, and Appleway trails are other great Spokane-area rides that are paved with low-to-moderate elevation gain and are mostly free of motorized traffic.

Greats views while biking along Spokane’s Centennial Trail. // Photos: Jon Jonckers

Recommended by Jane Patten, Local Artist and Mountain Biking Influencer

Glenrose to Phillips Creek Trail

This great out-and-back adventure offers views of Spokane to the west and east, including Mica Peak. This trail system offers fun, flowy single-track through meadows and pine groves and just enough elevation to get the heart pumping. An added bonus—Winescape Winery is a few blocks from the Thierman Trailhead for après ride hydration.

Recommended by Wayne Jordan, Fly Fishing & Fly-Tying Instructor

St. Joe River

Test your fly-fishing skills in this blue-ribbon cutthroat stream that flows through the scenic Idaho Panhandle National Forest. If you are looking for a little extra adventure, take the back road route via St. Regis, Mont.

Lower Grande Ronde River

Located near the tiny community of Rogersburg south of Asotin, Wash., anglers of all ages and skill levels can expect to catch smallmouth bass on the Grande Ronde River while enjoying the scenic beauty of Hells Canyon.

South Skookum Lake

This lake located in the Colville National Forest near Usk, Wash., is perfect for families looking to catch a few trout while escaping the commotion of the city for the day.

Columbia National Wildlife Refuge

Dozens of lakes and multiple species of fish are waiting for you in this Eastern Washington high desert oasis. Located just north of Othello, these waters provide a great angling day trip or multi-day adventure for the whole family.

Recommended by Dan Webber, Spokane REI Bike Technician

Themed Rides

Webber recommends making your ride more interesting with a theme. “Morning coffee crawls are a great way to support local businesses and experience new neighborhoods,” he says. “My favorite stops include Atticus, Rockwood, Rocket, and The Shop.” All of these have patio seating for sunny chats and an ability to keep an eye on your precious steed.

Some other themes could include ice cream (The Scoop, Doyle’s, and Sweet Peaks), bridges (13 of them in Spokane that cross the River), public art (murals, electrical boxes, sculptures), or, for the truly hardcore, the Spokane Stairs Ride, where you get to carry your bike up all the outdoor urban staircases!

Recommended by Mark Schneider, Rambleraven Gear Trader

Northrup Canyon

An awesome early-season hiking trip near Banks Lake, this 1.5 mile trail leads to an old homestead and another few miles takes you to Northrup Lake, a great overnight backpacking trip to shake the cobwebs off your gear for the year.

Harrison Peak Climbing

This Selkirk Mountain peak is well known for technical climbing, but you can also scramble up the east face without gear for an amazing view.

Lion’s Head

This prominent set of two Selkirk Mountain summits above Priest Lake is known for its rock-climbing routes, and Priest Lake is also beautiful.

[Feature photo by Aaron Theisen – Cube Iron Roadless Area.]

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Citywave USA, the new stationary wave at Lakeside Surf in Chelan, which happens to be the largest of its kind in the world, opens May 1, 2021. The newest attraction at Chelan’s Slidewaters Waterpark, citywave USA is 54-foot wide, deep-water stationary wave up to six feet tall that allows surfers to ride across the wave as the water rushes by.

Surfers can use regular short boards and full-size fins that make aggressive wave carving, tricks, and aerials possible. For safety reasons, however, all first-time citywave USA surfers are required to use Lakeside Surf’s boards until they get staff approval based on a surfer’s ability to handle the wave. The wave can be set up for a wide range of ability levels too, from beginners to expert surfers, and guests with passes can also watch from some great viewing areas.

There are a variety of surf session options, ranging from 45-minute sessions with a max of 12 surfers in the line-up (surfers are asked to limit each wave ride to 30 seconds), to private sessions, party bookings, and dawn patrol time slots. All sessions must be booked in advance online. Lakeside Surf is a complete surf facility with food and beverage service, a retail surf shop, sand volleyball, a surfer hot tub, and is a part of the larger Slidewaters Waterpark.

This year’s season will run from May through October. More info at Lakesidesurf.com.

To learn more about recreation activities in and around the city of Chelan, visit the OTO archives.

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Beezley offers a variety of trails and destinations, so it’s great for hikers who want to go long on winding single-track through the sagebrush or for hikers who want a gentle route. Beezley Hill is also dog friendly, but pups should stay on leash throughout the hike, as the hill is shared with mountain bikers.  

For a beginner-level hike, follow the gravel service road that starts at the Beezley trailhead and gently curves to the top of the hill, where you’ll find a seasonal light display. For a short hike with the family, walk this same gravel road but stop about a third of the way up the hill at the Autism Ribbon. You’ll be able to look out over the City of Ephrata from this landmark, a monument dedicated to Autism awareness that lights up at night. If you’re hiking with a dog, this spot will include a dog water faucet (with taller ones for people, too). Bring a picnic or just relax on one of the benches at this ribbon area and soak up the scene of a town where the highest structure is a grain silo. 

Whether you choose a wide, gravel path or narrower route, you’ll catch a great view in just a short distance. Deciduous trees in the community flare bright in fall hues, and you’ll be able to spot town features like the high school track and baseball fields. The canal, low this time of year, stretches from the coulee of Soap Lake, through the town, and to the south. To the southeast, on a clear day, you can see the first few buildings of Moses Lake, a town that’s 20 miles away. Since most of the natural flora of the Columbia Basin reaches nohigher than your waist, you’ll be able to look over a huge expanse of land, beautiful in desert shades of gold, taupe, and sage. 

After you’ve enjoyed the view, you can continue on singletrack along the ridge of Beezley to two tower locations. As Beezley is an exposed and treeless location, hike prepared for fall elements such as strong wind and rainstorms. As you walk, you may see desert wildlife like rabbits, coyotes, quail, rattlesnakes, or mule deer. There will be several branching singletrack routes that you can take to hike on the middle of the hill or lower on the hill near the canal. Check out the options at the trailhead kiosk before you start to pick the route best for you. 

While there’s enough trail on Beezley to stretch your legs for a day, there are other hiking options just outside of town. Hike a loop around Soap Lake, explore the Lake Lenore Caves, or head south to the Ancient Lakes area. Each of these hikes will be located near natural water and showcase the unique mix of basalt, grassland, and scrub brush that make up the plateaus and valleys of the Columbia Basin. 

Originally pu blished as “Plan Beezley for Hikers” in the Nov.-Dec. 2020 double issue.

Lisa Laughlin grew up in Ephrata and now works as a freelance writer in Spokane. 

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Mention Beezley Hill to local mountain bikers and it often draws blank stares, bemused looks, or mutterings of back-pocket plans to get there “one of these days.” Although only two hours west of Spokane, Beezley is probably better known to west-side bikers as an easy destination for dry riding during their lengthy rainy season. Last season, it became one of my “in case of emergency, break glass” riding spots when I just couldn’t handle the weather. But as much as Beezley makes an attractive choice when there are few available, it’s got legit riding in its own right. 

Wiping the sweat from my eyes as I pedal up the 3-mile Tower Road, which accesses the top of the trail system, I take a look at my surroundings. Beezley Hill stakes out the easternmost edge of the greater Beezley Hills, a 25-mile wide subrange of small, sagebrush-clad foothills in the Columbia Plateau. Look at a topographical map of the area, and the Beezley Hills look like the scalloped back of a prehistoric crustacean. That’s fitting for an area formed by cataclysmic flooding.  

The Beezley Hills formed the northern barrier to the ice age Missoula Floods that scoured central Washington. To the west of City of Ephrata-owned Beezley Hills Recreation Area, Beezley Hills Preserve protects another swath of sagebrush steppe from development, part of a 30,000-acre remnant of native sagebrush and grassland that used to cover two-thrids of the state. 

A little over 20 miles of singletrack wind through Beezley Hill Recreation Area, most of it built with bikes in mind. With smooth, swoopy turns and low-angle pedaling, the trails favor XC flavor; the long-running annual Beezley Burn cross-country race in April is the unofficial kick-off to the Northwest racing season, but beyond that event the trail system is an ideal spot to stack up late-season miles or shake off early-season cobwebs (and calories). 

Leaving the Tower Road, I pedal up the long curves of Buckrabbit and Snake Charmer, onto the rocky, pedal-biting tech of Bipolar. From the top, I get a look out over the interior of the Beezley Hills, where a sea of sagebrush stretches west as far as the eye can see. Before wheatfields and wind turbines, the entire skyline would have looked this way. 

But Rainier beckons. The original line is a two-directional XC line in keeping with the flowy flavor of its neighbors, but I take the alternate line, an expert-level DH trail. A 6-foot, cribbed-rock drop gets things off to a sporty start before the track settles into a series of long, fast straightaways that make quick work of the steep-walled draw. At the bottom, sidehills and side hits shunt me out into the flats near the trailhead. I head back for more. 

The sun sets, and the temperatures quickly drop. It’s no longer T-shirt weather. But as quickly as the central Washington warmth disappears, the light lingers, the dusk light taking its time leaking out of the wide-open central Washington sky. 

This time I descend Lazy Boy, Beezley’s best-known trail, relatively speaking. Fast rocky turns drop into a series of waterslide-like catch berms near the bottom. Jumps constructed from old pallets and sheets of plywood test my low-light vision, and songbirds flushed from the understory test my jump-scare reflexes. 

With sagebrush reflecting the last light of dusk like roadside signs, I navigate without headlights back to the trailhead, already planning my next trip. Beezley has become plan A. 

Originally published as “Plan Beezley for MTBers” in the Nov.-Dec. 2020 double issue.

Aaron Theisen is an outdoors writer and photographer whose work has appeared in Freehub, Backpacker, Powder, DirtRag, Delta SKY magazine, and elsewhere. He wrote about public lands scenic drives in the September/October issue. 

The post Biking Central Washington’s Beezley Hill appeared first on Out There Venture.

• The 130-mile-long Columbia Plateau Trail: The closest access to the non-paved section of this rail trail is near Cheney, Wash. If snow persists on the east end of the trail, try a ride on the 15-mile crushed gravel section starting at Ice Harbor Dam on the Snake River near Pasco, Wash.
• Fishtrap Recreation Area: Explore old ranch roads and several miles of new singletrack still under construction by Washington Trails Association volunteers on the north side of Fishtrap Lake 30-miles west of Spokane.
• Escure Ranch/Towell Falls: Ride the ranch road for a 6.5 mile roundtrip pedal to the falls, then explore some of the other gated roads and bovine-built singletrack north of Rock Creek for added aerobic adventure. (OTO)

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Located outside of Leavenworth along Icicle Creek is Sleeping Lady Mountain Resort, whose namesake peak creates a picturesque ridgeline above the grounds. The mini-flashlight attached to each room key is the first clue that it will be a unique stay experience.

After loading your baggage into a cart, you follow a paved trail to the “cluster” that contains your guest room. After dark, that mini-flashlight comes in handy.

But the layout of the grounds and muted lighting are the only things that make this place feel like an old church youth camp—which it was, from 1957 to 1991. The Yakima Diocese of the Roman Catholic Church called it Camp Field. (Before that, it operated as the family-oriented Icicle River Ranch after being redeveloped from its status as Camp Icicle for the Civilian Conservation Corps.)
No smelly bunkhouses here. Guest rooms are duplex style with shared walls, organized in clusters of four buildings—for a total of 6-10 rooms per cluster. Inside, the hand-hewn log beds and desks, down comforters and lamps combine with amenities like heated towel racks, plush robes, WiFi access and coffee maker.

There are no televisions in the rooms—which is great. No mini-fridges either, which means if you want to store some cold snack or food items, you have to keep a cooler in your room.

There are five different room layouts available, with space for up to 3-5 people, and there are two stand-alone cabins. A “Loft Room,” for example, sleeps five people, making it ideal for a family—kids old enough to climb the ladder can sleep in the loft’s full-sized bed. There are also “Canine Companion” rooms, where your dog is welcome and gets its own resort amenities (dog bed, food/water bowls, treats)—all for no extra charge.
In the winter, you can nordic ski on the 8km Icicle River Trail, which is adjacent to the resort. It’s part of the Leavenworth Nordic Trail System, which includes 26km of cross-country ski tracks and skate ski lanes. For downhill skiing and snowboarding, you can drive to Stevens Pass, Mission Ridge, or Leavenworth’s Ski Hill.

One of the unique features of this resort is the outdoor (and indoor) artwork on display at various locations—creating an Art Walk with over 35 pieces, including a nine-foot-tall “Chihuly Icicles” glass sculpture near the restaurant.

The resort’s sister property, Icicle Creek Center for the Arts (icicle.org), hosts a music performance series and various festivals throughout the year.
Other on-site activities include the Woodland Rock Pools (small outdoor hot pool and seasonal swimming pool), sauna, fitness room, playhouse (for board games, ping-pong, etc), and spa.

To reserve a room, you choose a specific “package.” Great Escape Package is the basic one, starting at $238, double-occupancy for one night. (Additional adults are $59 each, kids ages 5-12 are $25 each, and children age four and younger stay and dine free.) This fee includes gourmet dinner and a hearty breakfast, which are served buffet style at the resort’s Kingfisher Restaurant (alcoholic drinks and gratuity not included). Other stay packages are centered on activity themes, such as Romance, Sleigh Ride and Resort Yoga.

The restaurant looks and feels like a lodge; instead of booth tables, it has open “European-style” seating. Breakfast is served 7:30-9:00 am on weekdays (open ‘til 10:00 am weekends); dinner hours are 5:30-8:00 pm, with staggered reservation seating times. Non-guests are also welcome to dine at the restaurant.

Sleeping Lady is a member of the Chefs Collaborative, which is “a leading nonprofit network of chefs that fosters a sustainable food system through advocacy, education and collaboration with the broader food community,” according to the resort website. What this equates to is a lot of organic and locally and regionally sourced food. In fact, Sleeping Lady maintains its own greenhouse and two-acre organic garden.

At $39 per adult, dinner isn’t anything like a typical buffet—it’s fancy, with lots of organic, fresh offerings, from a creative and diverse salad bar (no iceberg lettuce here), to the entrée/hot dish bar (chefs serve and dress your plate), to the dessert bar. Plenty of kid-friendly options—pizza, homemade mac-n-cheese, make-your-own peanut butter and jelly sandwich, organic milk, fresh fruit, apple sauce—make it easy for kids to eat happy.

There are two other places to eat at the resort—O’Grady’s Pantry (open for breakfast and lunch) and the Grotto Bar (opens at 4:00 pm, pizza and drinks).

Sleeping Lady’s quiet months are late March, April and November, according to Lori Vandenbrink, the resort’s director of sales and marketing. The busiest months are June through August, she says, “with a combination of corporate retreats, weddings and leisure travelers.” December is also busy. Occasionally, the resort offers special rates via its Facebook page (facebook.com/SleepingLady). Overall, this unpretentious resort encourages a slower pace and lives up to its goal to provide “accommodations in harmony with nature.” You’ll return home wishing you could have stayed longer.

For more details, visit sleepinglady.com.

WHEN YOU GO
Sleeping Lady Mountain Resort is 190 miles from Spokane, just outside of Leavenworth. Take I-90 west to the junction of Hwy 281 near George; travel north on 281 to Quincy. Turn left on Hwy 28 and travel west to Wenatchee to Hwy 2. Travel Hwy 2 to the west boundary of Leavenworth, and then turn left on Icicle Road. Go approx. 2.5 miles, passing the Leavenworth National Fish Hatchery. Turn left into Sleeping Lady. (Amtrak stops in Leavenworth.)

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