By Lindsay Box
Well, the snow has arrived. And although it seems early and it will soon be gone, there will be more. Lots and lots more. So grab your snowshoes and let’s get moving.
Are you new to snowshoeing? Great news - it’s basically hiking in the snow with snowshoes on.
Don’t have snowshoes? Great news - you can rent them! Here are some rental options:
Now that you know what snowshoeing is and you have your snowshoes, let’s figure out where to go. You can find several local snowshoe hikes that are safe for a beginner, however, always research snow safety information before you go. And, as always, make sure your backpack is loaded with the ten essentials. With a little planning, there are many snowshoe hikes available throughout the Inland Northwest.
Mt. Spokane
Mt. Spokane is great for a day snowshoe trip or even a moonlight snowshoe, given the right conditions. This mountain is only about an hour away from Spokane, and it offers six official snowshoe trails ranging from easy to difficult. Snowshoeing at Mt. Spokane State Park is generally permitted on any trail with adequate snow cover except for the groomed Nordic ski trails and within the alpine ski area. Snowshoeing is also not recommended on groomed snowmobile trails. Please note: a Sno-Park permit is required to park a vehicle in the park during the winter season.
Entrance Loop
Difficulty Level: Easy
Round trip: 1.5 miles
Elevation gain: 240'
Burping Brook Loop
Difficulty Level: Most Difficult
Round trip: 6 miles
Elevation gain: 1080'
Smith Gap Loop
Difficulty Level: Easy to More Difficult
Round trip: 3 miles
Elevation gain: 400'
Bald Knob Picnic Area
Difficulty Level: More Difficult
Round trip: 2 miles
Elevation gain: 600'
CCC Cabin
Difficulty Level: More Difficult
Round trip: 4 miles
Elevation gain: 720'
Mt. Spokane Summit Route
Difficulty Level: Most Difficult
Round trip: 3.25 miles
Elevation gain: 1,357'
Trail 260 Loop
Difficulty Level: Most Difficult
Round trip: 1.25 miles
Elevation loss/gain: 450’
Spokane Parks and Rec
Spokane Parks and Rec offers cool snowshoe tours. Each tour includes all the equipment you need for a day on the snowy trails and an experienced guide to show you the ropes. Some of the outings include transportation. You can even sign up for romantic moonlight hikes that end with catered dinners. All the tours range between $20-$60.
Sherman Pass Snowshoe Loop
Sherman Pass has the highest sno-park in the state! This ungroomed area has a nice loop route with superb snowshoe opportunities. This route provides an opportunity for a 6 mile loop. From the trail, you can view Canada, the Columbia River Valley, the Okanogan Highlands, and the Southern end of the Kettle Mountain Range.