Mt Spokane State Park and the Kit Carson Peak Trail

Just northeast of Spokane, Washington rises the aptly named Mt Spokane. Seemingly unimposing, the mountain is one of the highest in the Inland Northwest – the great Inland Empire – rising to 5,883 feet. Today, Mt Spokane State Park and it’s surroundings has become a premier outdoor recreation spot for those looking to hike, bike, ski, and simply enjoy the great outdoors.

Mount Spokane State Park is Washington State’s largest state park, encompassing 13,919 acres. Within its bounds, visitors can find campgrounds, and miles of hiking trails during the summer months. During the winter, when the mountain is draped in a white sheet of snow, you will also find the Mount Spokane Ski and Snowboard Park, offering snowshoeing, nordic skiing, and of course – a ski and snowboard park. While it may not be quite as striking as the Cascades to the west, it is far more accessible.

Summer Activities in Mt Spokane State Park

Mount Spokane State Park has a lot to offer for summer visitors of all ages. It is also readily accessible because it is less than an hour outside of Spokane. Because the park is so close to Spokane, the mountain makes for a great impromptu day trip from the city.

The park consists of four peaks: Mt Spokane, Mt Kit Carson, Quartz Mountain, and Day Mountain. Each offers its own unique view of the surroundings, as well as things to do.

Hiking

For us, hiking is the big draw. There is something to the simplicity of just getting out, and walking through nature. And when the days are long, as they tend to be in Washington during the summer months, hiking in the afternoon is a great way to shake up the day.

With 100 miles of trails, you’ll constantly find yourself a new view within the Selkirk Mountains. The trails range from the quick and easy “walk in the park” to exhaustive trails that require you to spend the night under the stars to finish.

The most popular trails are Mount Kit Carson, Quartz Mountain Lookout, Three Peaks Loop, Mount Spokane via Saddle Junction, and Day Mountain. Now, of course, there are many other trails, but these are the ones you’re most likely to first set out for. Check out an official listing of trails here.

Mt Kit Carson Trail

If like us, you want to get out, but don’t want to take on a grueling hike, Mt Kit Carson is the way to go. We chose to go in July of 2020, which wound up being a perfect time for us.

We arrived to the Hairpin Turn Parking Lot just around 4. For many hikes, this is the place to begin your journey. There is ample parking, and you can’t miss it – it’s a big parking lot, wedged into an enormous hairpin turn.

Being careful when crossing the road to the trail, you are immediately brought into deep woods, along the Mount Spokane Park Dr. This “road” is really more of a very wide, dirt trail – which makes for a great biking loop, but is a little much for the casual hiker.

Always Getting Lost

One of the first things you should do, however, which thankfully we did, is to grab a park map upon entering the trail. The trails aren’t the best marked, and using a number system that sometimes combines with other trails, can be a bit confusing to navigate at times. Case-in-point, we almost immediately went off on the wrong trail, and then continued up an old trail, no longer maintained and partially flooded trail. Thankfully, it wasn’t too long before we managed to get ourselves back on the proper trail.

It’s important to remember to cross the stream before you begin heading up trail 110. But after that, it becomes a lot easier to find your way. Heading “up” generally will get you to the top of the mountain at that point, but it’s worth noting that there are a few trails you can take that have detours elsewhere before getting you to the peak. However, for us, we were wanting to beat the sun, so we opted for no more detours.

The trail winds its way gently up the mountain, on an easy dirt path – so it was easy on the knees – and under the cover of trees. This is a great relief because with summer temperatures now hitting 100 here, relief from the sun is well-received.

We were also very lucky, in that we were able to witness a rare, mass-bloom of bear grass – something that occurs only when conditions are right every few years. The surreal sight made us feel like we were walking through a primordial and alien landscape before we came to the intersection near the top of the mountain of N Mount Kit Carson Loop Road.

Push To The Peak

At the intersection here, is an outhouse you can use if nature is calling. From here, we proceeded up to the peak of Mt Kit Carson, roughly an additional mile more to the peak.

Breaking through the foliage to the peak, you’re rewarded with outstanding views of the farmlands and wilderness near Mead. And to our surprise, although you can see the peak from Spokane, you can’t really spot Spokane from the peak. Maybe it was just a bit of a hazy day for us though.

The return down the mountain was simple, as we just retraced our steps down. However, there are multiple trails you can take back to reach the parking spot. For us though, the roughly seven-mile loop was plenty for the day.

Biking

Mt Spokane State Park is crisscrossed with mountain bike trails – ranging from easy loops to steep downhill runs. We’d love to get into it, but all our moving around has made having mountain bikes a little impractical.

Regardless, that shouldn’t stop you from trying the trails yourself if you’re up for it. The people at Trailforks have an excellent breakdown of the trails you can ride, and we highly recommend that you check them out for better biking information.

If you just want to check out the map, you can check it here.

Camping & Accommodation in Mt Spokane State Park

Mt Spokane State Park has eight standard campsites with water access as well as communal flush restrooms. The maximum site length is 30 feet, with limited availability. Unfortunately, ADA facilities are not available and all campsites are first-come, first-serve. There is also a group campsite.

Camping generally opens from May through to September dependent upon weather and other factors – looking at you COVID.

For those who want a more unique experience, you can spend the night at the summit of Quartz Mountain in the fire lookout. The lookout is 14’x14’, sleeping up to four comfortably. The structure has wrap-around windows and decking, but visitors should be prepared for spartan conditions, as there is no electricity on site. Visitors are encouraged to bring their own food and propane stove for cooking.

And while it should go without saying, remember – pack out everything you packed in. Do not leave any trash, and take only pictures. Leave the park, and all campsites as you found them, or in better condition.

Winter Activities

Considering that Mt Spokane State Park receives around 300 inches of snow annually, you can be assured that there is plenty of winter activity to go around.

The Mount Spokane Ski and Snowboard Park has been in operations since the 1930s and has grown considerably since its conception. Today it includes 1,704 acres of skiable area, 2000 skiable vertical feet, 52 groomed runs, 6 lifts, a terrain park, and tubing hill.

Those who visit the park in the winter will find plenty of options to choose from:

• Alpine Skiing
• Back-country skiing
• Fat-tire biking
• Groomed trails
• Nordic skiing – Nordic trail map
• Snowbiking
• Snowboarding
• Snowmobiling – Snowmobile guide / Snowmobile trail map
• Snowshoeing – Snowshoe guide

The Selkirk Lodge serves as the center for winter activities while in Mt Spokane State Park. You can get more information here.

While a Discover Pass is required during summer months to access the park, you will need to purchase a Sno-Park permit to access the park. You may purchase these at the park office or online.

Wildlife of Mt Spokane State Park

In this part of the country, wildlife is no joke. You can and should be ready and expectant to run into many animals while you are in and around the park. While you shouldn’t let wildlife scare or ruin your visit, you absolutely need to respect the wildlife you can encounter in the area. And remember, never feed any wildlife.

• Bears – Both black and grizzly bears roam the area. But the black bear is by far the most common, and if you do run into one while on the trail, what you should expect. The best way to deal with a bear is to be aware of your surroundings and any recent sightings, as well as to be prepared with bear spray. For a more thorough rundown on how to handle a bear encounter, check here.
• Mountain Lions – Elusive and rare, you still may encounter them. The most common time to come across them is during the morning and evenings. Check here for how to handle a cougar encounter.
• Wolves – Chances are you will not see a wolf, but if you do, consider yourself exceptionally lucky. There have been a few remote sightings in recent years, but their small numbers and shy nature make it highly unlikely you’ll encounter one. Still, should you run into a pack, you should know how to handle the situation.
• Moose – While you may fear the previously mentioned animals, moose are the real bad boys of the wilderness here. If you see one, get away immediately. They’re big and aggressive and tend to enjoy their space. Make sure you know what to do if you encounter a moose.
• Bobcats – Much like a wolf, you’re not likely to encounter a bobcat. But, they do exist and their shy nature is likely to keep them away from you. They are also rather small, and will not see you as prey, and will run rather than attack. If you do see one, keep your distance and enjoy the rare sight. Know what to do if you come across one.
• Coyotes – Coyotes are mischievous and inquisitive animals. It’s unlikely they are after you, rather your trash or food you brought with you. However, if you have small animals or young children, keep them close if you spot a coyote. They generally are not a threat, but they aren’t afraid of humans either, so if they sense injury or they’re desperate, they may be a bit bolder. Learn about how to deal with a coyote encounter here.
• Mountain Goats – While they don’t generally wander around Mt Spokane, they still do occasionally find their way over. If you see one, give it ample distance – those horns can really hurt you if they decide you’re worth giving a head butt to. Be prepared.

You may also run into numerous smaller critters such as birds, raccoons, squirrels, and even the odd skunk or two. While they may look cute and friendly, always observe from a distance and don’t disturb them. You can get a Birding Brochure of the park here.

Before You Go

Mt Spokane State Park is on the edge of some serious backcountry and wilderness. Many trails may be busy with hikers, but that doesn’t mean that they aren’t still wild. Bears, mountain lions, wolves, moose, mountain goat, and other animals wander the wilderness and there are limited to no services throughout the region. You should not go on any trails without proper preparation.

*Note that we are members of the Amazon Affiliate program and that we receive tiny compensation at no cost to you for all valid purchases made through our site.

• Water Bottles – Collapsible Water Bottles – These are some of our favorite items to bring with us. They’re really light-weight and you can also roll them up so you can store them away easily. If there is one item that is most important to bring with you, it is water.
• Hiking Clothes – Make your clothes functional when you hit the trail. For him | For her
• Hiking Shoes – Wearing the right footwear will make sure that you have sure footing and dry feet, no matter where you step. For Him | For Her
• Headlamps – If you want to catch a sunrise from the peak, you’ll need to see – leave your hands free with these. Foxelli Headlamp Flashlight
• Trekking Poles – The trails are steep and slick at times and trekking poles help a lot. These are great because they support a lot of weight, and can collapse for easier carrying. Trekking Poles
• Water Filters – There are few things worse than getting lost and running out of water. These drinking straws allow you to drink straight from the source of almost any water and have a safe drink. LifeStraw Personal Water Filter
• First-aid Kit – You really need to be prepared for anything when hiking, which means you need to be prepared for injury. We don’t often get hurt, but we have. You never know what could happen so you should always carry a basic first aid kit to be able to patch up whatever may happen. First-Aid Kit
• Sun Screen – If you don’t cover up with clothes, then you should wear sunscreen. Higher altitudes expose you more to the sun, and the chill air can be misleading. TSA Approved Sunscreen
• Bug Repellant – Mosquito season is short, but they’re bad when they’re out. These wipes serve us well and they are small enough to fit in your carry-on! Off! Deep Woods Towelettes

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