Outdoor Activities Spokane has four seasons that accommodate a wide variety of outdoor activities. Any and all outdoor activities can be pursued here. These include hiking numerous local trails at the 10,000 acres of Riverside State Park or Mount Spokane State Park. The more adventuresome can make the short drive to the Canadian Rockies or the Cascade Mountains. The Spokane Mountaineers offer a stellar array of outdoor pursuits, training courses and lectures to entice everyone from weekend warriors and seasoned experts. The Mountaineers sponsor trips and activities including kayaking, rafting, rock climbing, snowshoeing, mountain biking and hiking. Parks Among the countless qualities that set Spokane apart as the gem of the Inland Northwest are its parks. The city and county operate approximately 75 parks. The city's showcase is Manito Park, noted for its 18th-century styled Duncan Gardens, Conservatory, Rose Gardens, and Japanese Gardens. Riverfront Park has over 50 acres of greenery, entertainment and community activities. Riverside State Park has over 10,000 acres of scenic beauty with camping, horseback riding and hiking trails available. Add this to 12 national parks within a day's drive and one finds that year-round enjoyment greets the resident and visitor. Water Sports Given the number of lakes and rivers in our area [over 80 lakes alone], it is not surprising that many avid enthusiasts are attracted to our region. For water skiers, wakeboarders, or boaters, the lakes are an easy getaway. For instance, nearby Lake Coeur d'Alene (30 minutes drive) and pristine alpine Priest Lake (two hour drive in northern ID) are destination resorts easily accessible to us. For fishermen, the renowned St. Joe River is close by. Cycling There is an active bicycling community here. Road- and mountain-biking enthusiasts are equally likely to find something to their liking. The Centennial Trail is 37 miles of paved trail along the Spokane River and the Hiawatha Trail (once a railroad) is 15 miles through 10 tunnels and seven high trestles. Golfing Spokane boasts a variety of high-quality public and private golf courses at reasonable rates; visit Northwest Golf Maps for more information. Spokane has some of the top-rated public golf courses in the country. Skiing World-class downhill skiing and snowboarding are available at a variety of locations, including: Schweitzer Mountain Silver Mountain 49 Degrees North (45 miles from Spokane) Mount Spokane (25 miles from Spokane) In addition, great Nordic skiing is an hour away at Mount Spokane or in the Methow Valley. Community Sports The first weekend in May, Spokane hosts its annual Bloomsday run. Bloomsday is the second-largest timed road race in America, with more 45,000 runners tackling the 7.5-mile course. Spokane is the home of Hoopfest, the world's largest 3-on-3 basketball tournament. For an entire weekend late each June, downtown streets are blocked off and basketball players of all ages, shapes, and sizes take over. SpokeFest, a new community event which occurs in September, was developed with the non-bicycle enthusiast in mind just as much as experienced cyclists. SpokeFest welcomes anyone interested in riding a bicycle and families going out on a group ride for the first time. |
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