Kick off winter at Mount Spokane, a ski and snowboard complex in one of Washington’s largest state parks. It includes a tow-rope tubing hill and 25 kilometers of Nordic ski trails that host the legendary Langlauf 10k Race each February.
Sixty miles north of Spokane, an equal number of groomed routes—skate and tracks—crisscross 49 Degrees North. The mountain resort welcomes people on snowshoes and fat tire bikes, not to mention leashed dogs after 2pm.
As the weather warms, hit the Spokane River Centennial Trail, a 37-mile paved path sweeping through the urban core to Nine Mile Falls. Or make a splash on the waterway itself, rafting past ponderosa pines with outfitters like Row Adventure Center. Plenty more aquatic adventures abound on the Spokane River, from kayaking and fishing to swimming and picnics on the shore. You can also head right to Lake Roosevelt to mix the Native and pioneer history of Fort Spokane into your beach-lounging time.
Classic day hikes include the 2.5-mile Big Rock, which unfurls views of crags to the north and south, and the 3.6-mile Saltese Uplands, home to bobcats and raptors. Not ready to hit the woods solo? Spokane Mountaineers offers introductory backpacking and mountaineering courses. To the north, tiny Metaline Falls provides easy access to more hikes and draws, like Gardner Cave in Crawford State Park, the third-largest limestone cave in the state.
Take things up a notch in Cheney at Trike School. Half-day courses introduce fliers to light sport aircraft, which can skim 45 miles per hour over shrubland. Or stay grounded with a phenomenal climbing route, like the 70-foot granite outcrop of Minnehaha Rocks or the canyon at Deep Creek.
During fall, pick pumpkins at Siemers Farms or help with cattle drives at the K-Diamond-K Guest Ranch, 123 miles northwest of Spokane in Republic. Whatever the season or sport, this region has plenty to explore.
