Mount Spokane State Park

Mount Spokane State Park is a public recreation area located in the Selkirk Mountains, 23 miles (37 km) northeast of the city of Spokane, Washington. The state park surrounds 5,883-foot (1,793 m) Mount Spokane and other peaks including Mount Kit Carson,[2] Beauty Mountain,[3] and Quartz Mountain.[4] The park receives 300 inches (7.6 m) of snow annually and is home to Mount Spokane Ski and Snowboard Park as well as an extensive system of trails for hiking, biking, and horseback riding. As of 2018, Washington State Parks reported its acreage as 12,293 acres (4,975 ha),[5] making it Washington's largest state park, slightly ahead of Riverside State Park (11,162 acres (4,517 ha)) which lies 23 miles to the southwest.

Mount Spokane State Park
Caretaker's cabin designed by
E.O. Fieldstad and built by Elmer Highberg
Location in the state of Washington
LocationSpokane, Washington, United States
Coordinates47°55′31″N 117°06′59″W[1]
Area12,293 acres (49.75 km2)
Elevation5,548 ft (1,691 m)[1]
Established1927
OperatorWashington State Parks and Recreation Commission
WebsiteMount Spokane State Park

History

The park was dedicated with 1500 acres in 1927.[6] During the 1930s, workers with the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) planted grass, constructed picnicking and parking areas, constructed trails and shelters, and improved roads.[7]

Vista House

Vista House was designed by architect, H. C. Bertelsen, as was the caretaker's cabin, although an earlier design for Vista House had been prepared by state park architect Charles Saunders. The caretaker's cabin was built by Elmer Highberg.[8] Some sources state that Vista House was built by the CCC.[7][9][10] However, according to the State of Washington's Cultural Resources Management Plan (2009), a local contractor, E.O. Fieldstad, won the contract with a "low bid of $4,693," and built Vista House. The publication states: "Its existence near the site of the Mount Spokane CCC camp may have contributed to the present impression held by many that the Vista House was constructed by the CCC."[8]

Activities and amenities

The park has 100 miles (160 km) of trails for hiking, biking, and horseback riding. Trails range from easy (the 3-mile (4.8 km) Burping Brook Loop) to difficult (the 13-mile (21 km) ‘Round the Mountain Trail).[11] Winter activities include downhill and cross-country skiing, snowmobiling and snowshoeing. Camping and picnicking are also available.[5] Bald Knob campground is generally open from May to September.[12] There are 7 primary trail-heads to park at from Bear Creek Lodge right before the entrance of the park to the summit parking and vista house. During the winter a Sno-park permit is required at both the Lower Selkirk Sno-Park Parking Lot and the Upper Selkirk Lodge Sno-Park Parking Lot.[11]

Rules of the Park

For vehicles to enter the park a Discover Pass is required. The exceptions to this regulation include the following: when camping or renting accommodations, being registered as a disabled veteran or state park pass holder, and having a disabled parking permit registered by the state.[13] The park is a participant of the pack-it-in/pack-it-out program, therefore all visitors are required to pack out whatever was brought in with them. Horses are only allowed in designated areas and all other pets are required to be on a leash. The feeding and/or harm of any wildlife is prohibited.[14]

References
  1. "Mount Spokane State Park". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey.
  2. "Mount Kit Carson". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey.
  3. "Beauty Mountain". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey.
  4. "Quartz Mountain". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey.
  5. "Mount Spokane State Park". Washington State Parks and Recreation Commission. Retrieved February 12, 2016.
  6. "Brief History of Mt. Spokane State Park". Friends of Mt. Spokane State Park. Retrieved February 13, 2015.
  7. Arksey, Laura (August 2, 2006). "Mount Spokane State Park". The Online Encyclopedia of Washington State History. HistoryLink. Retrieved February 13, 2015.
  8. McMurry, Alex; Luttrell, Charles (July 2009). "Cultural Resources Management Plan: Mount Spokane State Park" (PDF). Washington State Parks Historic Preservation Program. pp. 11, 52.
  9. Dorpat, Paul; Sherrard, Jean (2007). Washington Then & Now. Westcliffe Publishers. p. 127. ISBN 978-1-56579-547-1.
  10. Becker, Duane (2012). Mount Spokane. Images of America. Charleston, S.C.: Arcadia Publishing. p. 89. ISBN 978-0-7385-9543-6.
  11. "Mt. Spokane State Park Trail Guide" (PDF). Friends of Mt. Spokane State Park. April 2013. Retrieved February 13, 2015.
  12. "Mt. Spokane State Park : Mt. Spokane". Retrieved 2019-10-04.
  13. "Discover Pass | Washington State Parks and Recreation Commission". parks.state.wa.us. Retrieved 2019-09-20.
  14. "Rules & regulations | Washington State Parks and Recreation Commission". parks.state.wa.us. Retrieved 2019-09-20.
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