Guided by Park staff and volunteers from the Friends of Mt. Spokane, participants will snowshoe past the Bald Knob Picnic Shelter to the historic Vista House located at 5,833 feet – the highest point of Mt. Spokane. If weather permits, participants will have views of the Cabinet Mountains in Montana, Selkirk Crest in North Idaho, and nearby lakes. Snacks will be provided at the trailhead. Participants can also purchase hot drinks and snacks at the Vista House.
The hike will be led by park staff and will follow Twanoh Creek before climbing up to a forested ridgetop. It then follows a service road along the ridge before descending back to end along the creek. For those interested, multiple geocaches have been placed along or near the trail
Join the Interpretive Specialist, Meredith Peterson, and other park staff for a walk out to Cranberry Lake to get out and get moving on the first day of the year. This gentle trail leads you through the forest to a marsh ecosystem, where there is an active beaver lodge and signs of their activity along the way. Enjoy hot drinks and snacks at the drop off shelter before the hike begins.
Join Ranger Ryan Reynolds at 9 AM for a Ranger guided interpretive hike around Battle Ground Lake. This hike will include information about the park's history, flora and fauna and what exactly makes this park special.
This hike will take place on the upper lake trail, which is an easy to moderate trail with a few elevation changes of up to 50 ft. The trail stretches about a mile and has overarching views of Battle Ground Lake and many pine and cedar trees along the way. A volunteer will stay staffed at the interpretive shelter with touch table interpretive items, kids' activity pages and snacks.
Join Park Staff and volunteers from the Riverside State Park Foundation for a 1.6-mile hike through the Trautman Conservation Area. This route uses the newly completed trail system in the Trautman area and provides wildlife viewing opportunities. Snacks will be provided at the trailhead.
This hike will be an interpretive showcase of some of the park’s more overlooked features. The 1.1 mile loop starts at the park’s new amphitheater and is composed of a combination of the Middle Loop Trail, the Upper Loop Trail and Interpretive Loop Trail. The theme of the hike will be Kopachuck’s Trees. Topics discussed will be Kopachuck’s tree history and how visitors of the park can affect the trees both negatively and positively. The hike will have a brief ascent in the beginning but most of the hike will be steady and downhill.
SEEK out the special birds on the Wetland Haven Trail. Guaranteed to FIND and learn about some of the regulars. Accessible, flat ½-mile trail open to First Day Hikers of all ages. Bring binoculars if you have them. Snacks and hot drinks available. Led by Ranger Robyn.
Park staff and volunteers from the Friends of Mt. Spokane will lead this 2.6-mile snowshoe hike to the Smith Gap warming hut. Along the way, participants will traverse through a beautiful old-growth cedar-hemlock forest and pass several stream crossings. Snacks will be provided at the trailhead.
Coulee Corridor First Day Hike
A short, guided hike led by Interpretive Specialists David McWalter and Sarah Overby. This walk near the waters of Banks Lake will focus on highlighting the complex natural history and beauty of the land, the perfect walk to reflect on how the land has changed and the year gone by.
Meet at Cabin #3 in the Bay loop of Steamboat Rock State Park. Cabin #3 will be open and available to sit inside and warm up with a delicious drink and snack.
Maple Valley and Steam Donkey Loop
Start the new year by exploring our great Olympic Peninsula over at Dosewallips State Park! This 2.5-mile, ranger-guided hike will take you back into our 2nd growth forests. Learn about the logging history of this area, including where the Steam Donkey Trial got its name, all while being introduced to the plants and animals that now call this park home. If we’re lucky, we may even be joined by the local elk!
