- elevation 5,883 ft (1,793 m) Phone +1 509-238-4258 | Area 56.33 km² | |
 | ||
Address 26107 N Mt Spokane Park Dr, Mead, WA 99021, USA | ||
Mount Spokane State Park is a 13,919-acre (5,633 ha) Washington state park located 26 miles (42 km) northeast of the city of Spokane in the Selkirk Mountains. The park surrounds 5,883-foot (1,793 m) Mount Spokane as well as other peaks including 5,282-foot (1,610 m) Mount Kit Carson, Beauty Mountain, and Quartz Mountain. The park receives 300 inches (7.6 m) of snow annually and is home to Mount Spokane Ski and Snowboard Park and an extensive system of trails for hiking, biking, and horseback riding.
Contents
HistoryEdit
The park was dedicated with 1500 acres in 1927. During the 1930s, park roads were built by the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC). 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. Some sources state that Vista House was built by the CCC. 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."
By 1993, the park had grown to 13,643 acres. As of 2015, Washington State Parks reported the park's acreage as 13,919, making it Washington's second largest park, slightly behind Riverside State Park at 14,000 acres.
Activities and amenitiesEdit
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). Winter activities include downhill and cross-country skiing, snowmobiling and snowshoeing. Camping and picnicking are also available.