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All routes described in this guide are open for hikers, equestrians, pack stock, and cyclists. Please remember that in order to insure a high quality experience for everyone, users should observe the following trail courtesy guidelines:

All Trail Users 

• Don’t cut switchbacks. 
• Avoid muddy areas. 
• Leave no trace. 
• Be alert and courteous. 
• Pets on leashes at all times. 
• Protect stream quality. 
• No ORVs in the park!

Cyclists 

• Yield to livestock and hikers.
• Announce your presence when approaching others. 
• Step to downhill side for livestock to pass. 
• Maintain control. 
• Stay on trail.

Livestock 

• Stay on trail. 
• Maintain control of livestock. 
• Warning: Llamas must yield to horses!

Hikers 

• Yield and announce presence when approaching livestock. 
• Step to downhill side for livestock to pass. 
• Tread lightly off trail.

Primary Trail Heads (parking is available at each) 

1. Bear Creek Lodge. Trail 115 starts at the far end of the main parking lot, to the right of the lodge. Trail 120 starts on the other (south) side of the road downstream of the foot bridge. 
2. Park Entrance: Trails 110, 120a, and 120b start 1/4 mile up the road from the park entrance. 
3. Lower Loop Road: Trail 100 and the Kit Carson Loop Road can be accessed about 2 miles up the road from the entrance. 
4. Lower Parking Lot: Trails 100, 120, and 130 can be accessed from the lower parking lot at the junction with the summit road. 
5. Selkirk Lodge: The cross-country ski/bike trails can be accessed from the upper parking lot at the Selkirk Lodge. 
6. Cook’s Cabin: The upper Kit Carson Loop Road and Trail 135 can be accessed from the summit road near the site where Cook’s Cabin was built in 1912. (Only the lodge caretaker’s woodshed and stone latrine, built in 1933 by the Civilian Conservation Corps, remain.) 
7. Summit: Trail 135 can be accessed from the summit.

Short, Easier Routes 

1. Entrance Loop Trail (about 1.5 miles): Moderate. Start at the Park Entrance Trail Head and go up Trail 120b along a peaceful tributary of Deadman Creek. The trail is wide and fairly steep in places. Turn right onto Trail 120 for a short distance and then go back down to the starting point on Trail 120a. Trail 120 is part of the groomed snowmobile trail system, but the machines are not permitted on either 120a or 120b. Excellent snowshoeing route.

2. Burping Brook Loop (about 3 miles, with a shorter option): Easy. In 1939, the Spokane Chapter of the Conservation League raised $1500 to purchase the south half of Section 21 (where much of this trail now exists) to protect it from proposed logging. Start at the Lower Loop Road Trail Head. Go down the Loop Road a short distance and turn right on Trail 100. Turn left at the next junction and cross the first branch of Burping Brook. (Note: Instead of turning left, if you continue up the trail, past where Trail 100 turns right, you will come to a very pleasant, stream side dead end. Bikes and horses not permitted.) Pass two more trail junctions. At the third junction, either continue on Trail 100 or go left on one of the other two trails for a much shorter route down to the Loop Road. If this shorter option is taken, turn left on the Loop Road and return to the starting point. Otherwise continue on 100, crossing the third branch of Burping Brook and turn left on Trail 115 which drops down to cross the Loop Road at Smith Gap. Turn left on the Loop Road to return to the starting point. Excellent snowshoeing route.

3. Hay Ridge Loop (about 4.5 miles): Easy. Start at the Lower Loop Road Trail Head and take the Loop Road west to Smith Gap. Pass three beautiful stream crossings and 3 picnic tables. There is also a vault toilet and picnic table at Smith Gap. Continue on the Loop Road a short distance downhill and turn left on Trail 155. Follow 155 as it gradually winds its way back to the Loop Road. Do not confuse the main trail with the three other old logging roads which head left and uphill off Trail 155. These side trails all lead to the high point of Hay Ridge. Trail 155 is part of the groomed snowmobile route and passes a road to the right which goes through private land down to Bear Creek Lodge. On the east side of Hay Ridge, the trail becomes Trail 115 where it junctions the single track trail going downhill to the right to Bear Creek Lodge. Continue north to the Loop Road and turn right to return to the starting point.

4. Mt. Kit Carson (about 4 miles round trip): Moderate. Park at the Cook’s Cabin Trail Head. Go north up Trail 135a (to the right of the Loop Road gate) and pass the foundation of the original ski lodge. Follow the single track trail which continues straight where the old road switches back. After a short distance the trail joins Trail 135. Turn left and go downhill. Take 135 to its end at the Kit Carson Loop Road saddle junction where there is a vault toilet. Cross the Loop Road and follow Trail 170 to the summit of Mt. Kit Carson. Since the direct route is temporarily closed, follow Trail 170/130 and then 130 to the right. Follow 130 to the junction with the north end of Trail 170 and turn left to continue up to the rocky summit, which affords an excellent view to the west. Either return to the starting point the same way or return by following the Loop Road all the way back, passing the CCC camp area on your right.

5. Day Mountain Loop (about 5 miles round trip): Easy. Start as in route #4 on Trail 135, but instead of taking Trail 170, follow Trail 130 (past its two junctions with Trail 170) all the way out to the rocky open meadows of Day Mountain. Upon reaching the largest rocky area at what appears to be the end of the path, look north (right) into the trees for the continuation of the trail. Follow the switchbacks down to the Kit Carson Loop Road, turn right, pass the continuation of Trail 130 on the left, and take the Loop Road back to the starting point.

6. Mt. Kit Carson Loop Road (about 7 miles one way): Easy. Check with the rangers to be sure the summit road is open. Park a car at the Lower Loop Road Trail Head to use as a shuttle, and drive a second car to the Cook’s Cabin Trail Head. The Loop Road was closed to all but authorized vehicles in 1995. It runs generally downhill passing the CCC camp, around the base of both Day Mountain and Mt. Kit Carson, and crosses a logged area owned by Boise Cascade. It also passes a gated connector road leading down to the Blanchard Creek Road, and further south it passes the Day Mountain Road (2.7 miles to park boundary gate). After a short climb over Smith Gap (where there is a toilet and picnic table), it descends through a beautiful old growth cedar-hemlock forest to the lower trail head. There are several stream side picnic tables along the route.

More Difficult, Longer Routes 

7. Beauty Mountain Loop (about 5 ½ miles): Moderate. Start at the Lower Parking Lot Trail Head. Go up Trail 130a (just to the right of the summit road intersection), pass the equipment shed, and turn right at the next trail. Trail 130a then forks to the left after a short distance. Continue uphill on 130a until you reach a much wider trail (the B-29 alpine ski run) and turn left. Walk up hill and cross a small stream and turn left again. Follow this narrower trail up to the Bald Knob picnic area. Walk up towards the campground and cross the paved road for the continuation of Trail 130. Follow this nearly flat trail out to Beauty Mountain. At the next junction, turn left and go out onto the Loop Road (or go straight to stop at the CCC area). Turn left and proceed down the Loop Road to the saddle junction, where there is a vault toilet. Turn left onto Trail 110 and descend to the junction with Trail 100. Turn left and stay on Trail 100 past the next junction and a creek crossing. Turn left after the creek crossing and then right at the next junction (single track). Stay on Trail 100, back uphill, until you reach the parking lot.

8. Burping Brook NFA Loop (about 5.25 miles): Moderate. This loop completely encircles the Burping Brook Natural Forest Area which includes some of the largest cedar and hemlock trees in the park. Start at the Park Entrance Trail Head and climb up Trail 110 to the Kit Carson Loop Road. Turn left and take the Loop Road to Smith Gap and turn left on Trail 115. Proceed south, downhill and turn left at the 115/155 junction where Trail 115 becomes a single track trail. Follow 115 down along the park boundary to a dirt road and turn left. Go through the Bear Creek Lodge parking area and turn left on State Road 206 and go 1/4 mile on the paved road back to the starting point. Be alert for car traffic!

9. Deadman Creek Loop (about 6 miles): Difficult. Start at the Park Entrance Trail Head and go up Trail 120b along one of the tributaries of Deadman Creek. Turn left on Trail 120 and climb along the west side of Linder Ridge. Cross several other branches of Deadman Creek and reach the lower parking lot after about 2 miles of often steep travel. Notice the high stumps with the springboard notches scattered along the edges of the trail. These logs were most likely used to re-build Spokane after the devastating fire of 1889. Turn left at the parking lot and cross the paved road to pick up Trail 100. Follow Trail 100 as it meanders back down across two more branches of Deadman Creek and eventually to its first crossing of Burping Brook. At this junction, one can either go left down to the Loop Road and turn right to Trail 110, or go right across the stream and then turn left down Trail 110 to the Loop Road. In either case, cross the Loop Road and head down Trail 110 back to the starting point.

10. Summit Loop (about 4 miles): Moderately difficult. Start at the Cook’s Cabin Trail Head. Go up Trail 135a (to the right of the Loop Road gate) past the old foundation of the original ski lodge which burned down in 1952. Follow the single track trail which continues straight where the old road switches back into the foundation site. After a short distance the trail joins Trail 135. Turn right up Trail 135. Climb steeply to the summit of Mt. Spokane and enjoy the view of three states. To make a loop, follow the paved road back down to the starting point. Be alert for car traffic.

11. ‘Round the Mountain Trail (about 13 miles): Difficult. Start at the Lower Parking Lot Trail Head and take Trail 130a from the crossroads up past the equipment shed and turn right at the next junction. Pass a trail to the left and continue on 130b until it joins a road coming down from the left (the B-29 alpine ski run). Follow this narrow run downhill a short distance, and then contour around the bottom of two other runs. At the edge of a grove of trees on the left, proceed slightly uphill, crossing another large, open run. Follow the trail, slightly uphill, through the trees. Then cross another run and go under chair lift #1, again a little uphill, to another narrow run (Rulon Run). Follow this run downhill through the trees and out under chair lift #2. Follow the road as it switchbacks down the slope, goes under the short chair lift (#5) and turns right down to the bottom of the ski area. Once at the bottom, turn left and go under chair lift #3. Just uphill from the base of chair 3, Trail 130 continues up through the woods. Follow 130 up to a saddle and the junction with Trail 150 (which goes back to the condos). Continue straight north as the trail gradually descends and passes the gated Axford Road and then a short road that leads to the base of chair lift #4. From here, the trail gradually climbs through old growth forests to join the Kit Carson Loop Road. At the Loop Road, turn right and quickly find the single track Trail 130 heading uphill to Day Mountain. (Note, cyclists should turn left on the Loop Road since the Day Mountain trail is temporarily closed to bikes.) Once to the subalpine meadows of Day Mountain, the trail may be hard to find. Go out toward the rocks and turn left, following the meadows to the high point. The trail then descends to cross a small saddle and continues up, on a nearly level course, along the northeast flank of Mt. Kit Carson. At the junction with Trail 170, turn left and go downhill to the saddle junction where there is a vault toilet. Then follow the Loop Road uphill (east), around the switchback, and to the single track Trail 130 coming down from the right. Turn right here and right again to follow Trail 130 to Bald Knob Campground. Cross the paved road and continue down toward the picnic shelter. Trail 130 heads down through the trees to rejoin the B-29 ski run. Turn right on the ski run and then right again onto a single track trail (130a). Descend to the next junction and turn right. Turn left just before the paved road, where you came up before on 130a to return to the starting point.

12. Quartz Mountain (about 6 miles round trip): Moderate. Start at the Selkirk Lodge Trail Head and go out the Mountain View cross country ski trail to Junction 1. Follow the Alpine Trail to Junction 2 and the Lodgepole Trail to Junction 3. The NOVA Hut is just past Junction 3 to the right. Go straight past the NOVA Hut, continuing on the old Quartz Mountain Road. Soon the road will steepen as it climbs to the area where quartz was mined. At this first bench, follow the road as it continues left and uphill. Immediately turn right again at the next junction. This trail gradually winds its way all the way around the mountain (past a side trail to Horse Mountain) to the exposed 5120' summit where climbers are rewarded with one of the best views of the park. Either return the same way or follow a different combination of Quartz Mountain trails and ski trails.

13. Base to Summit (about 5 miles one way): Difficult. From the Park Entrance Trail Head, follow Trails 110 and 135 to the summit of Mt. Spokane. Total elevation gain is 2,643 feet. Watch for cyclists coming down.

14. Three Rocks Loop (about 7 miles): Moderately difficult and mostly DNR land. Drive Tallman Road to the Blanchard Creek Road (county maintained) to the pass on the line between Section 7 and Section 8 in the NW corner of the park. (Note that the gated road going right heads up to the Kit Carson Loop Road.) Continue on the Blanchard Creek Road through the logged area for another 1.6 miles. You will pass through a short section of old growth cedars and then go through another logged area. At the park boundary (watch for virgin forest and No Hunting signs) an old road heads north. Park here and travel along a gentle, north-south ridge. Pass the northern most park boundary and enter DNR land. Continue north, passing a couple of trails to the right and the return trail on the left. Cross the saddle and begin to head NW towards an open ridge with three unusually large rock formations and an excellent view of the park’s heavily forested north side. Continue in a southwesterly direction, downhill, past the rocks and past a couple of trails to the right, until reaching Deer Creek. Turn left, heading upstream on this trail. Cross Deer Creek in less than half a mile. At the point where Deer Creek divides and the trail begins to turn south, turn left onto a narrower side trail which immediately crosses the creek. Follow this trail west and gradually uphill, past another trail (which goes left back up to Three Rocks). The trail climbs higher and becomes a logging road which rejoins the ridge road. Turn right on the ridge road to return to the starting point.