Mount Spokane State Park

Mount Spokane State Park
Washington State Park
Caretaker's cabin designed by
E.O. Fieldstad and built by Elmer Highberg
Country United States
State Washington
County Spokane
Elevation 5,548 ft (1,691 m) [1]
Coordinates 47°55′31″N 117°06′59″W / 47.92528°N 117.11639°W / 47.92528; -117.11639Coordinates: 47°55′31″N 117°06′59″W / 47.92528°N 117.11639°W / 47.92528; -117.11639 [1]
Highest point Mount Spokane
 - elevation 5,883 ft (1,793 m)
 - coordinates 47°55′17″N 117°06′51″W / 47.92139°N 117.11417°W / 47.92139; -117.11417 [2]
Area 13,919 acres (5,633 ha)
Established 1927 [3]
Management Washington State Parks and Recreation Commission
Location in the state of Washington
Website: Mount Spokane State Park

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.[4]

History

The park was dedicated with 1500 acres in 1927. During the 1930s, park roads were built by the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC).[5] 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.[6] Some sources state that Vista House was built by the CCC.[5][7][8] 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."[6]

By 1993, the park had grown to 13,643 acres.[3] 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 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).[9] Winter activities include downhill and cross-country skiing, snowmobiling and snowshoeing. Camping and picnicking are also available.[4]

References

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