Columbia Plateau Trail Cheney/Spangle trail head to 363 11/13/17

A little wet but otherwise a super day for a walk. This stretch of the Columbia Plateau Trail from Cheney/Spangle Trailhead to mile post 363 is a little about 2 1/4 miles so about 4 1/2 round trip. This is one of my favorite sections with a stream on either side, cattails, birds and other wildlife. a couple of trickling and heaver run waterfalls make a wonderful tinking noise to add to the enjoyment. There is another big waterfall that is dry until winter

melt or heavier rains.  The trail is nice and even, great for families, beginners and seasoned travelers alike.

Qualchan Ridge S of Hatch at Highland Park dr 11/12/2017

Hadn't been on this trail which runs off of Hatch Road just about 1/2 mile before it reaches 195. I parked on Highland Park and walked across Hatch to access it. It runs along the bottom of the housing development and back into the forest, around the back side of the ravine and then back around and down into the ravine. Not terribly interesting views but nice quiet forest scenery. The trail is challenging in places with some steep up and down but well traveled so pretty good surface. 2 3/4-3 roundtrip depending on how you go.

Dishman Hills Natural Area Trails 11/09/2017

This group of trails is accessed off of Sargent and Appleway in the valley. There are a number of interlocking trails that run over the rocks and hills of the area. The trails can be very steep and challenging but there are some that aren't quite as steep. I like it for the great cardio from going up the rocks at a good clip. Alot of people with dogs bring them to wander with them. The scenery isn't really eye popping but rugged. Saw a couple of deer today that I kept runnning back into. The trails can get confusing and you you have to be careful and not get turned around and lost. One thing I have found helpful when wandering around is that you can hear the traffic on Sprague and the music blaring from the car dealership so can gauge which direction North and the parking lot is.

Fish Lake Trail, Scribner to end of trail 11/08/2017

Quiet time of year for the trails. Pretty much just ducks and geese out. People like to build stone sculptures along the trail near Queen Lucas Lake which are always fun to see. Trains are always buzzing along on the lines on one side or the other. The trail comes to an end short of Fish Lake and if you want to continue on you have to go back and out at Scribner and go along Cheney-Spokane Road to actually make it to Fish Lake. Nice quiet, reflective time spent goin along. This section is about 1 3/4 mile so around 3 1/2 miles or so round trip.

Centennial Trail from Kendall Yards to Boone/Summit

Another short mileage day, short on time, but I'd rather get some than none. This section of the trail is usually very busy but was pretty quiet yesterday. The views to the river are gorgeous and the trail is easy going. I tend to like to go one way on the trail and then take Summit drive on the way back for a change of scenery.

Fish Lake Trail Head mile 0-2+ 11/5/2017

The Trail Head off of Sunset is mile 0, it runs along an old railroad bed to the west of 195, the Pullman-Colfax highway. Mile 2 come just short of where it intersects with the old Marshall Road. Not much happening on the trail today. You could see tracks in the new snow where people had been, walkers, runners and even some bike tracks but no one braving the newly coming down snow as I was going along. With a little more snow this stretch of trail will be full of cross country skiers and snowshoers. Just as I was leaving a person with their bicycle on the back of their car drove in and sat, trying to talk themselves into go out into the elements I'm sure. It has some inclines but the trail is a reasonably easy go. Got my feet and the rest of me pretty wet from the snow coming down and the slushy snow underfoot but really not a bad day. It wasn't terribly cold and the wind wasn't blowing.Nice scenery and quite often wildlife sightings.

Columbia Plateau Trail Fish lake trailhead

I will be back to real time posts here at the start of the week. For the day please enjoy some picks taken at the Fish Lake trailhead of the Columbia Plateau trail on 9/6/2017. This was on a day when the smoke was so bad, but the going on the trail was still nice. This is one of the most beautiful sections of trail around for sure. Easy access and going. They do want you to have a Discovery Pass or pay for parking at the trail head but parking along Cheney-Spokane in the Fish Lake lot is free and an easy walk down the road to access the trail.