Mount Spokane State Park - Trail 110, Mount Spokane - Trail 110/140 Loop & Mount Spokane State Park - Mount Kit Carson Trail — Tuesday, Aug. 6, 2013

Eastern Washington > Spokane Area/Coeur d'Alene

I can't believe that no one has done a trip report that includes trail 140! Unfortunately, I did this as a trailrun and I didn't take my camera with me. Take my word for it--it's pretty. The recommended route for this loop is to start at the switchback parking lot at the Lower Mt. Kit Carson Loop Road trailhead (Discover Pass required; SnoPark permit required in the winter). Take trail 110 uphill by taking the very first trail on the right after the gate. This is one of the weird trail segments that is both part of trail 110 and part of trail 100. Turn left at the next junction and cross the creek on the brand-new WTA-built bridge (see last week's trip report for a picture of it!). At the next intersection bear right to remain on trail 110 (you'll be able to see the second brand-new bridge from the intersection, but it's on trail 100). From here it's a long uphill with three big switchbacks to get to Saddle Junction where trail 110 meets the Upper Mt. Kit Carson Loop Road. The trail is uphill beyond the outhouse--here you're on both trail 140 and trail 160 for a short time, but after less than 1/4 mile trail 140 breaks off to the left while trail 160 continues to climb to Mt. Kit Carson (an excellent sidetrip option if you're after a scenic view). Trail 140 comes out into lower Mt. Kit Carson meadows briefly before making a left and plunging back into the woods (note: this segment of trail is due to be rerouted, possibly before the end of the summer. The reroute will bypass the meadows and remain entirely in the woods beyond Saddle Junction). Now the trail descends through a series of twists, turns, and switchbacks, depositing runners/hikers at Smith Gap (picnic table and outhouse). Watch for huckleberries if you visit within the next two weeks. Also note that trail 140 is the main downhill mountain bike route on the mountain; bikes should yield to hikers (and everyone should yield to equestrians), but be sure to listen for approaching downhillers on this section of the trail. From Smith Gap, complete the loop by following the Mt. Kit Carson Loop Road downhill to the trailhead. To print the best maps of this and other trails on Mount Spokane, see the Friends of Mount Spokane website at http://www.mountspokane.org/