Antoine Peak Conservation Area - Arrowleaf Trail

The Antoine Peak Conservation area is one of the largest in the county at almost 1,300 acres and offers miles of trails and delightful views in all directions.

In 2019 Spokane County Parks and Recreation expanded the conservation area and added a third trailhead, The Trentwood Trailhead, to access the network of trails found north of Trent Ave in the Spokane Valley. The Trentwood trailhead at Antoine Peak is located at 17711 E Wellesley Ave and provides great connectivity to old and new trails.

The trail leaving north out of the Trentwood Trailhead is the Arrowleaf Trail. Arrowleaf begins by crossing a retired pasture before ascending up the eastern side of the Etter Ranch property.

Arrowleaf balsamroot flowers dot the forest floor as hikers ascend through ponderosa pines on a series of switchbacks. At the one-mile mark Arrowleaf connects to the Lost Apple Trail. By turning left and taking the Lost Apple trail, users will find themselves crossing a meadow and looping back towards the trailhead.

If hikers continue to ascend up the eastern ridge on Arrowleaf they will cross underneath two sets of power lines offering views to the east and west before connecting into the Emerald Necklace at 2,925 feet.

The Emerald Necklace is a loop trail that circles the entirety of Antoine Peak at around an elevation of 2,800 to 3,200 feet. Most trail users turn west on the Emerald Necklace after ascending Arrowleaf and travel just under a mile west on the Emerald Necklace before taking the newest trail at Etter Ranch, Arrowleaf West, back down towards the trailhead.

The entire loop from the Trentwood Trailhead up Arrowleaf, across a portion of the Emerald Necklace, and then returning on Arrowleaf West is a 5.4 mile loop boasting just over 900 feet of elevation gain. Those who wish to lengthen this loop could choose to incorporate the complete Emerald Necklace trail and complete a 7.5 mile hike.

The Etter Ranch addition to the Antoine Peak conservation area allows for more south facing trails where snow melts quickly in the winter months and the spring sunshine nourishes fields of namesake Arrowleaf Balsamroot flowers.