| Mount Spokane State Park | |
| Map: | USA#Washington |
| Relief: | 1 |
| Location: | Spokane, Washington, U.S. |
| Coordinates: | 47.9253°N -117.1164°W |
| Area Acre: | 12,293 |
| Elevation Max: | 5548feet |
| Operator: | Washington State Parks and Recreation Commission |
| Website: | Mount Spokane State Park |
Mount Spokane State Park is a public recreation area in the northwest United States,[1] located in the Selkirk Mountains, northeast of the city of Spokane, Washington. The state park surrounds 5883feet Mount Spokane and other peaks including Mount Kit Carson, Beauty Mountain, and Quartz Mountain.
The park receives 300inches of snow annually and is home to Mount Spokane Ski and Snowboard Park as well as an extensive system of trails for hiking, biking, and horseback riding. As of 2018, Washington State Parks reported its acreage as 12293acres,[2] making it Washington's largest state park, slightly ahead of Riverside State Park (11162acres) which lies 23 miles to the southwest.
The park was dedicated with 1500 acres in 1927.[3] During the 1930s, workers with the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) planted grass, constructed picnicking and parking areas, constructed trails and shelters, and improved roads.[4]
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.[5] Some sources state that Vista House was built by the CCC.[4] [6] [7] 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."[5]
| 1909 | Frances Cook, owner of the summit, builds a toll road to within 3miles of the summit. | |
| 1927 | Mt. Spokane State Park is officially dedicated at 1500acres. | |
| 1929 | William H. Cowles, Jr. donates 640acres of land to the park. | |
| 1930s | The Spokane Ski Club, the Selkirk Ski Club, and the Spokane Mountaineers purchase over 500acres on the mountain for construction of lodges, rope-tows, and ski jump hills. The road is completed to the summit. | |
| 1932 | A "monster" sized Sun Globe was erected at the top of the mountain on June 26 by the Spokane Federation of Women's Organizations. Its purpose was to reflect the sun's rays for many miles in a tribute to fatherhood, as well as being a permanent memorial to the people of Spokane as being children of the sun. A dedication ceremony took place and Mrs. J. B. Dodd, the originator of Father's Day, unveiled the globe. As of 2011, the Sun Globe and its base are absent, and it is not known how long it stayed in place.[8] [9] [10] [11] | |
| 1933 | Vista House is built by local contractor E.O.Fieldstad | |
| 1935 | CCC sets up camp on Beauty Mountain to improve the road and construct other facilities. | |
| 1939 | The Spokane Chapter of the Conservation League buys 320acres for the park for $1,500 (south half of Section 21) to save virgin timber from logging and fire. | |
| 1946 | The first double chairlift in the world is put into operation on the south face of the summit. | |
| 1952 | A master plan is proposed for the park which includes over 24000acres and designates all of Mt. Spokane proper for downhill ski purposes. This proposal is not implemented. | |
| 1953 | KXLY-TV becomes operational from the summit. | |
| 1955 | Lodge #1 and Chairlift #1 are constructed. | |
| 1961 | Concessionaire A.E.Mettler constructs Lodge #2 and Lift #2 | |
| 1965 | Another master plan is developed by State Parks to include 11592acres of land, 958acres of which were allocated for general outdoor recreation with the remainder to be administered as a natural environment area. This plan is not adopted by the Parks Commission. | |
| 1974 | Mt. Spokane Park's official classification is changed from recreation area to state park and a new philosophy is applied: State Parks are to continuously service man’s spiritual, mental, and leisure time physical needs through the use of selected outstanding natural resources. This is to be accomplished by providing a full range of non-urban outdoor educational and recreational services and opportunities to a wide range of users with diversified interests and needs. | |
| 1978 | A coordinated trail system plan is developed to, among other things, reduce conflicting recreational uses by specific allocation of park lands to user groups. The plan quickly became out of date and was never fully implemented. | |
| 1985 | The Parks Commission formally designates the Ragged Ridge Natural Area within Mt. Spokane State Park. | |
| 1993 | The Park contains about 13643acres of land, not including Quartz Mountain. Most of this land was donated or obtained during the Great Depression through property forfeitures. The Mt. Spokane State Park Alpine Ski Area Working Group Interface Subcommittee issues a report concerning the future of the Park. Among other things, it recommends a comprehensive planning process. | |
| 1994 | State Parks proposes to classify areas of the Park as Natural Forest Areas. Several alternatives are proposed. The Mt. Spokane Planning Task Force Steering Committee is formed and issues its report. The group recommends a comprehensive planning process as well as the formation of a permanent, local Park advisory committee. | |
| 1995 | Mt. Spokane State Park Advisory Committee appointed by Parks Commission begins monthly meetings in Spokane. Friends of Mt. Spokane State Park also formed. | |
| 1997 | Mt. Spokane 2000, a non-profit group of local businesses and civic leaders, is approved as the new concessionaire for the alpine ski area to replace the Mt. Spokane Ski Corporation which operated the area for 20 years. | |
| 1999 | A Classification and Management Plan (CAMP) process is started for the Park. New land classifications approved including about 10% as Recreation Area, about 58% as Resource Recreation Area, less than 1% as Heritage Area, about 22% as Natural Forest Area, about 4% as Natural Area Preserve, and about 5% as yet unclassified pending completion of the Ski Area Plan and further Commission consideration. |
The park has of trails for hiking, biking, and horseback riding. Trails range from easy (the 3miles Burping Brook Loop) to difficult (the 13miles ‘Round the Mountain Trail).[12] Winter activities include downhill and cross-country skiing, snowmobiling and snowshoeing. Camping and picnicking are also available.[2] Bald Knob campground is generally open from May to September.[13] There are 7 primary trail-heads to park at from Bear Creek Lodge right before the entrance of the park to the summit parking and vista house. During the winter a Sno-park permit is required at both the Lower Selkirk Sno-Park Parking Lot and the Upper Selkirk Lodge Sno-Park Parking Lot.[12]
For vehicles to enter the park a Discover Pass is required. The exceptions to this regulation include the following: when camping or renting accommodations, being registered as a disabled veteran or state park pass holder, and having a disabled parking permit registered by the state.[14] The park is a participant of the pack-it-in/pack-it-out program, therefore all visitors are required to pack out whatever was brought in with them. Horses are only allowed in designated areas and all other pets are required to be on a leash. The feeding and/or harm of any wildlife is prohibited.[15]