Horseback Riding Adventures Await You
Equestrian Rides on Public Lands within 50 Miles of Spokane
Please Note! We share the trails with other users (horsemen, hikers and bicyclists). As responsible horsemen, please pick up ALL your manure, hay and trash and take it home. If we do our part we will all be able to continue to use these wonderful trails – please, Leave No Trace.
1. Columbia Plateau Trail State Park: Location: west of Spokane. Directions/Parking: I90 west, take the Cheney/Tyler Exit into Cheney. Left on Cheney /Spangle Road; trailhead and parking 1 mile on left just over railbed/bridge. Description: ride through pine forest shrub-steppe on crushed rock trail surface on railbed west from trailhead through Turnbull National Wildlife Refuge to Martin Road (beyond Martin Road not open to horses). Difficulty: easy, flat ride. Duration: approx. 19.25 miles one-way. Additional trailheads at Amber Lake and Martin Road.
2. Fishtrap Recreation Area: Location: southwest of Spokane. Directions/Parking: I90 west to Fishtrap Exit 254, about 35 miles west of downtown Spokane. Turn left (south) on Old State Highway; approx. 1 ¾ miles to Fish trap BLM sign where you turn left to Ranch House. Park in turnout at Old Ranch house just before going over cattle guard. Entrance to trails is south along fence. Or can turn left at resort sign before BLM sign and park approx. 1 mile on right. Description: Pine forest, shrub-steppe and Palouse grasslands around Fish trap Lake – cliffs, coulees, ponds, meadows on approx. 7,000 acres. Notes: Rattlesnakes in summer. There are gates to go thru –leave as found, tho most are closed. Stay on trail. Hunting in fall. Difficulty: a few steep hills, some rocks. Moderately easy. Duration: Many hours and miles.
3. Heyburn State Park, ID: Location: southeast of Spokane about 35 miles. Directions/Parking: I90 east to Pines Exit; south on Pines - becomes HWY 27; left at Rockford; right on Main Street to HWY 95; right on HWY 95; left on HWY 5 at Plummer; follow signs to Heyburn State Park, about 5 miles. Equestrian parking area is on left just as you start down the hill. Turn left and go up gravel road about ½ mile to parking area on right. Description: Riding trails through dense forest on north shore of Lake Chatcolet on Indian Land. 5,500 acres. Difficulty: Moderate to difficult with several steep hills to climb. Duration: Many hours and miles. Should call before going to make sure gate is open. Will need brand inspection and Coggins.
4. Liberty Lake County Park: Location: east of Spokane. Directions: I90 east; Liberty Lake exit; straight at light; right on Molter (about 1 mile); continue straight, past stop sign about 1 mile then left on Valley Way around lake; keep left at Y & stop sign. At 2.5 miles from exit light is turn off to Park on right, but keep going straight about 1 block and past water tank and turn right. Go past motorcycle parking lot; equestrian parking lot on right past second corner. Description: Mountain forest slopes surrounding Liberty Lake. 16 miles of trails. Difficulty: steep trails. Duration: Many hours and miles. This Park includes the Liberty Lake Conservation Area of 455 acres adjacent on the southwest side of the main park.
5. McClellan Conservation Area: Location: northwest of Spokane. Directions: Nine Mile Road/ WA SR 29; left across dam on Charles Road for 5 - 6 miles; right on South Bank Road for 6 miles and around large bend; right on McClellan Lane ½ mile to end of road and park. Limited parking. Description: Wooded trails along Spokane River and Long Lake on 410 acres. Difficulty: Easy. Duration: 2-3 hours.
6. Mckenzie Conservation Area: Location: about 25 miles northeast of Spokane on NW side of upper Newman Lake. Directions: I90 east; take Argonne, Pines or Sullivan Exits north over freeway; right (east) on Trent toward Rathdrum, ID, for approx. 5 miles; left (north) on Starr Road for 4 miles; right at Y on Hauser Lake Rd for approx. ½ mile; left on Muzzy Rd 4.5 miles (Muzzy becomes West Newman Lake Rd). Conservation area is on left at top of hill. Description: upland forest, streams along Newman Lake Shoreline. 421 acres. Difficulty: moderate. Duration: 1-2 hours. Rev January 2017 – 2 pages 2
7. Milwaukee Road Corridor – Malden to Rosalia: Location: south of Spokane. Directions: HWY 195 south to Rosalia; in Rosalia, take road to Malden; park in Malden by railbed. Description: Railbed with crushed rock surface winds through Palouse hills and agricultural lands from Malden to Rosalia and back. Note: Permit required in 2007 from State Parks. Call 509-646-9218. Difficulty: Easy. Duration: 6 hours.
8. Mt. Spokane State Park: Location: northeast of Spokane. Directions: Division St. north to HWY 2; east on HWY 206 14 miles to park entrance. One can also go north on Argonne from I90 to Hwy 206 (about 5 miles). Parking is 1.5 miles past Park entrance (paved), also 3 miles further up steep mt. road at snowmobile parking lot on the right. No parking at Bear Creek Lodge. Description: Wooded mountain trails. Difficulty: Moderate to difficult with some steep climbs. Duration: Many hours and miles.
9. Palisades City Park: Location: west Spokane city limits. Directions: north on Government Way from 2nd Ave.; left (west) on Greenwood Road (just before cemetery); stay right at Y; parking area left at top of hill on Rimrock drive. Description: Wooded, flat trails on top of basalt cliffs and rolling, hilly terrain below. Difficulty: Moderate to difficult. Duration: 2-4 hours.
10. Pend Oreille County Park: Location: north of Spokane. Directions: Division St. to HWY 2, past Elk 3-4 miles; entrance on left over highway; drive through and park at end of access road. Description: Trails and switchbacks up and around steep, wooded small peak. 440 acres. Difficulty: Difficult, steep trails. Duration: 3-4 hours.
11. Riverside State Park: Location: northwest of Spokane city limits. Directions: 1) Equestrian Area Trailhead: from E – I90 Maple St Exit, straight ahead (W) on 4th thru light 3 blocks, left onto sunset Blvd –stay right at Y; across bridge, right turn onto Government Way at light; straight thru next light (about 1 ½ miles); right (N) at Equestrian Ln, about ½ mile right at gate for Equestrian Area Trailhead (2 parking areas- bottom of hill and top of hill. From W – from Hwy 2, turn left onto Hayford Rd at light (past Airway Heights); continue around large bend (becomes Trails Rd), down hill, at bottom of hill, turn right onto Equestrian Ln, right thru gate to Equestrian Area. From N– south on Division to Indiana/NW Blvd or Ash to NW Blvd; left at light onto Menach Drive, across river and becomes Fort George Wright Dr.; at T and light , right onto Government Way, right at AWP to Equestrian Area. 2) Marchand Trailhead: at SW Park entrance on Old Trails Road: N,S,E see above for how to get to Government Way. At AWP road becomes Trails Road. Go uphill about 1 ½ miles to nearly the top, turn right onto Old Trails Rd; go about 6 ½ miles to Park entrance and start of dirt road. Trailhead is immediately on the right past small dirt road (Marchand Rd) From W: see ‘Equestrian Area W’ from Hwy 2. Around bend and start down hill, turn left onto Old Trails Rd, go about 5 ½ miles to Park entrance; trailhead immediately on right at start of dirt road. 3) Pine Bluff Trailhead:: NW side of Park: N, S, E, W: I90 to Division, north (south if coming from the north) to Francis, west on Francis which turns into 9 Mile Rd at large bend (about 3 miles). Continue on 9 Mile to 7 Mile Rd (sign about 2 miles), turn left onto 7 Mile; go about 3 miles (across 2 bridges). At the top of small hill after second bridge turn right onto Pine Bluff Rd; trailhead is immediately on the right. Description: Extensive trails over wooded hills, cliffs, canyon (Deep Creek), flat areas and along river. Note: many other multi-users (hikers, bicyclists). Difficulty: Easy to difficult trails. Duration: Many hours and miles.
12. Slavin (James T.) Conservation Area: Location: south of Spokane. Directions: HWY 195 south 8.4 miles ; right (west) on Washington Road to ‘T’. Parking area straight ahead. Description: Wooded hills, a bluff, and large ponds with 1 earth dam crossing. Muddy in spring. Difficulty: Moderately easy. Duration: 2-3 hours
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