Our4Outdoors
  • Home
  • Blog
  • Trip Reports
    • NATIONAL PARKS >
      • Yellowstone National Park
      • Glacier National Park
      • Zion National Park
      • Arches National Park
      • Bryce Canyon National Park
      • Canyonlands National Park
      • Capitol Reef National Park
      • Yosemite National Park
      • Kings Canyon National Park
      • Sequoia National Park
      • Pinnacles National Park
    • DOMINICAN REPUBLIC >
      • 27 Waterfalls in the Dominican Republic
      • Flattop Mountain - Hiking in Jarabacoa Dominican Republic
      • Fronton - Camping on the playa
      • Canyoning the Rio Camu, D.R.
      • Paradise Island
      • Rio San Juan and Playa Grande, Dominican Republic
      • Pico Duarte
      • Spelunking...caving, that is!
    • IDAHO >
      • Biking the Route of the Hiawatha
      • Free Kid's Fishing Day
    • MONTANA >
      • Lewis and Clark Caverns State Park, Whitehall, Montana
    • WASHINGTON >
      • Sucia Island Marine park
      • Big Rock - Tower Mountain
      • Saltese Uplands
      • Antoine Peak
      • Liberty Lake County Park
      • Palouse Falls Hike
      • Orcas Island
    • COLORADO >
      • Gem Lake in Rocky Mountain National Park
      • Georgetown Loop Scenic Train Ride
      • Erie Hot Air Balloon Festival and Street Fair
    • UTAH >
      • Utah Slot Canyons
      • Devil's Garden
      • Calf Creek Falls, GSENM
    • RAFTING >
      • Rafting the Lower Salmon
      • The Grande Ronde - A Perfect First Multi-Day Raft Trip
  • How-To Guides
    • 5 Tips for Staying Safe and Warm with Winter Activities
    • 5 Things Every Parent Should Know About Rafting with Kids
  • About Us
  • Contact

Kokanee Viewing at Sullivan Lake

10/24/2019

0 Comments

 
Late fall can be a tough time to find outdoor activities for kids - it's getting cold for many things, but there isn't enough snow yet for traditional winter activities.  But here is a fun idea - drive north of Spokane to Sullivan Lake and view the Kokanee as they spawn in Harvey Creek.

A Kokanee is actually a Sockeye Salmon that no longer has a outlet to the ocean - they are "landlocked".  Like their anadromous ancestors, these fish travel upstream and turn red as they spawn and die.  This makes them very visible and very beautiful to see, and there are a few local areas where you can partake in this natural wonder.

In Idaho you might consider Trestle Creek on the north side of lake Pend Oreille, and from Spokane you can head north to Sullivan Lake.  Harvey Creek enters this lake from the south end near Noisy Creek Campground.  From the bridge across this creek you can can often see plenty of fish, or walk a short ways upstream to find the pool of fish pictured to the right.

This is a fun fall excursion, because you are going to see lots of fall colors in the trees, and nearby there is another very short hike to Sweet Creek Falls at the rest stop of the same name on Hwy 31.  If you want to stretch your legs more, there are quite a few hiking options along the shores of Sullivan Lake and surrounding area.  A day trip to the NE corner of WA has plenty to offer.

#kokanee #sullivan lake #noisy creek #harvey creek #spawn
Picture
Picture
0 Comments

Mt. Spokane Ski Patrol Ski Swap

10/19/2016

0 Comments

 
It's that time of year again - time to start thinking about skiing!  So far it looks like we are getting the La Nina weather patterns that some had predicted, because we have had one wet storm after another so far this fall.  There is already snow starting to pile up in the mountains, and chances are there will be much more to come.

Skiing is a great outdoor winter activity, but it does not come cheap.  Every fall we share some of the best ways we have found to save money, and the first one on the list is the Mt. Spokane Ski Patrol Ski Swap. 
Picture of Mt Spokane Skiing, Mt Spokane Ski Swap
This is a chance to pick up used gear at bargain prices, and it is the largest event of its kind in the entire region.  It is coming up in just 10 days over October 29-30th at the Spokane Fair and Expo Center.  So, if you are looking to find good deals on some equipment for your family, check out their website for more information: http://skipatrolskiswap.com/
0 Comments

Saltese Uplands Natural Area

2/24/2016

0 Comments

 

by Harley McAllister

 There is a travel brochure for Spokane that describes our town as "Near Nature, Near Perfect."  And indeed, one of the things we love about living here is that a short drive from our house in most any direction will provide us with places to be outdoors. This Spring we plan to review some of our favorites  - all the nearby State Parks, Conservation Areas, Natural Areas, County Parks, etc. that we can go and play in.  And the first of these is the Saltese Uplands Conservation Area.

Just this past weekend I found myself alone with my youngest son because all the other boys had activities.  The weather was nice for February and so the mountains called.  I only had a couple hours to get out so I immediately thought of this nearby retreat.

This area is roughly 550 acres of rolling hills that overlooks the Saltese flats below to the west, Liberty Lake to the east, with views of Mica Peak and the surrounding mountains above.  There are 7 miles of trails that gently rise and fall with the terrain making it a great destination for hikers, dog walkers, hikers, bird watchers, and mountain bikers alike.  The pictures will show you what it has to offer, and all of this is located but a 5 minute drive south of the Barker exit of I-90 in the Spokane Valley. Perfect for a quick getaway.

One thing to keep in mind when visiting here is that there are no trees on this parcel, so consider that on a hot day.  But for that same reason we love to visit on bluebird days in the Winter and Spring so we can soak up the sunshine.  The mountain bike trails here are well maintained, and the boys and I patrolled them a number of times last year.  And we almost always see a raptor or two out there, and occasionally a whitetail at dawn or dusk.

cont'd with map at the bottom...
Picture of Saltese Uplands Conservation Area
View from the trail in the Saltese Uplands Conservation Area
Picture
Picture
So if you live anywhere near the Spokane Valley, you owe it to yourself to check this place out.  See the map below.
0 Comments

Snowshoeing is for wimps...and #firsthike

12/29/2015

0 Comments

 
By Abby McAllister
Picture
Snowshoeing is for wimps…let me explain.  I am a wimp.  I don’t like pain and I don’t like cold.  Those two attributes tend to steer me away from most winter activities like downhill skiing, cross country skiing, telemark skiing etc.  The good news for my outdoorsy husband is that snowshoeing is fairly painless and, if properly dressed, I seldom get cold while doing it.  This means there is a winter activity that we can enjoy together!
On a recent mommy-daddy weekend away we donned some snowshoes and headed into the woods near Winthrop, WA.  The woods were a true winter wonderland.  The sun kept breaking through the thin cloud cover and making the snow sparkle and shine.  The new snow adorned every branch on every tree and little birds were chattering away as they flitted through the snow laden branches.  I am so thankful that I got to experience the forest in this season thanks to a pair of snowshoes. 

If you haven’t tried them you should!  They are easy to learn on, meaning wimpy moms like me and smaller children can join right it (or sometimes get pulled along on a sled if too small for the snowshoes).  Although you can find snowshoes priced all the way up to $300 and even more, you can also get started for much less (in the $80 range) whereas skiing of any sort can be expensive as you have to buy lift tickets, trail passes and expensive special gear.  Snowshoeing has a very low financial threshold to get started.  You also won’t need expensive and time consuming lessons either!  Once you know how to strap on your snowshoes and take a few minutes to practice (being careful of turning and trying to back up) you will be ready to go! 
A few tips before you take off.  Make sure to follow a marked trail or take a GPS unit with you as places you are familiar with in the summer will look dramatically different wen covered in snow!  Many State Parks, ski areas, and winter Sno-park areas will have designated trails for snowshoeing.  At then end of this post we will tell you how to get out in the Spokane area this coming weekend!  Another pre-trip tip is to review our list of how to make the cold weather endurable for wimpy moms and younger children.  Staying warm is key to having fun in the snow so make sure you are prepared.  Finally, remember, if this is your first time out take it easy.  Pick a trail with little elevation gain, a shorter distance and give yourself plenty of time.  
 

Picture
Picture
This weekend you can get out on snowshoes with the parks department for a hike for #firsthike.  Following in the very successful footsteps of #optoutside on Black Friday, State Parks are offering free admission to all parks on New Year’s Day with additional fun activities.  On Mt. Spokane you can join a ranger led hike of 2-4 miles round-trip as part of #firsthike.  Click here for more details! You will need your own snowshoes for this adventure.  If you don’t own any yet you can rent them from various places around Spokane like Mountain Gear or REI.  You will also need a snow park pass.  You won’t need the normally required Discover Pass because Jan 1 is also a free parks day!
If you aren't ready to strap on the snowshoes yet, check out the other #firsthike being offered in Riverside Park.  Details are available here.
0 Comments

Mt. Spokane Ski Patrol Ski Swap - Good ski deals for kids in the Inland Northwest

10/20/2015

0 Comments

 

by Harley McAllister


​You can't raft and hike all year round, so one of our favorite ways to get outside in the winter is through skiing.  But the hardest thing about getting your family into skiing is simply the cost - it is not an inexpensive sport.  However, there are savings to be found out there if you know where to look, and we are here to help! There are a number of programs available to help parents keep costs down and build a love of skiing into your children.
Picture of kids skiing
Skiing is a fun way to get outside in winter and instill confidence in your children.
The first thing you need to be aware of is the Mt. Spokane Ski Patrol Ski Swap, and it is coming up in about 10 days over Halloween weekend (Oct 30 - Nov 1st) .  This ski swap has been going on for over 50 years, and it is the largest event of its kind in the region.  Entry price is just $5 for adults and kids 12 and under are free.  Once inside you will find over 20,000 new and used items for sale by individuals and local stores - skis, boots, poles, clothing, etc. You can find used skis and boots - the most expensive items when purchased new, for really low prices. There are volunteers there to help the uninitiated get started and to make sure the equipment fits your kids so they actually will have fun and not just be cold and falling down all day.  So if you want to get your kids started in skiing, this is a great place to start!

Click <here> to go to the Ski Swap home page.

Stay tuned in the coming weeks as we share more ideas for getting your kids started with skiing.
0 Comments

Orcas Island Update

7/19/2015

0 Comments

 
By Abby McAllister
Picture
Summer sure keeps us busy, so busy that I have a hard time keeping up with editing photos, writing about outings and then getting them posted here!  At the beginning of the month I traveled to Seattle to take our youngest to Children's Hospital for a surgery follow-up.  After our Friday afternoon visit was over we picked up a good friend and headed to Orcas Island, one of the San Juan Islands, for a bit of R & R.  I'm calling this post an "update" because we already have a trip report under the tab above and on the WA page.  We experienced the island life there once before and loved it.  I have always wanted to go back and was thrilled with the chance to hop on the ferry and head out again on this weekend.
Picture
We stayed, once again, at Harper House, a guest house in the Eastsound area.  Our hosts John and Suzanne make the time so enjoyable!  Their guest suite is well thought out, spacious, restful and full of whimsy.  I especially loved the outdoor shower!  Because they are friends of ours we also got to take advantage of their super-hospitality with a little time out on their boat.  We went shrimping and whale watching-so exciting!  We caught limits of gorgeous prawns and saw 3 species of whales-Orcas, humpbacks, and minky whales.  After we had exhausted ourselves on the boat  we went home and feasted on delicious prawns.  It was an amazing day.  
Captain John is ready for us to come aboard!
Literally, learning the ropes.
Helping mommy throw out the shrimp pot buoy.
Learning how to behead our dinner.
Careful with the lines!
What a feast we will have tonight!
Humpback Whale spout in the distance
beauty surrounds you in the San Juan Islands
Orca fin cresting the water
On our second day we stayed closer to "home" and explored a bit of Eastsound.  We wandered the beach area at the edge of town and checked out some of the storefronts.  It is a sweet town, quiet and restful.  There were no crowds that Sunday and we basked in the sunshine and the beauty.
Isaac showing his treasures
What is it?
Walking in the shallows
Wondering at discoveries
Time to head home
There are so many more things to do on Orcas and in the San Juans in general.  If you think you might like to visit Orcas yourself, please check out our trip report for more details on other activities and how to get there.  We hope you can get your kids out there exploring soon-it is a trip they won't forget!
0 Comments

Fishing Rock Lake

7/14/2015

0 Comments

 
by Harley McAllister
The most important thing about getting kids interested in fishing is making sure that there is plenty of action to capture their short attention spans.  But obviously that is a challenge as there are no sure bets when it comes to fishing.  However, sometimes opportunities present themselves where it comes pretty darn close to a sure thing.
Picture of kids fishing
In the last week of June the WDFW released 255,000 Steelhead smolts of 6-9" in length into Rock Lake, which lies about and hour and fifteen minutes south of Spokane.  These fish were intended for rivers in the Puget Sound until they were blocked by a lawsuit requiring an Environmental Impact Statement - something that can take years.  But if you live near Spokane it is to your benefit!  Since these fish are not in a stream that reaches the ocean they are now classified as trout - not as Steelhead (a fact that I confirmed with WDFW)

We went there on July 11th with the intent to head out in our raft (not a great fishing rig), but when we pulled into the parking lot at 7am there were lots of trout rising in the narrow part of the lake right at the gravel boat ramp.  Rather than rigging the boat we simply rigged up our rods and started casting.  For the next 90 minutes the action was constant, and even with releasing a good number of fish we soon found ourselves with three limits of trout.  Now, these weren't big fish, but they were gullible and hungry so the kids had a blast.

If you are interested this is about as easy an intro to fishing as you can get.  The boat ramp is a free public access (bring the parking pass that comes with your fishing license), and kids 14 and under don't even need a fishing license.  A simple spinning rod with 4-6 lb. line should suffice, and just about any modest size spinning lure would work - Mepps, Rooster Tail, Panther Martin, Blue Fox, etc.  These fish aren't selective.

If you plan to release smaller ones I would recommend finding a lure with a single hook instead of a treble hook, or at a minimum crimp your barbs.  In our rush to get going we failed to do this and were reminded how hard it is to safely release a fish that has taken a treble hook, causing us to keep several smaller fish that we would have rather released.  There is no minimum size for trout in this lake, but still we would have rather waited for some bigger ones.

If you are really new to fishing but anxious to get started don't be shy about heading to a fishing shop and asking some questions.  Everyone I know loves to share their wisdom and help new folks get started, especially where kids are concerned.

Finally, try and cook your kids catch up someway special and right away.  It will make them feel proud and help make connections to he resource that provide valuable lessons.  It doesn't have to be fancy to be special, just make a big deal of eating what they brought home.

And on your way home drive through Turnbull NWR - maybe you'll spot the same mother and calf moose that we saw!
Picture of moose in Turnbull NWR
Picture of trout dinner
0 Comments

Hiking Antoine Peak Conservation Area, with some Geocaching on the side

4/12/2015

0 Comments

 
by Harley McAllister

With the Spring weather warming up our family is getting anxious to get out on the trails.  Thankfully the Spokane area has plenty of places nearby to get out and enjoy the outdoors - some are Natural Areas, some are Conservation Areas, some are State Parks, or County Parks, etc.  In the coming weeks we'll be reviewing  5 or 6 of our favorites so that you can learn about them and then go experience them for yourselves.

This past weekend we took a quick trip to Antoine Peak Conservation Area for a couple hours in the afternoon.  The trail is easy enough for anyone, the views along the path are fantastic, and it felt good to be outside even if the breeze was a bit on the chilly side.  We also took the time to find 3 of the dozens of geocaches located here, which always serves as extra motivation for the boys to get outside.  We'll be posting more about geocaching in the coming weeks as well.

When we went in early April the wildflowers were just starting, and the Arrowleaf Balsamroot were getting ready to come out in force.  Now is a great time to get out there.

Once we have finished our blog reviews of our favorite spots we will follow that up with more detailed trip reports in that section of our website.  So stay tuned!

Picture of hiking Antoine Peak Conservation Area family kids
Great views from the trail.
Picture of geocaching Antoine Peak Conservation Area
Finding the geocache.
Picture of hiking Antoine Peak with family kids
At the top!
Thank goodness for baby backpacks!
The first cache.
The boys on the trail.
The trail is an access road and so it is easy enough for anyone.
Another cache with fun surprises.
Taking it off-trail.
This is what happens when the boys get tired of having their pictures taken!
Solitude can be found close to town.
Some geocache items have tracking numbers so you can see where they have traveled.
Great views of the valley.
0 Comments

    Authors

    Harley & Abby McAllister
    We are an adventurous husband and wife duo who drag our 4 feral kids outside with us as often as we can stand it!  Maybe, just maybe, our adventures will help inspire you! 

    Categories

    All
    Biking
    California
    Camping
    Coeur D'Alene
    Dominican Republic
    Eagles
    Fishing
    Geocaching
    Glacier NP
    Hiking
    Idaho
    Montana
    Musings
    National Parks
    Pinnacles National Park
    Rafting
    San Juan Islands
    Sequoia National Park
    Skiing
    Snowshoeing
    Utah
    Washington
    Winter Fun
    Yellowstone
    Zion National Park

    Archives

    December 2019
    October 2019
    July 2018
    June 2018
    May 2018
    December 2017
    November 2017
    May 2017
    October 2016
    September 2016
    July 2016
    June 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016
    December 2015
    November 2015
    October 2015
    August 2015
    July 2015
    June 2015
    May 2015
    April 2015
    February 2015
    December 2014
    November 2014
    October 2014
    September 2014
    July 2014

    RSS Feed

    Blogs That Inspire Us!

    • The Big Outside
    • Spokesman Review Outdoor Blog
    • Blue Ridge Hiking
    • Montana Vacation Blog
Powered by Create your own unique website with customizable templates.