Spokane: Southside Trail
This hearty 9.4-miler in the Palouse Range is guaranteed to satisfy your lust for wildlife sightings and mountain valley views.
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-Mapped by Galen Williams
Trail Facts
- Distance: 7.1
Waypoints
SSD001
Location: 46.8083000183106, -116.975799560547
Head N past wheat-filled clearing on R—often occupied by rummaging white-tailed deer
SSD002
Location: 46.8164405822754, -116.970802307129
Cross road and pass yellow gate, following trail N. Pass short but steep side trail leading R to unnamed frog pond
SSD003
Location: 46.8204803466797, -116.971397399902
Stay straight as Headwaters Trail zigzags over main trail several times
SSD004
Location: 46.819751739502, -116.973602294922
Continue into conifer stand
SSD005
Location: 46.8246002197266, -116.97380065918
Pass tall rock cairn on your L
SSD006
Location: 46.8249015808106, -116.968002319336
Forest clears for great views S to Moscow, Paradise Valley, and Idaho’s Palouse Range
SSD007
Location: 46.8218307495117, -116.951202392578
Reach col; pull out binocs to spot moose napping on the hillsides
SSD008
Location: 46.8191986083984, -116.945999145508
Pass rocky spur trail that leads to viewpoint on the R
SSD009
Location: 46.8190002441406, -116.944000244141
Stay on gentle slope; look N @ arid wheat, barley, and dry pea farmland surrounding the town of Viola
SSD010
Location: 46.8199005126953, -116.940498352051
R @ Y as grade gets slightly steeper
SSD011
Location: 46.8199195861816, -116.938400268555
Stop for a picnic or snapshots of Moscow Mountain’s conspicuous N peak, the tallest around at 4,983 ft.; retrace your steps to the car