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