25 mi
9.6 mi
6.1 mi
5.9 mi
2 mi
Essentially, Spokane is located along the Spokane River in eastern Washington with an elevation of 1,843 ft above sea level. In addition to lush prairies, rolling hills and large lakes there are also several coniferous forests that make for picturesque landscapes. Furthermore, these extensive and varied terrains create some exciting bike trails!
| Land area | 179.99 km² |
| Minimum Elevation | 1,843 ft |
| Maximum Elevation | 2,591 ft |
As the largest city in the county and the second largest city in Washington, Spokane has an average population of 229 071. On average, the cost of living in Spokane is 10% lower than the state average and about 3% higher than the national average. However, it’s worth noting that housing is 3% more expensive than the U.S. average. Fortunately, utilities are 5% less expensive.
| Total population | 229 071 (2021) |
| Population density | 1,300/km² |
To enjoy all the outdoor amenities that Spokane has to offer, you’ll need some good weather. Fortunately, Spokane summers are warm, dry and mostly clear. There are about 171 sunny days per year, giving bikers ample time to enjoy the scenic trails. If winter activities are more your scene, then you can look forward to cold and snowy conditions for most winter months.
The warmer months are from May to October while December and January usually have the coldest temperatures. For the most part, the area experiences about 17 inches of rain annually and about 48 inches of snow during the winter. Since many of the trails are open year-round, it’s crucial to check the weather before planning a day outdoors.
| Month | Average Temperature |
|---|---|
| January | 31°F |
| February | 34°F |
| March | 41°F |
| April | 48°F |
| May | 56°F |
| June | 63°F |
| July | 71°F |
| August | 70°F |
| September | 61°F |
| October | 49°F |
| November | 38°F |
| December | 30°F |
Another positive feature of Spokane is that it has a very advanced and extensive public transport system. Keep in mind that while the services are reliable, there may be crowds in peak times. It’s a good idea to plan your route to avoid peak times.
Since the bus plaza is centrally located you can easily reach anywhere you need to go. Hotels, shopping, restaurants, parks and entertainment venues are also within walking distance from downtown Spokane.
Bike trails are easily accessible and clearly marked. Since the best bike trails are inside recreational parks, there’s no need to worry about the bustling traffic that can sometimes overwhelm the city’s streets.
Many first-time visitors to Spokane can hardly believe that it’s situated in Washington. This is because its outdoor activities and evergreen scenic landscapes make it a far cry from other Washington cities. That said, there isn’t a shortage of places to visit and things to do in the area.
Some of the fun things to do in Spokane include the following:
Fortunately, visitors to the area don’t have to look very far for a challenging and adventurous bike trail. Spokane is home to about 61 scenic trails, giving beginner and advanced riders plenty of choices. The three top mountain biking locations that each have several trails to choose from are:
Currently, the longest bike trail in Spokane is the West Spokane to Queen Lucas via Fish Lake Trail. With a distance of 11 miles and an elevation gain of 127 m, it provides an exciting ride. It’s a moderately challenging route that takes about 3 hours to complete.
With an ascent of 169 m, the Children of the Sun Trail has the highest elevation of all the trails in the greater Spokane area. Considered by many to be an easy route, the 7-mile route takes about 2 hours to complete.