Dishman Hills to Rocks of Sharon: Spokane Valley's Backyard Fall Hikes

Ask someone in Spokane Valley where they hike and half will name somewhere forty minutes away — while the Dishman Hills sit right there, a wild green wedge rising straight out of the neighborhood grid. October is when this backyard range shows off.

Dishman Hills Natural Area: the after-work option

The northern pocket off Appleway holds a web of short, rolling trails through ponderosa, aspen groves, and little granite knobs — easy to string into a one-hour loop and even easier to bail out of when the light goes. In October the aspens turn first, and the low-angle evening sun through them is the best free show in the Valley. Trails here are forgiving, family-ready, and busy with dogs on weekends.

Iller Creek and the Rocks of Sharon: the weekend earner

South of the Valley floor, the Iller Creek Conservation Area climbs a forested draw to the ridgeline, where the Rocks of Sharon — massive granite monoliths — look out over the Palouse rolling away south. The full loop runs about five miles with roughly 1,000 feet of climbing: a real workout with a real payoff. Go clockwise for a gentler climb, bring a layer for the exposed ridge, and expect mud in the shaded draw after any October rain.

A five-mile loop with a thousand feet of gain burns on the order of 600 to 900 calories. That is not a problem. That is an opportunity.

Fueling the backyard epic

Short local hikes trick people into fueling badly — no snacks, no water, "it's just the Dishman Hills." Two hours of climbing is two hours of climbing. Eat something real beforehand (a PB Crunch Toast holds up), carry water even in cool weather, and plan the refuel like you would for a mountain. The Iller Creek trailhead to our door at 13324 E Sprague Ave, Suite 101 is about ten minutes — the Everbowl with its granola-banana-berry build is the classic closer, and a Mango Majic tastes very good indeed with trail dust still on your shoes.

Why this month

The larch on the high ground go gold mid-month, the rattlesnakes have called it a season, and the summer dust has settled into perfect tread. The Dishman Hills wait all year to look like this. They're a five-minute drive from most of the Valley — the only excuse left is the couch.

This article is general wellness information from Everbowl Spokane and is not medical or dietary advice. Talk to a qualified health professional about your individual needs.