
Travel guide to the top of Quartz Mountain
Usa, north-america
3.95 km
1,580 m
hard
Year-round
Okay, adventurers, listen up! Let's talk about Quartz Mountain, a sweet spot in Washington's Spokane County, chilling at 5,183 feet. You'll find it nestled in Mount Spokane State Park, just northeast of Spokane, hanging out in the Selkirk Mountains.
Heads up: this road is all dirt! Leave the sedan at home. Seriously, you'll want a 4x4 for this one. Private vehicles aren't allowed on the final stretch, so park it at the Selkirk Lodge and get ready to hike or bike.
Why bother? Well, the views from the fire lookout tower at the top are killer, with a full-on panoramic view of the Spokane Valley and into north Idaho.
Generally, you can hit this trail from mid-June to mid-October. From Mt Spokane Park Drive, it's a 2.45-mile climb to the top, gaining 660 feet. It's a steady climb, with an average grade of around 5%, so be prepared to work for that view!
Road Details
- Country
- Usa
- Continent
- north-america
- Length
- 3.95 km
- Max Elevation
- 1,580 m
- Difficulty
- hard
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