Now that the holidays are behind us, we're all eager to get out of the house and get some exercise. Luckily, winter is a beautiful time to head outside and explore the Spokane area.

Our real estate agents love the Washington weather this time of year. And with a nice dusting of snow on the trails, it's a perfect opportunity to lace up your hiking boots—or strap on your snowshoes—and experience these great Spokane winter hikes. 

1. John A. Finch Arboretum - 3404 W Woodland Blvd, Spokane, WA 99224
   John A. Finch Arboretum is a splendid spot for an afternoon winter stroll. The arboretum spans 65 acres along the banks of Garden Springs Creek and includes a meandering network of trails that pass through rich and varied forest habitat. The arboretum offers amazing scenery in any season. Keep an eye out for colorful winter plants like barberry, snowberry, and red osier dogwood. The Arboretum is convenient to many Spokane homes for sale and just minutes from the heart of Downtown Spokane. It's open to the public every day from dawn until dusk. 
   
   
2. Riverside State Park - 9711 W Charles Rd, Nine Mile Falls, WA 99026
   Riverside State Park is one of Spokane's great outdoor playgrounds. Spanning 14,000 acres around the confluence of the Spokane and Little Spokane rivers, it's a year-round destination for adventures of all kinds. The park offers 55 miles of hiking trails, making it a top destination for snowshoeing, cross-country skiing, and winter hiking near these Nine Mile Falls homes for sale. The 2.1-mile Bowl and Pitcher Loop is a great place to start, offering incredible scenery and a trek across the river on a historic suspension bridge built by the CCC in the 1930s. 
   
   
3. High Drive Bluff Park - 3418 S Jefferson Dr, Spokane, WA 99203
   One of Spokane's great off-the-beaten-path hiking destinations, High Drive Bluff Park, offers some of the best trails within the city limits. Encompassing a vast swath of Ponderosa pine forest and bunchgrass meadows along Spokane's South Hill, the park is home to more than 20 miles of trails. Most of these trails were built—and continue to be maintained—entirely by volunteers. High Drive Bluff Park is open year-round and offers excellent opportunities for winter hiking, bird watching, and fat-tire mountain biking. 
   
   
4. Hog Canyon Lake - Sprague, WA 99032
   Just a few miles outside Spokane, Hog Canyon Lake is a beautiful winter hiking destination. Surrounded by a rugged glacier-carved landscape, the lake is accessible via the Hog Lake Trailhead on the Lake Valley Loop Road, one of several great hikes within the Fishtrap Recreation Area. It's a 5.3-mile loop hike, traversing easy-to-moderate terrain with splendid views of the lake. 
   
   
5. Dishman Hills Natural Area - 625 S Sargent Rd, Spokane Valley, WA 99212
   The 530-acre Dishman Hills Natural Area is one of the best winter hiking destinations in Spokane County. It's a vast landscape of rocky hills, remote woodlands, and secluded ponds, crisscrossed by an extensive network of hiking trails a short drive from many Spokane Valley homes for sale. The 1.4-mile Pinecliff Loop Trail is a great easy winter hike for families with kids, while the Iller Creek Trailhead provides access to several different routes, including some steeper and more challenging trails with amazing views. 

We love Spokane in the winter, but it's a really special place to call home in any season. Contact us to learn more about life in the Spokane area, and talk to our agents about finding your dream home today!