How tall is mt spokane

In Guilbert and his colleagues used its proximity as one of their arguments that the proposed route of the National Parks Highway should pass through Spokane. In the meantime, Cook had added to his mountain property, and on May 20, , Guilbert and his friends completed negotiations with Cook for an indirect purchase of his land by Spokane County.

Because at the time the county could not legally hold title to land for recreational purposes, they arranged for Louis M. Davenport to hold it as trustee for the county. Although the city of Spokane never owned Mount Spokane, its Parks Department helped to care for and supervise it.

During the ensuing years, Guilbert and the Inland Automobile Association raised money to purchase more of the mountain for an eventual park. Cowles, and others further increased the acreage.

On August 20, an auto caravan transported dignitaries and others to the document-signing ceremony officially creating Mount Spokane State Park, the largest in the state and the first created east of the Cascade Mountains. Mount Spokane proved to be one of the earliest ski areas in the West, its snowy dome, so visible from Spokane, inviting devotees of the newly popular sport.

Early skiers were a hardy lot, trudging up the slope with their heavy wooden skis for the brief pleasure of zooming down.

In time they built a log clubhouse, installed two rope tows, added jump hills and lights for night skiing, and pressed for road improvement. The Selkirk Ski Club and the Spokane Mountaineers followed, and between them, the clubs purchased more than additional acres on the mountain.

Everyone would be expected to backpack food and blankets. Twenty-eight Mountaineers had participated the previous year. Beginning in , although continuing separately, these clubs, plus the Spokane Chamber of Commerce and conservation and service organizations, were affiliated under the Mount Spokane Association, of which Cheney Cowles was president.

Mount Spokane had long been logged, especially the eastern slope. Linder family, retained logging rights to some of their former property. Yet conservationists worked hard to preserve private stands of virgin timber on the mountain.

In the spring of , Mrs. Ultimately the owner reduced the asking price by half, and donors were able to save the forest. Frank W. Guilbert and the Inland Automobile Association felt the mountain was important to Spokane as it brought tourists to the area. Other businessmen helped hold the land including hotel owner, Louis M. Davenport and newspaper owner William H. Mount Spokane State Park was officially dedicated in with a total of acres. For fee information, check out our camping rates page.

Mount Spokane is a park that has a long history with Native American, as well as European American peoples in the Spokane area.

The park's development was first pursued privately, then by county and state park departments in succession. Much of the initial development was sponsored by Francis H.

Cook, a wealthy local newspaper man and real estate developer. Cook acquired property throughout the present-day state park, including the summit, and in he began construction of a road to a site on the mountain he called Paradise Camp.

When it was completed, Cook allowed locals to use the road to access the mountain for a small entrance fee. In , the iconic Vista House at the mountain's summit was constructed by private contractors. Due to harsh winter conditions, the camp was only operated six months of the year. CCC enrollees built roads, trails and picnic areas throughout the park that continue to be used today.

The camp was disbanded in By the s, skiing had emerged as a popular sport at the park. Cabins, rope tows and jumps were built by local clubs on the west and south sides of the mountain. Local ski groups including the Spokane Ski Club and the Selkirk Ski Club advocated for the construction of infrastructure and facilities including a grand lodge that was completed in The lodge was short-lived as an electrical fire caused it to burn to the ground in In , Mount Spokane was home to the world's first double chair life.

Constructed by the Riblet Tramway Company of Spokane, the lift was actually a converted ore bucket mining tram. It was only in service for three seasons and was eventually replaced by the current Chair 1 in At the time, Chair 1 had the longest vertical rise of any lift in the northwest.

Skiing continues to be one of the most popular recreational activities in the park. Skip to Main Content. Loading Close. Do Not Show Again Close. Mount Spokane State Park. You could hike for days and not see the same view twice at Mount Spokane State Park. Zoom in. Zoom out. Elevation is the altitude of a place above sea level.

United States Washington Spokane County. Mount Spokane elevation 5, feet 1, m is a mountain in the northwest United States, located northeast of Spokane, Washington. Its summit is the highest point in Spokane County, and it is one of the tallest peaks in the Inland Northwest. One of the well-known features is a bald spot on the corner of the west and south parts of the mountain. A non-profit organization operates the Mount Spokane Ski and Snowboard Park, located on the southwest portion of the mountain.

There's a trail called North Summit Road leading to the summit. Columbia Mountains Selkirk Mountains. Mount Spokane State Park.