Park Access Road Closed All Summer While State Fixes Mount Spokane Drive, Hikers, Bicyclists Can Enjoy The Solitude

Thu., July 6, 2000

By Dan Hansen danh@spokesman.com

The road into Mount Spokane State Park will remain closed for the entire summer.

That means there’s no way to drive to popular camping, sightseeing and berry-picking areas.

But people willing to hike, bike or ride horses into the park are enjoying solitude.

“Our trails are in great shape” because they’re getting so little use, said park ranger Peter Wood. “We’ve gotten some real positive comments.”

Most days, a few people make it to the 5,851-foot summit, said Wood. Some days, however, no one makes the climb. Typically in summer, people drive to the top - often in crowds - to enjoy the view of lakes in Kootenai County and the Spokane Valley.

“It’s not desolate up here. There are people coming up and they’re enjoying it,” Wood said.

Mount Spokane Drive has been closed to most users since April 15 when a slide buckled one lane. It is the park’s only access road.

State parks engineer Tony Rapozo said work on the road should begin by early August. If all goes well, it will be open again in October in time for ski season.

In addition to fixing slide damage, the state Parks and Recreation Commission plans to straighten a hairpin curve and add parking for hikers, bicyclists and others using Mount Kit Carson Road, which is closed to motorized traffic.

Although construction companies have not bid on the project yet, the state expects it to cost $650,000 to $800,000.

Park users have complained for years that the former logging road is too narrow, steep and winding for safe driving, particularly in winter.

Last year, the Legislature approved $1.3 million for some work on the road. However, much more is needed for a complete overhaul.

Money for this summer’s project will come from a pool earmarked for repairs at parks statewide. Improvements to the water system at Mount Spokane are among the projects that must be forgone so the road can be repaired.

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