The Perfect Three Day Hiking Itinerary in Spokane

When planning your Spokane visit, you'll discover an abundance of outdoor experiences to enjoy. You get to decide if you want to explore one of our many parks, go hiking, or hit the river. Whatever your adventure, it's essential to plan for amazing food along the way. This three-day hiking itinerary will recommend some top hikes, fun adventures, and a variety of restaurants to fuel you during your trip.

For your first night in Spokane, pick one of the restaurants in Kendall Yards. We suggest beginning with happy hour at Nectar Wine and Beer or Maryhill Winery Tasting Room & Bistro. Dinner options include Baba, a Moroccan-inspired restaurant, Versalia Pizza and Umi Kitchen and Sushi Bar. Kendall Yards provides an added bonus of stunning views of downtown Spokane and the Spokane River. After dinner, rest up at your hotel, so you are ready to hike Dishman Hills tomorrow.

Day 1

Make sure you fuel up for your first day of hiking with a good breakfast. A great spot to have breakfast is Boots Bakery. They have delicious Pumpkin Waffles with Chai butter, frittata, and sausage hash with parsnips & leeks.

Now that you have fueled up, it's time to hit the trails. A local favorite is Dishman Hills Natural Area. The hike ranges from easy to moderate, and the mileage can be 2 – 8 miles depending on your preferred route. The Dishman Hills Natural Area is close to the city but nestled just south of I-90. The interior trails are wooded and shaded. You won't even realize how close the city is. Halfway up, you'll reach Eagle Peak with offers a panoramic view of Spokane, Spokane Valley, and the Idaho Panhandle. From here, you can keep hiking or head back and make this a shorter hike.

After a nice morning hike, you'll be ready for lunch. Spokane Valley has some great restaurant options nearby. Crimson Hearth has breakfast and lunch on the menu, but a local favorite is the Crimson Burger with bourbon bacon jam. Another restaurant that locals love is Ambrosia Bistro and Wine Bar. Their menu includes a variety of choices, and the Turkey Gouda Melt will not disappoint.

Now, it's time to explore the Centennial Trail. This 40-mile trail goes from the Idaho border and follows the Spokane River west ending in Riverside State Park. Head over to Mirabeau Meadows Park to start your afternoon. Take in the views of the river along the Centennial Trail, it's flat and paved, making for a leisurely hike after that challenging morning. There is a waterfall nearby to explore as well; although it's not as impressive as Spokane Falls, it's still a beauty.

Take a much-awaited rest from your activities and try some local brews and wine at Arbor Crest Wine Cellars. It's about 15 minutes from Mirabeau Park and worth the drive. Located at the former home of Royal Riblet, the winery serves up a history lesson, as well. Arbor Crest has numerous wines to taste and their Square Wheel craft brew to sample as well. The grounds are fun to walk around and enjoy while sipping your beverage of choice.

After your full day of hiking, head back to your hotel, and get cleaned up for dinner. In historic Browne's Addition, packed with old Victorian homes, Italia Trattoria serves up Chef Anna Vogel’s regionally inspired Italian menu. If you haven't seen enough of the Spokane River yet, Anthony's and Clinkerdaggers both offer excellent culinary choices and breathtaking views of the river. After dinner, you can catch a show at the Spokane Comedy Club or stop into Bistango for a signature martini.

Day 2

Day two is packed with another hike and a fun adrenaline rush on ziplines. The zipline experience takes place at Mica Moon Zip Tours & Aerial Park in nearby Liberty Lake. We recommend grabbing some breakfast along the way at any one of these options: Yards Bruncheon, Madeleine's Café & Patisserie, or the Spokane Breakfast Company. Spokane Breakfast company offers generous-sized breakfast burritos, which are a great option if you want to eat on the way.

Once you have filled your belly, head east on I-90 towards Liberty Lake. It’s about a 20-minute drive from downtown Spokane to Mica Moon. When you arrive at Mica Moon, you will begin your exhilarating adventure with either a Zip Line tour or Aerial Park tour -- take your pick! Reservations in advance are encouraged. The zip line tour includes nine zip lines, two hikes, and eight treetop platforms. The Aerial Park tour consists of the canoe bridge, wine barrel bridge, high rise tight rope, and tree platforms. Both experiences are sure to get your adrenaline going, and each one lasts for about 3 hours.

All this excitement will surely help you work up an appetite for lunch. Some Liberty Lake restaurant suggestions include Pentagon Bistro & Martini Bar or Fieldhouse Pizza & Pub. Pentagon Bistro has some fun menu items to try, and your political beliefs do not matter here.

After lunch, you can opt for another hike and explore the Liberty Lake Loop Trail, which includes a waterfall, old-growth forest, and views of Liberty Lake. The hike takes about 4 hours to complete and has an overall elevation gain of 1200 feet—a nice finish to another day of exploring.

For dinner tonight, there are myriad options to delight your tastebuds in the South Perry District. Try the cheese curds at WisconsinBurger or grab a slice at South Perry Pizza and an IPA at Perry Street Brewing. After dinner, check out the Pavilion light show at Riverfront Park. The light show takes place Friday – Sunday and can be viewed from all over the park and at the US Pavilion.

As the day draws to a close, you may want to reward your sweet tooth. Stop into Sweet Peaks Ice Cream to satisfy your sugar craving. After your treats, head back to your hotel to rest up for day three.

Day 3

Day three of your adventure in Spokane begins by exploring the Spokane River. There are a few ways to experience the river, and all are fun. If you feel adventurous, rafting the Spokane River with a local raft outfitter like, Wiley E. Waters or ROW Adventures, is an exhilarating way to experience the Class III rapids in Spokane. For a more leisurely river experience, consider SUP. Stand-up paddleboarding continues to be a popular activity on the Spokane River. Meet up with Fun Unlimited on the Centennial Trail by the Convention Center, and they will set you up with all the gear you need.

One last stop before heading home is Manito Park. The 90-acre park on Spokane's south hill has seven different gardens, including a Renaissance Garden and a Japanese Garden with a koi pond.

We are confident that however you decide to explore, you will enjoy the outdoors. We would love to see your adventure so, don't forget to tag #visitspokane to share your trip with us. Safe travels as you head home, and we look forward to having you return for your next Spokane adventure.

Places to Stay During Your Visit

Tru by Hilton Spokane ValleyThe Davenport Grand Hotel: The Grand Terrace is a wonderful place to sip cocktails with Riverfront Park and the Pavilion view.

The Montvale Hotel:
a boutique hotel located near the Fox Theatre, the Knitting Factory, and the Bing making an evening show convenient

Tru by Hilton:
Hotel is located near Mirabeau Park in Spokane Valley offering great access to the Centennial Trail in Spokane Valley

Northern Quest Resort & Casino:
a luxury-style hotel with Vegas-style gaming and a spa to relax in after all the hiking.

Three Days in Spokane Hiking Itinerary

Below we have an example itinerary on how to spend three days and four nights in Spokane hiking and eating amazing food. We’ve covered all the main stops mentioned above.

Day 1:
Arrive in Spokane, eat dinner in Kendall Yards, stay overnight

Day 2:
Hike Dishman Hills, explore the centennial trail, visit Arbor Crest Winery

Day 3:
Spend the day in Liberty Lake ziplining and hiking

Day 4:
Experience the Spokane River and walk Manito Park