Mount Spokane State Park - Trail 130 to CCC Cabin

Pass though both forest and meadow on the way to this heritage site on the aptly named Beauty Mountain within Mount Spokane State Park. During the Great Depression, this was the summer spike camp of Company 949 of the Civilian Conservation Corps, voted the best of the nation's CCC camps.

In the summer, admire their rock paths and retaining walls; in the winter, take shelter within the rebuilt cabin. Water is available at Bald Knob picnic area in the summer only.

In winter, this is one of the park's classic routes, with early bailout options that include a view and a slice of park history for those who venture all the way to the cabin.

From the SnoPark Lot, cross the main road and take trail 130/131 uphill. Pass the park's maintenance shed, then enter the woods, climbing until nearly entering the ski area. Watch for the marked snowshoe route contouring below the main trail through the woods, as the summer trail is off-limits: in the winter, it's the B-29 cat track to lodge one.

After a steep final push, emerge at Bald Knob picnic area and
campground, closed for overnight in the winter but still a lovely overlook and snack stop. Recover, then continue across the summit road (a groomed snowmobile route in the winter) to trail 130. The trail runs parallel to the road, offering views of Idaho, Newman Lake, Liberty Lake, the Spokane Valley, and Spokane along its route, as well as passing beneath some massive old-growth trees.

Watch for the signs for the CCC cabin, then turn right and head uphill. Though it's not the original, the cabin sits on the site of what was voted the nation's best CCC camp. It later became the park headquarters, and now offers winter visitors a chance to warm up before retracing the route back to the trailhead.

**Note that in winter this route requires a Sno-Park pass, as all of Mount Spokane is considered a SnoPark. Those who use the groomed trails need to purchase a special groomed trails sticker in addition to the regular SnoPark permit; this includes snowmobiles who use the lot below Selkirk, and anyone who parks in the Selkirk Lot.

Snowshoeing is not allowed on Nordic trails (or in the Alpine ski area), but even snowshoers using trails near Selkirk Lodge need to have the extra sticker on their permit.