Trail Difficulty Rating—Easiest

There is no better gift to give your mother than beautiful birdsongs and wildflowers.  Join wildlife biologist Sandy Mosconi for an easy three mile walk around the wetland downstream from Big Meadow Lake where you and your mom can see upland the forests, flower-filled openings and glistening wetlands.  The diversity of habitats is matched by a variety of migratory and resident birds and other wildlife and plants that are adapted to wetland, meadow and forest environments.  Meet at the Colville Ranger District at 7a.m. to carpool or take mom camping overnight and meet the carpool group at the Big Meadow Lake Campground at about 8:30 a.m.  We will gather at the top of the old fire lookout/viewing platform at about 8:30 a.m. and listen for birds before taking our walk.  Bring your lunch and jackets in case the weather is wet or cold.  Don’t forget binoculars.  Big Meadow Lake is on the Meadow Creek Road between Aladdin Highway and Ione.  For information call Colville Ranger Station, (509) 684-7000.

Saturday, May 19,
Elk Creek Trail Bird Walk*

Trail Difficulty Rating—Easiest to More Difficult

Wildlife biologists Mike Borysewicz and Greg Olenik will host an interpretive hike up the Elk Creek Trail to celebrate the return of migratory birds.  Gather at the Mill Pond Historic Site for the 8 a.m. 2-mile walk through open brush fields burned for elk winter range improvement in 1988.  The walk includes shady forest stretches, a spectacular cascading waterfall on Elk Creek and views of Mill Pond below.  Most birds in a forested setting are difficult to see, so we’ll identify them by their calls and songs, such as the tin trumpet sound of red-breasted nuthatches and cat-like mewing of rufous-sided towhees.  Also expect to see or hear, chickadees, sparrows, vireos, tanagers, bluebirds, woodpeckers and many more.  *The number of people on the walk is limited.  To sign-up call Sullivan Lake Ranger Station, (509) 446-7500.

Saturday, July 14: 
Abercrombie Mountain

Trail Difficulty Rating: Most Difficult

Climb 3,218 feet in 3 miles to the highest point in Stevens County, Abercrombie Mountain (7,308 feet high), with botanist Kathy Ahlenslager and wildlife biologist Chris Loggers.  The trail switch-backs under a mixed evergreen forest, then breaks out on a ridge of beargrass with panoramic views of the Pend Oreille and Columbia River valleys and the Kettle Crest.  Bring water, lunch, rain-gear and high clearance vehicles.  For this 6.5 mile round-trip hike, meet at the Colville Ranger Station at 8 a.m. to carpool to the end of Forest Service Road #300 or meet at 9 a.m. at the trailhead on the west side of the mountain.  For information call the Forest Supervisor’s Office at (509) 684-7007.

Saturday, July 28
Sherman Creek Walk

Trail Difficulty Rating—Easiest

Berries will be ripe under the pine trees and cottonwoods of Sherman Creek.  During the 2-mile long, barrier-free, accessible, interpretive walk, we will look for huckleberries, raspberries, and other wild berries.  We will talk about plants, fish, and wildlife.  At the Log Flume Historical site, we will share some of the history of Sherman Creek.  The walk begins and ends at the Log Flume site.  The terrain is flat.  Meet Karen Honeycutt, fisheries biologist, at the Kettle Falls Ranger Station at 9:30 a.m. or at the Log Flume Site on Highway 20 at 10 a.m.  For information call the Forest Supervisor’s Office, (509) 684-7000.

Saturday, August 11,
Head ‘em up to Snow Peak and Sherman Loop Trail

Trail Difficulty—Difficult

Saddle up your favorite pony and join range technician Lucy Pearce for a day on the trails.  This guided 11 mile interpretive horseback ride will begin at the Snow Peak Trailhead.  We will ride the Snow Peak Trail #10 to the Kettle Crest Trail #13 South; continue on north around the Sherman Loop Trail and back to the Snow Peak Shelter Cabin for our lunch break.  The ride will include some of the area that was burned during the White Mountain Fire in 1988 and a scenic view of the range and mountains to the west.  On the east side of the Sherman Loop Trail you will be looking at the Kettle Mountain Range.  We will meet at the Snow Peak Trailhead at 9 a.m.  Take Highway 20 east of Republic to the Hall Creek Road (#99) and follow Hall Creek Road to the Snow Peak Road #100.  Travel 3.5 miles along the Snow Peak Road to the Trailhead.  Don’t forget to bring goodies, lunch and water.  For information call the Republic Ranger Station, (509) 775-3305.