Friends of Mount Spokane State Park

Washington boasts over 140 state parks, with Mount Spokane State Park as the largest one in the system at over 12,000 acres of mountainous terrain. Mount Spokane additionally is one of the most diverse parks in terms of number of permitted recreational activities and uses. 

Members of the Friends of Mt Spokane help with a trail project

Over 20 of Washington State Parks have associated Friends groups. These Friends groups all look a little different from one another, but they all advocate for their park and help to both coordinate volunteer projects and also fundraise in support of their park. 

It is a relatively small percentage of Washington State Parks that are fortunate enough to have a Friends group, but Mount Spokane State Park actually has two! Spokane Nordic is an official Friends group with a highly specific focus on the Nordic trail system in the park. Additionally, the Friends of Mount Spokane State Park has been serving as the broad-based Friends group since its inception as a joint Advisory Committee and official Friends group in 1995. Board members for the Friends of Mount Spokane represent the broad range of activities that take place within the park: from hikers, equestrian users, mountain bikers, and nature-based activities in summer; to alpine skiing, Nordic skiing, snowshoeing, and snowmobile activities in winter. 

As a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, the Friends of Mount Spokane State Park is able to accept tax-exempt donations and then assist the park with various needs, from leveraging grants by providing matching dollars to purchasing items that might otherwise be outside the park budget. Recent donations have ranged from a necessary equipment part for a Nordic groomer to non-slip mats to place inside outhouses to help prevent visitor falls as snow gets tracked inside. 

Also similar to Spokane Nordic, the Friends of Mount Spokane helps provide education to park visitors, but again with a broad focus on all of the activities that are permitted within the largest of our favorite parks. To that end, the Friends of Mount Spokane State Park recently assisted the park with the development of a new map of the entire trail system for all seasons. This great resource is double-sided, with the summer map on one side and the winter map on the other. It serves as a guide to all of the different activities within the park and also covers some important regulations that are necessary for park visitors to know about. The map is printed on water & tear-resistant paper and is available for sale at the park office as well as several local outdoor shops. Proceeds from the sale of the map will help with future park needs. 

Spokane Nordic produces its own fantastic maps of the groomed Nordic trail system, but for anyone who participates in other activities in the park, the new map is a must-have! Please consider picking up a copy, and also check out the Friends of Mount Spokane State Park website at mountspokane.org.