Post Summary: What To Expect At Palisades Park Trail (Rimrock Conservation Area)
Berty and I walk around our nearby park nearly every day when we’re home. Since we generally sit at our computers all day, a good walk is a nice way to get some fresh air and see the sunshine for a little bit!
Well, Christmas came and went, but that didn’t stop us from getting in our daily walk! In fact, it’s become a tradition with my family to take a “Christmas hike” mid-morning on the holiday, just to get outside and move our bodies.
This year, we decided to check out Palisades Park for the first time. Located on the west side of Spokane, this 3-mile loop offers incredible views of the city, and easy trail and plenty of spots to snap a few photos!
We’re sharing everything about Palisades Park Trail here, so let’s get started!
We’ve heard this park called by both names, Palisades Park Trail and Rimrock View Trail. What’s the difference?
As far as I could tell, Palisades Park is the actual park name, and along the edges of the cliff is the protected area called Rimrock Conservation Area. This trail goes through both areas, so this is why these two names are often used interchangeably.
This is a special park because of the picturesque views on the bluffs above the city. Not many places in Spokane have this kind of unobstructed view, so taking a walk is a bit special here!
Thanks to John A. Finch for donating the land in 1913, these views are here to stay!
Map Courtesy of AllTrails.com
Graph courtesy of AllTrails.com
The main parking lot for this hike can be found on Google Maps called ‘Rimrock View Trail & Park.’ This lot can fit about 15 cars, and if you find the lot full, you can park across the road trip Rimrock Drive in the Palisades Park Equestrian Trailer Parking. Just note that there were a lot of potholes there when we came in Dec. 2019, so drive slow.
Theft Warning: We have heard that this park is, unfortunately, notorious for car prowlers.
This is a friendly reminder to never leave valuables (or really anything that can be seen as enticing) visible in your car. We were fortunate to have nothing happen to our vehicle, but we thought it would be best to warn you about this!
We began on the Palisades Park Trail by starting counterclockwise. This way, we could enjoy the view right from the start! This is the easiest section of the trail – it was on a wide, gravel path along the edge of the bluff.
After you reach the halfway point (1.5 miles up the wide gravel trail) you have the option of turning around and coming back the way you came. We saw a few families do this, and it’s a perfectly fine option if you want to check out the views on your way back too!
Referring back to the map, the turnaround point for us on Palisades Park Trail was located a the north end of the park, about 1.5 miles up the trail. Here, we had the option to turn around or take a sharp left to continue along the trail route.
We opted to take the left turn. which meant that the wide gravel pack quickly became narrow, and less maintained. If you are visiting the park with a stroller, this part of the trail is probably not recommended, as there is uneven ground from here on out.
From here, we did a lot of referring back to the map on our phone, because there are several offshoot trails in every direction! The latter half of the loop is following the edge of the park boundaries, making your way back to the parking lot from a different trail.
If you are visiting without a GPS, I’d caution you to steer left if you are unsure of what path to choose. We learned that the park boundaries are right up next to private property to the west, so you want to avoid accidentally trespassing!
A few major paths actually loop you back to the wide gravel path, so if you just wanted a quick small trail adventure, there are options to loop back to the main one later.
Palisades Park Trail isn’t your backcountry, Mount Spokane-esque forest walk. However, the convenience from town is hard to beat! We would recommend this trail for people who are looking for a little bit of nature, without driving too far from the city.
It’s a great option for long walks and morning strolls with friends. The trail is simple to follow, and with lots of trail options and an easy-to-reach parking lot, this may be your new favorite easy hike in Spokane!