Spokane boasts 5 ski resorts within two hours of the city, and that’s enough to keep any snow lover happy!
But what if you want MORE than the mountain runs? What other winter activities in Spokane can you do without pulling out your ski gear?
In this post, we’re sharing awesome winter activities in Spokane that will bring a little more variety to your winter season!
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ToggleOne of the best qualities about Spokane and this area of the Pacific Northwest is that Spokanites get to experience all four seasons!
That being said, Spokane gets, on average, 44 inches of snow per year, with snowfall usually starting in November.
The average temperature in Spokane in the winter is a low of 26° and a high of 36°.
In late winter/early spring, the average temperature turns to a low of around 30° and a high of 51°.
Okay, we actually can’t write this blog post without mentioning all the epic skiing and snowboarding destinations near Spokane!
There are five major mountain resorts near Spokane that are beloved by all:
You can rent skis, poles, and other gear from all of these locations or from Rambleraven or REI in Spokane.
Snowshoeing around Mt. Spokane is like wandering in a winter wonderland!
There are many snowshoeing trails with a range of difficulties on Mt. Spokane.
Some of our favorites include the Mount Kit Carson Trail (moderate, 5.4-mile out-and-back) and the Trail 121 and Trail 122 Loop (easy, 1.5-mile loop).
If you need to rent snowshoes or other gear, consider renting them from Fitness Fanatics (around $25 per day, including poles) or from Rambleraven in Spokane.
Another wonderful snowshoe trail around Mt. Spokane is Quartz Mountain where you can watch the sunset and take in the views!
Read More: Hike To The Quartz Mountain Fire Lookout
Found just south of Mt. Spokane Ski and Snowboard Park, you’ll find the Nordic Ski Area where you can cross-country ski and take in the stunning PNW views!
After driving up Mt. Spokane Park Drive for 24 miles, you’ll know you’re in the right place when you see the Selkirk Lodge and a large parking area.
Once you’re there and ready to go, you can enjoy the myriad of trails that weave through the forests of Mt. Spokane.
At the Nordic Ski Area on Mt. Spokane, you can even try skijoring (a Scandinavian word meaning “ski-drive”) with your dogs!
Don’t have skis? Rent them from Fitness Fanatics (starting at $25 per day) or from Rambleraven in Spokane!
Put on your layers this winter, because ice skating is one of the most popular (and romantic!) winter activities in Spokane!
The Ice Ribbon in downtown Spokane’s Riverfront Park is a wonderful way to get out into the crisp winter air and enjoy the winter holiday ambiance with friends and family!
The cost to skate at the Ice Ribbon is $9.95 per hour for adults (ages 13+), $6.95 per hour for youth (ages 3-12), and kiddos under two skate free!
Renting skates at the Ice Ribbon costs $6.95 per visit.
You can also go skating at the Eagles Ice Arena in north Spokane or Frontier Ice Arena in Coeur d’Alene for more cute winter vibes.
Each winter, Riverfront Park becomes a winter wonderland–bright and bejeweled with tons of Christmas lights and snow.
Here, you can grab a warm cup of tea at Revival Tea Company and take a walking tour of Riverfront Park to watch a light show on Spokane’s 1974 World’s Fair Pavilion, visit the sister cities, and enjoy a ride on the historic Looff Carousel.
You can even feed your empty cup to the Spokane Garbage Goat when you’re done (found on the pathway just to the east of the Looff Carousel)!
The Centennial Trail is a Spokane classic for many reasons: it’s accessible year-round, there are many different sections to discover, and it has wonderful outdoor views of Spokane and the Spokane River!
One of the most popular sections of the Centennial Trail is in Kendall Yards.
From Kendall Yards, you can walk to Hello Sugar–a popular mini donut shop, grab a delicious coffee at Indaba Coffee, or get a quick bite to eat at one of the many unique restaurants in the area, including Versalia Pizza, Baba, and The Yards Bruncheon!
You can also walk east on the Centennial Trail to get great views of the iconic Spokane Falls!
Weather permitting, there are great running trails along the Spokane River and Little Spokane River at Riverside State Park in the winter!
Some of our favorite winter trails at Riverside State Park include Indian Painted Rock Trail (moderate, 6.8 miles), Bowl and Pitcher Loop Trail (easy, 2 miles), and Trail 25 and Centennial Trail (easy, 3.7-mile loop).
Though it may be chilly out, visiting Palouse Falls State Park is a wonderful winter activity near Spokane that is well worth going outside in the cold!
Palouse Falls–Washington’s state waterfall–is situated inside a canyon that was shaped by the ancient Ice Age.
From a narrow cataract, the Palouse Falls drops into a churning bowl and weaves through a gorge of columnar basalt, where it eventually meets the Snake River.
In the winter, the 200-foot cascading Palouse Falls begins to freeze, creating a remarkable frozen statue of the falls!
Here, you can walk along an interpretive path along the canyon (ADA accessible) and enjoy the falls while having a picnic!
You can also hike down to the falls (weather permitting!!), but it is on unmarked, unofficial trails, so hike at your own risk!
There’s no doubt that Spokane loves its drinks (as does most of the PNW!)!
There are dozens of breweries and wineries in the area that are beloved by all.
Spokane even has a Cork District–a partnership of local organizations and wineries to promote wine tasting in Eastern Washington!
Some local winery favorites include Maryhill Winery, Barrister Winery, Bridge Press Cellars, V du V Wines, Arborcrest Wine Cellars, and Craftsman Cellars.
Some local brewery favorites include No-Li Brewhouse, Brick West Brewing Co., Iron Goat Brewing, One Tree Cider House, For the Love of God Brewing, and River City Brewing!
Inlander Restaurant Week is an annual event in Spokane where you can visit and be wooed by all styles and sizes of Spokane eateries!
The event provides visitors the opportunity to sample new fare (or go back to old favorites!) for an affordable set price.
At the restaurants participating in Inlander Restaurant Week, you can expect to have a 3-course meal for $22 or $33, as there are fixed-price menus.
In 2023, Inlander Restaurant Week will start on February 24 and end on March 5!
Hosted by Terrain Spokane, the Brrrzaar is an annual event where you can purchase gifts and goods from local artists and vendors!
The Brrrzaar is held in River Park Square and it takes over all three floors of the mall!
This event is not one to miss! Go support small businesses in Spokane!
You can also check out their From Here shop in downtown Spokane, if you can’t make the big event.
The historic Garland District is the place to be in the winter!
Grab a cup of joe at the local Rocket Bakery or Pitotti Coffee Roasters and make your way down the main strip to Vintage Print + Neon, The Candle Bar, and the Garland Mercantile.
Make sure to get a bite to eat at the Little Noodle, Ferguson’s Cafe (where “Benny & Joon,” “Vision Quest,” and “Why Would I Lie?” were filmed!), or Mary Lou’s Milk Bottle for a taste of this Spokane cuisine!
Or, keep the cozy winter vibes going and go to a movie at the classic Garland Theatre (cheap tickets, too!) or a comedy show at the Blue Door Theatre.
Each year, the Spokane Symphony hosts a 13-day fundraiser event, Christmas Trees of Elegance, featuring raffles for beautifully decorated, themed Christmas trees at the Historic Davenport Hotel and River Park Square.
Christmas Trees of Elegance started in 1983 and it is the Spokane Symphony’s biggest event, drawing in over 100,000 people from the Pacific Northwest!
Going to the Christmas Trees of Elegance is a yearly tradition for many Spokanites and it’s one of the most anticipated winter events in Spokane each year!
If you’re up for more of a challenge, get your sweat on by backcountry skiing or touring around Mt. Spokane!
Before you go, be sure to check out the designated uphill ski routes where you skin up to the top of Mt. Spokane, ski times, and other regulations having to do with backcountry skiing around Mt. Spokane!
You truly can enjoy the outdoors (and get a workout in!) by backcountry skiing in this corner of the Pacific Northwest.
Each winter, Wheatland Bank hosts free horse and carriage rides for everyone!
The horse and carriage rides can hold up to 8 adults, last for 8-10 minutes, and go around downtown Spokane.
Pick up for Wheatland Bank horse-drawn carriage rides are at 250 N. Wall Street.
The rides go from 3-8PM on Fridays (breaks from 5-6PM) and 12-5PM on Saturdays and Sundays (breaks from 2-3PM).
No reservations are required and tips are encouraged!
Northwest Winterfest is an illuminated lantern display and celebration of cultures, held at the Spokane County Fair & Expo Center.
Here, you’ll surely have a magical experience while touring through lighted lanterns that highlight the traditions of cultures all around the globe!
The event starts on December 2nd and goes through January 1st.
Tickets for Northwest Winterfest are $9.90 for youth (ages 11-16), $14.90 for adults (ages 17+), $12.90 for seniors (ages 55+), and children under 10 get in for free!
What are some of your favorite outdoor winter activities in Spokane, Washington? Leave them in the comments below!