- 100 Classic Hikes of Washington
Knothead Valley Loop Trail Hiking Guide
If you’re looking for a beautiful hike in the Spokane Area, look no further than Knothead Valley Loop Trail in the Lower Spokane River Nature Area. This moderate hike has some striking landscapes with an easy-to-follow trail.
The trail is accessible year-round if you’re comfortable hiking in snowy and muddy conditions between November and March. This makes it the perfect trail to either train for an upcoming trip or just keep trekking year-round. Having completed this hike in March, I will say that the trail was in excellent condition and the perfect moderate trail to get back in shape for an upcoming backpacking trip.
Knothead Valley Trail is known for its ancient petroglyphs and extraordinary wildflower display in the spring. This post will cover everything you need to know about hiking the Knothead Valley Loop! Let’s get into it!
Hiking Knothead Valley Loop Trail a 100 Classic of Washington
In this post, you can expect to learn everything there is to know about the Knothead Valley Loop Trail in Spokane, Washington! Knothead Valley Loop Trail is one of the best trails in Spokane and for good reason.
But there are some important details to know about the trail including what permits you’ll need to park at the trailhead, recommended gear & hiking clothes, and what to expect on each mile of the route. Let’s begin with the basics!
General Information
Before you get to the trailhead, there are a few things you should know!
Trail Stats
Region: Eastern Washington
Distance: 6.6 miles
Elevation Gain: 1,000 ft
Level: Moderate
Time: 2.5hrs +
When to go: March – November
Pass/Permit: Discover Pass
Dogs Allowed?: No
Date Completed: 3/16/24
Where is the Trailhead Located?
Knothead Valley Loop is located on the ancestral lands of the Spokane, Cayuse, Umatilla, Walla Walla, and Ktunaxa tribes. We are grateful for the stewards of this land past and present. We are honored to be and recognize that we are guests on this land.
Trailhead Facilities
The trailhead has a pit toilet that is available for use.
Season to Visit
The best time to hike the Knothead Valley Loop Trail is in the spring when wildflowers are in full bloom.
One of the large draws to this trail is that it is accessible for most of the year with many people hiking the trail all year round regardless of conditions. However, the prime conditions truly are in the spring.
Passes/Permits
The Knothead Loop Trail is located in the Little Spokane River Natural Area. To park at the trailhead, you will need a Discover Pass.
The Discover Pass is the recreation pass for all state-run parks in Washington. There is a $35 annual fee for the pass which you can purchase here!
Hiking Knothead Valley Loop Trail
I could not have experienced a better early-season hiking trail than Knohead – Little Spokane River Trail (another name for the route). Every step of the trail was great and if you’re looking for a beautiful way just to get your body moving, this trail is it. There are some easy sections and challenging sections, but every part of the trail is beautiful.
Here is a mile-by-mile breakdown of the trail. Keep in mind that I hiked the trail clockwise.
Mile 1
There are two trailheads at the parking lot and you’ll pick the trailhead based on if you want to hike the trail clockwise or counterclockwise. I chose clockwise for this trail.
The clockwise trailhead begins with an informational sign and then you’re immediately standing at the Indian painted Rocks. The petroglyphs are encased with steel rails but you can still look at them easily!
The first mile brings you alongside the Little Spokane River on your left and the impressive, rocky terrain to your right. The trail meanders with little elevation gain; making for a fantastic warm-up.
Mile 2
Hiking mile 2 on the Knothead Valley Loop Trail continues to meander but it is in this part of the trail that the real elevation gain begins. In the clearing just before River Park Lane, a road that cuts through the trail, I caught a glimpse of a deer that was eating some grass.
At 1.7 miles into the trail, you will reach River Park Lane. To continue the trail you’ll cross the road and rejoin the trail slightly up the road. This is where the real elevation gain begins.
For the next 0.3 miles after crossing the road, the elevation gain is pretty steep. Thankfully, you’ll soon be graced with a flat section of trail.
Mile 3
Mile 3 of the trail is a mix of steep uphill sections and flat leisurely sections. Looking at an elevation gain map, you can look forward to some of the flat sections as encouragement to keep going.
After the second flat section of the trail, there is a collection of switchbacks up the hillside. That brings hikers to a short detour to “the knob”. The 0.1 mile off-shoot of the trail brings hikers to the Knothead Overlook which makes for a great turnaround point or rest point before continuing to the remaining elevation gain.
Mile 4
In mile four, you will be reaching the highest point of the trail and making your way down a section of switchbacks.
The trek from Knothead to the high point of the trail is mostly exposed with long sections of steep uphill. Eventually, you make it to the highest point where there is a bench and a short off-shoot trail to get some phenomenal views of Lookout Mountain.
From here you will enjoy the beginning of a gentle descent downward.
Mile 5
Shortly after the initial descent you will come across a junction where you have the option to take a steeper descent or a more gentle descent. The AllTrails route brings hikers down the more gentle route. I struggled to even locate the steeper route until I saw it looking up. It was VERY steep.
The remaining portion of this mile will zigzag you through some tall trees until the route shallows out.
Mile 6
Mile 6 was still a descent but with a gentler slope. You will be walking between two canyons during this section of the trail. The steep sides of the rocks keep this section interesting.
Parts of this trail experienced a fire so it was really interesting to see how the forest was healing from that.
Remaining 0.6 miles
The remaining 0.6 miles of the trail went by quickly.
There is an access point to the trail about 0.2 miles from the trailhead where you began. Seeing it from the distance gave me a little joy and then a lot of disappointment when I realized I still had 0.2 miles to go.
The remainder of the trail was wonderful as I made the final descent into the trailhead.
Frequently Asked Questions
Here are answers to some commonly asked questions about hiking Knothead Valley Loop.
How long is the Indian Painted Rocks Trail?
The trail is about 6.6 miles with some optional off-shoots that add between 0.2 miles and 0.5 miles to the entire trek.
What are the best hikes in the Spokane Area?
Knothead Valley Loop trail is one of the best trails in the Spokane Area. There is also Mount Spokane which offers some great views of the surrounding area. If you look a little outside of the Spokane Area, Kamiak Butte and Steamboat Rock are phenomenal.
SHould you hike knothead valley loop clockwise or counterclockwise?
You can hike Knothead Valley Loop in either direction and there is not MUCH difference. I opted to hike the trail clockwise so I could get a good warm-up in before beginning elevation. If you hike the trail counterclockwise, you begin gaining elevation almost immediately.
If you have any other questions about the trail, feel free to drop them in the comments and I would be happy to answer them!
What to Pack for Your Hike
Just like any hike, I highly recommend bringing the ten essentials of hiking. If you’re unsure of what the ten essentials of hiking are, check out my blog here!
For this particular trail, I am going to suggest gear that would be important for hiking with lots of sun exposure. Since this trail offered little shade and the area is known for getting extremely hot, the gear below intends to help keep your skin protected from UV and keep you cool.
Clothes
In hot environments, you’ll want clothes that offer breathability and sweat-wicking properties. I also opt for gear that covers my skin to minimize potential skin damage from long hours out in the sun.
Here are my favorite sun hoodies that accomplish all of the above:
For bottoms, I typically enjoy hiking in leggings, but a good convertible pant is also really great for the trail!
Lastly, a great pair of wool socks works wonders in keeping your feet blister-free. My go-to socks have always been darn tough.
Should Knothead Valley Loop be a 100 Classic Hike of WA?
I am hiking all “100 Classic Hikes of Washington”. But the question is, Should Knothead Valley Loop be a 100 Classic Hike of Washington?
I thought that the Knothead Valley Loop Trail was excellent. I enjoyed every step of the way and imagine that if I were to have completed it during a spring bloom, it would be even better.
All the opportunities to stop at lookout points, admire the unique ecosystem of the area and watch wildlife add up to the perfect trail.
If the assessment of whether or not a trail should be considered a 100 Classic Hike of Washington is dependent on whether it magnifies the beauty of Washington, this should absolutely be on the list.
Let me know in the comments if you think Knothead Valley Loop should be a 100 Classic Hike of Washington!
If you’d like to complete your own 100 Classic Hikes journey, you can purchase the book here.
Pack It Up
Here is a quick recap of what to know when it comes to hiking Knothead Valley Loop Trail:
- Bring plenty of water
- Bring sunscreen or wear UV-protective clothes
- Need a Discover Pass
- Stop and enjoy the Petroglyphs near the trailhead
The trail is lovely! If you end up hiking this trail, drop me a comment and let me know what you thought of it!
Meet the Author -
Sarah Borgen
I am an Educator and outdoor Enthusiast based out of Seattle and writer of Exploren Borgen! My adventures consist of weekends spent in the woods, on a hike, car camping, and taking a deep breath of fresh air. When not on an adventure, you can find me in a classroom teaching high school science! I love having a job that allows me to the opportunity to discuss things like conservation, sustainability, and accessibility.
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Meet the author
Sarah Borgen, AKA your outdoor bestie
I’m an outdoorsy educator and adventure advocate, which is why I’m passionate about creating resources – like blogs, guides, and interactive maps – to simplify your travels. I’m eager to share some of Washington’s greatest destinations and hidden gems with you.
2 Responses
Hiked it this afternoon (11/14/24) with my son. At 73 this is a good training hike. Went counterclockwise….lots of switchbacks and some steep sections…but the trail is quite good. Great view from Knothead as we climbed above the morning fog.
Amazing! It is such a beautiful area out there!