Pacific Northwest Avalanche owners - I have been to paradise and it is beautiful! ? 
Over the Indpendence Day holiday I stopped in Spokane to meet with my sister. ?She is a pilot (first chair) with United and was in town on work so we hooked up for the fourth.
While there we explored Riverside State Park. ?This is a 10,000-acre paradise along the Spokane River in the northern part of town. ?Although the address is "Spokane" this park does not feel very urban.
So where does paradise come in and why is this in the cruise section? ?Well Riverside State Park has a special feature. ?A 600-acre 4-wheel drive playground of fields, sand pits, forests, hill climbs and river crossings. ?I mean this is 600-acres, just a hair under one square mile of ANYTHING goes 4WD action!
I didn't get to spend much time, about 15 to 20 minutes in there but did explore the front range. ?I got leaning on my driver's side enough that my running board dragged through the dirt (no damage). ?Did some hill climbs (nothing hard core as I was alone) but there are some serious spots in there. ?River crossing is in the back country.
A 2-wheel drive Av could have some good fun back here too. ?There are alternative routes around many of the hill climbs because the area is anything goes and lacks designated routes.
I only had one "oh-shoot" moment. ?I broke one of the cardinal 4X4 rules on doing a hill climb and that was not scouting the route. ?As we roared up the hill just at the top I noticed a huge hump where the Av would have surely high centered (anything that wasn't small like an ATV or a 6" lift would have high centered). ?So I had to stop, and then go straight back down the hill (ugh). ?NOT FUN. ?It's a good thing I didn't try it, as you peaked over there was a huge gully so I probably would have gotten very stuck - ugh SCOUT AHEAD.
Well - here is the scoop. ?What is the interest level of doing a cruise out to Spokane with an overnight stay and then a return. ?This place was serious, serious fun and totally, completely free. ?Also when I was there on the 4th - it was EMPTY! ?We only saw two other vehicles.
The risk of damage is dependent on the level of risk you take. ?If you just want to get really dusty this is a great place to do it. ?If you want to test the raw limits of 4-Lo and torque management - you can do that too. ?I came out unscathed, but didn't do anything really radical. ?I would probably remove my running boards on a second visit.
I'm thinking a mid to late September trip. ?Leave on a Saturday AM go straight to the park - have fun until we can't stand it no more and then go to Tomato Street for food and fun. ?Find a nice but inexpensive hotel (or for those on a tight budget camp at Riverside, very, very, very nice campground) and then head back in convoy on Sunday.
I know it's a bit far but this place is TOTALLY worth it!
Riverside State Park - Spokane, Washington
Over the Indpendence Day holiday I stopped in Spokane to meet with my sister. ?She is a pilot (first chair) with United and was in town on work so we hooked up for the fourth.
While there we explored Riverside State Park. ?This is a 10,000-acre paradise along the Spokane River in the northern part of town. ?Although the address is "Spokane" this park does not feel very urban.
So where does paradise come in and why is this in the cruise section? ?Well Riverside State Park has a special feature. ?A 600-acre 4-wheel drive playground of fields, sand pits, forests, hill climbs and river crossings. ?I mean this is 600-acres, just a hair under one square mile of ANYTHING goes 4WD action!
I didn't get to spend much time, about 15 to 20 minutes in there but did explore the front range. ?I got leaning on my driver's side enough that my running board dragged through the dirt (no damage). ?Did some hill climbs (nothing hard core as I was alone) but there are some serious spots in there. ?River crossing is in the back country.
A 2-wheel drive Av could have some good fun back here too. ?There are alternative routes around many of the hill climbs because the area is anything goes and lacks designated routes.
I only had one "oh-shoot" moment. ?I broke one of the cardinal 4X4 rules on doing a hill climb and that was not scouting the route. ?As we roared up the hill just at the top I noticed a huge hump where the Av would have surely high centered (anything that wasn't small like an ATV or a 6" lift would have high centered). ?So I had to stop, and then go straight back down the hill (ugh). ?NOT FUN. ?It's a good thing I didn't try it, as you peaked over there was a huge gully so I probably would have gotten very stuck - ugh SCOUT AHEAD.
Well - here is the scoop. ?What is the interest level of doing a cruise out to Spokane with an overnight stay and then a return. ?This place was serious, serious fun and totally, completely free. ?Also when I was there on the 4th - it was EMPTY! ?We only saw two other vehicles.
The risk of damage is dependent on the level of risk you take. ?If you just want to get really dusty this is a great place to do it. ?If you want to test the raw limits of 4-Lo and torque management - you can do that too. ?I came out unscathed, but didn't do anything really radical. ?I would probably remove my running boards on a second visit.
I'm thinking a mid to late September trip. ?Leave on a Saturday AM go straight to the park - have fun until we can't stand it no more and then go to Tomato Street for food and fun. ?Find a nice but inexpensive hotel (or for those on a tight budget camp at Riverside, very, very, very nice campground) and then head back in convoy on Sunday.
I know it's a bit far but this place is TOTALLY worth it!
Riverside State Park - Spokane, Washington
ha ha ha. Just kidding, I'd have to change my wheels and tires for this one, but I'll go and take the "kiddie" trails. You all know me- "Ahhh, a puddle!" 
Poor, poor, avalanche.