Mountain landscapes and connected parkland

The Mica Peak Conservation Area lies on the western slopes of Mica Peak and covers 1,794 acres. The terrain is mountainous and wilderness-like, with views stretching across the Spokane Valley, the Palouse and beyond. When putting this into context, it is important to distinguish between the individual natural area and the connected parkland: the Conservation Area directly adjoins and is connected to Liberty Lake Regional Park. Together, they form a contiguous block of county parkland covering more than 5,000 acres. Thus, 1,794 acres refers to the Mica Peak Conservation Area, while the larger figure refers to the connected block of parkland.

Trails and choosing a specific route

A project update dated October 30, 2020, gives the total length of the completed trail system at Mica Peak as 14 miles. This figure describes the trail system, not an individual route. For choosing a specific route, details about the individual trails are therefore important. The California Creek Trail leads from the Belmont Road Trailhead into the Mica Peak Conservation Area. The main access to Mica Peak is via the parking lot on Belmont Road. The most direct route on the Mica Peak to Liberty Lake Traverse begins at the Conservation Area’s Belmont Road Trailhead. These notes address different questions: which trail leads into the area, where the main access is, and at which trailhead the most direct Traverse route begins. When planning a specific route, it is therefore worth checking the relevant trail description against the stated starting point or access point.

An important use restriction applies to the Silicate Slide Trail: it is a downhill mountain biking trail where hiking is not permitted. If you plan to travel on foot, take this restriction into account when choosing your route.

Wildflowers and the season

The wildflower-viewing season in the Mica Peak Conservation Area can last well into June; its timing varies with conditions. A June visit may therefore still fall within the possible viewing period, but how long it lasts depends on conditions. If wildflowers are important to your travel plans, check conditions before your visit.

Historical traces in Mica and Spokane County

California Ranch offers a different perspective on the region. It is the oldest continuously inhabited ranch in Spokane County, with settlement beginning around 1864. In the 1860s, it served as an important way station and stopping place for miners, packers and early settlers along the Kentuck Trail between the Palouse and Spokane rivers. Its history thus combines the ranch’s continuous settlement with its role in early travel along the trail. The town of Mica is also home to the American Firebrick Company brickyard, the only brickyard from that period still standing. The two historical topics have different emphases: settlement and travel along the trail are central to the ranch, while the brickyard is notable as the only surviving example from that period.

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