Serving Lincoln County for more than a century!
Serving Lincoln County for more than a century!
Editor's note: This is part 1 of a 4-part series
Reardan - Sometimes, you just need to take a drive. Whether it's a quick 20-minute getaway or a four-hour day trip, going for a drive is a method people often employ to clear the head and see more of the world.
And some of those drives are right here in Lincoln and western Spokane Counties.
Over the next four weeks, we'll explore four drives that one can take in The Record-Times' coverage area. The only rules are that the drive must be a loop of some sort and at least partly be within Lincoln County.
This week's drive loops from Reardan up to Devil's Gap and moseys east to Wood Road in western Spokane County before descending into Deep Creek and heading back to Reardan.
Beginning in Reardan, head north on State Highway 231. The first several miles are hilly wheat country, with farms, ranches and hills painted golden brown or green depending on the season on all sides.
Around Crescent Road, the road begins to wind and descend into Spring Canyon. The terrain goes from wheat to rocky hillsides accented by pine trees, some of which have noticeably been logged.
After winding through Spring Canyon, the road straightens out into a stunning view of green farmland with the lower Selkirk Mountains painting a backdrop at the end of the horizon. Continue toward the mountains until Devil's Gap Road, then hang a right turn. Wind down the eastbound road and enjoy the pine-filled hillsides, grassy farmland on the right with a rocky bluff that overlooks the Spokane River to the left.
There are three access points to park and go overlook the river, which is not fully visible from the road. One is on the Lincoln County side at the easy-to-miss Devil's Gap Overlook about a half mile west of Angel's Landing North. Two are just across the Spokane County border on Avista-managed land.
All three spots require a Discover Pass to park but provide spectacular views of the Spokane River and Selkirk Mountains extending into Stevens County.
Continue east on Devil's Gap Road, which turns into West Long Lake Road. Weave through the woods and enjoy forested sights before reaching an intersection at West Charles Road.
Turn right onto Charles, which quickly turns into North Wood Road and heads southbound across more scenic, wheat-filled farmland. Pay attention to the road as it begins to sharply curve through a canyon that crosses Coulee Creek, then enjoy a straightaway drive through more farmland that includes the Spokane Hutterite Brethren farm as you descend back toward U.S. Highway 2.
Wood Road intersects the highway across from Espanola Road. Turn right onto the highway and continue for six minutes to re-enter Reardan and complete the drive.
Drew Lawson is the editor of the Davenport Times. He is a graduate of Eastern Washington University.
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