Demystifying Spokane Huckleberries

I absolutely love huckleberries. To me, picking them is almost a spiritual experience. Every year, my family heads out together, and I often bring along friends who haven’t picked huckleberries in our region before. People frequently ask me where to find them or how to identify them. I know this knowledge can feel like a bit of a secret, but honestly, I think that’s silly. Like any deeply meaningful experience, huckleberry picking is best when shared with community. So, I’m here to help demystify Spokane huckleberries — let’s dive in!

What are huckleberries?

Huckleberries are native berry-bearing shrubs found primarily in the mountainous and forested regions of western North America. They’re slow-growing plants that take several years to mature, so it’s important we treat them gently and avoid disturbing them too much while picking and leave plenty of berries for wildlife and future harvests. Some folks argue that huckleberry rakes don’t harm the bushes, but I disagree — and in fact, their use is prohibited in Mount Spokane State Park. If you want to use a rake, please get permission from landowners and pick on private property. For me, hand-picking huckleberries is part of the magic, making each berry feel even more valuable. It’s a slow, meditative process — so be ready to soak in the sounds of nature and enjoy the company of those around you as you pick!

How do I know it’s a huckleberry?

Huckleberry bushes tend to be low to medium height shrubs with many thin, branching stems. Their small, pointed leaves alternate along each branch. The berries start green once the blossoms fall, then turn red as they develop, and finally become a deep purple with a red interior when ripe. (Check out the pictures below to help you identify Spokane huckleberries.)

When can I find huckleberries?

Here in Spokane, huckleberries usually ripen toward the end of July. Sometimes, on rare occasions, we’ve found them ripe in the beginning of July but I typically plan my picking trips for late July through early August. Just this past weekend, I returned from a camping trip, and the berries were absolutely perfect! The timing can vary year to year but on Mount Spokane, generally, late July to mid-August is your best bet.

Where do I pick?

Mount Spokane is my go-to spot. Honestly, any trail above a certain elevation will likely have huckleberries. If you drive up Mount Spokane Road, keep climbing until you reach the large gravel parking area with restrooms marked as the Snowmobile Parking Lot on Google Maps — near Selkirk Lodge. You can park there or take the nearby roads east or west to get closer to your chosen trailhead. Once you’re on a trail from there, you’ll almost certainly encounter huckleberries.

We’ll take you there!

If you’d prefer to skip the search and have someone guide you to a great spot, join us for Huckleberry Day on Mount Spokane! This is a free event, but we ask that you pre-register so we know you’re coming. Click here to register!