Fall is the perfect time to explore the beautiful Inland Empire

For more information, contact Kim Papich, SRHD Public Information Officer (509) 324-1539
 
SPOKANE, Wash. – Oct 17, 2013 – Today, Spokane Regional Health District (SRHD) announced the release of a newly-revised Spokane area walking and hiking map that residents can use to plan fall foot-based adventures. The map is available for free download on the health district web site by clicking here. 
 
“Fall is a great time to get fit and create good habits for the upcoming holiday season,” said Heleen Dewey, a health program specialist for SRHD’s Healthy Communities program. "With the change of seasons comes a renewed time to rethink and restart, and experiencing fall on these routes can be a treat for the senses."
 
In existence for several years, the latest version of the map features routes for:

• Centennial Trail – Mirabeau Park to Plantes Ferry
• Cheney – Downtown Loop
• Little Spokane River – Indian Painted Rocks
• Manito Park –Cannon Hill Park Loop
• Medical Lake Loop
• Riverfront Park – Gonzaga University Loop
• Riverside State Park – Bowl & Pitcher Loop

 
Users will appreciate the map’s colorful, easy-to-use design including details about what walkers and hikers might discover on each route, as well as available amenities. Residents and visitors can choose a walking route that best suits their interests and fitness level—each route features a description of the route; estimated distance, steps, time to complete, and calories burned; and difficulty rating. Additionally, SRHD included tips for walking and hiking in the fall including choosing well-lit areas to walk, wearing reflective clothing and dressing in layers. There are also general walking and hiking safety details, as well as tidbits about physical activity and goal setting.
 
Increasing physical activity in Spokane, especially among females, is one of five priority areas for SRHD. Agency priorities help guide staff efforts to keep pace with emerging public health challenges and address the leading causes of death and disability in Spokane County.
 
For the most-recent data available, 30 percent of adults in Spokane County did not meet the recommendation of being physically active for 150 minutes in a week. While most adults got the recommended amount of physical activity, there were differences by income, gender and education. In particular, men were more likely than women to meet the recommendation of 150 minutes of moderate physical activity and even more likely to get 300 or more minutes per week of physical activity. Subsequently, women, across all education and income levels, are a particular focus of increasing physical activity in Spokane County.
 

Staff aim to increase local women’s moderate physical activity by helping them identify areas in Spokane to walk—walking is the easiest form of moderate physical activity. Increasing physical activity can help control weight; reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease, type 2 diabetes and metabolic syndrome; and reduce the chances of some cancers. Exercise also strengthens bones and muscles, improves mental health and mood, improves a person’s ability to do daily activities, helps to prevent falls, and increases a person’s chances of living longer.

In addition to the downloadable map, users can also download individual routes on the web site. Hard-copy maps are also available at several locations throughout Spokane County including:

For more information about the health benefits of walking, visit the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention web page on walking: cdc.gov/VitalSigns/Walking/index.html. More information can also be found at www.srhd.org. SRHD’s website offers comprehensive, updated information about Spokane Regional Health District and its triumphs in making Spokane a safer and healthier community. Become a fan of SRHD on Facebook to receive local safety and wellness tips. You can also follow us on Twitter @spokanehealth.