Krell Hill, also known as Tower Mountain, is a peak at the southern end of the

Selkirk Mountains The Selkirk Mountains are a mountain range spanning the northern portion of the Idaho Panhandle, eastern Washington, and southeastern British Columbia which are part of a larger grouping of mountains, the Columbia Mountains. They begin at Mica Pe ...

Spokane County, Washington Spokane County is a county located in the U.S. state of Washington. As of the 2020 census, its population was 539,339, making it the fourth-most populous county in Washington. The largest city and county seat is Spokane, the second largest cit ...

. It rises abruptly to the southeast of the relatively flat South Hill area of the city of

Spokane Spokane ( ) is the largest city and county seat of Spokane County, Washington, United States. It is in eastern Washington, along the Spokane River, adjacent to the Selkirk Mountains, and west of the Rocky Mountain foothills, south of the Ca ...

. An area of high topographical relief continues to the east of the mountain towards

Mica Peak Mica Peak is the name of two separate mountain summits in the United States located approximately apart; one in Spokane County, Washington and the other in Kootenai County, Idaho. The two peaks are located along the same ridge, which separates t ...

and the

Coeur d'Alene Mountains The Coeur d'Alene Mountains are the northwesternmost portion of the Bitterroot Range, part of the Rocky Mountains, located in northern Idaho and westernmost Montana in the Western United States. The mountain range spans an area of and its two ...

of the

Bitterroot Range The Bitterroot Range is a mountain range and a subrange of the Rocky Mountains that runs along the border of Montana and Idaho in the northwestern United States. The range spans an area of and is named after the bitterroot (''Lewisia rediviva' ...

, in turn part of the

Rocky Mountains The Rocky Mountains, also known as the Rockies, are a major mountain range and the largest mountain system in North America. The Rocky Mountains stretch in straight-line distance from the northernmost part of western Canada, to New Mexico in ...

. To the north the mountain descends slowly along a ridge into the

Dishman Hills Dishman Hills Natural Resources Conservation Area is a area protected by a combination of public and non-profit groups (Spokane County Parks and Recreation Department, Washington Department of Natural Resources, Inland Northwest Land Conservancy ...

and eventually the

Spokane Valley The Spokane Valley is a valley of the Spokane River through the southern Selkirk Mountains in the U.S. state of Washington. The valley is home to the cities of Spokane and its suburbs Spokane Valley, Liberty Lake, and Millwood. The valley i ...

. To the south and west the mountain towers over relatively flat terrain, with the vast farmland of the

Palouse The Palouse ( ) is a distinct geographic region of the northwestern United States, encompassing parts of north central Idaho, southeastern Washington, and, by some definitions, parts of northeast Oregon. It is a major agricultural area, prima ...

and the

Columbia Plateau The Columbia Plateau is a geologic and geographic region that lies across parts of the U.S. states of Washington, Oregon, and Idaho. It is a wide flood basalt plateau between the Cascade Range and the Rocky Mountains, cut through by the Columbia ...

extending as far as the eye can see. Tower Mountain, while not the official name, is commonly used because of the tall television and radio towers along the ridge atop the mountain. They are prominent at all times of day, but especially at night with their flashing red lights. The towers can be seen from many locations around the Spokane area and northern Palouse. The mountain rises roughly 1,700 feet above the floor of the Spokane Valley and 1,200 feet above the adjacent portions of the city of Spokane.

Browne's Mountain

Browne's Mountain is an unofficial neighborhood located just beyond the southeastern tip of the City of Spokane. It is named for pioneer lawyer J.J. Browne, who built one of the first homes in the area in 1908. It sits on the northwesternmost foothill of the Krell Hill, where it abruptly begins its rise from the Glenrose and Moran Prairies. The neighborhood is entirely residential and suburban in nature. Its location on the hillside gives the area panoramic views of Spokane and beyond. Some of the roads in the neighborhood are private.

Iller Creek Conservation Area

Looking SW From Krell Hill, September 2012

The Iller Creek Conservation Area consists of 966.62 acres on the eastern side of Krell Hill and is part of Spokane County's Conservation Futures program. Iller Creek drains the eastern slopes of the mountain along with a ridge to the east. The creek's headwaters lie on the northern flank of a ridge that extends eastward from the main peak.

Rocks of Sharon

Along the ridge that extends eastward from the main peak are the Rocks of Sharon. On some maps the rocks are known simply as "Big Rock", after the largest of the monoliths which is significantly larger and taller than the rest. These granite monoliths are a popular location with rock climbers. The Conservation Futures program, after a few years of negotiations, completed a trailhead on Stevens Creek Road in August 2012 allowing climbers and hikers a shorter route to the rocks from the south. Before the Stevens Creek access was approved visitors had to start from the north at Holman and Rockcrest. From there visitors would hike up the valley of Iller Creek for over 2 miles.

References

{{Columbia Mountains Mountains of Spokane County, Washington Mountains of Washington (state) Selkirk Mountains Hills of Washington (state)