Riverside State Park - Camping, Hiking and More!
Riverside State Park is a wonderful place to enjoy some of the most beautiful
views of the Spokane River and it's just a short 6 mile drive from downtown Spokane.
At 10,000 acres, the park is the second largest in the state of Washington.
There are two campgrounds in the park; one located at the Bowl and Pitcher and the other at the 1500 acre Nine Mile Recreation area.
There are miles of trails to hike or ride your mountain bike as well as picnic areas. Other activities include fishing, swimming, rock climbing, bird watching and ATV riding.
Rent a Discover Pack from the Nine Mile Falls or Bowl and Pitcher Ranger
Station and explore the natural wonders of the park. The backpack has field
guides, binoculars, compass, and activity suggestions and costs only $5/day or
$3/half day. You can call (509) 465-5064 for more information.
If you are more adventurous you can paddle a canoe or kayak on the Little Spokane River. The route is about 7.3 miles long and meanders through some beautiful scenery that has been left undisturbed from development. Explore the Indian Painted Rocks where earlier inhabitants left pictographs for us to wonder at. Canoes and Kayaks are available to rent for $25 per day by calling (509) 468-2286 until September 15th. After September 16th, call (509) 465-5064.
The
Bowl and Pitcher is a rock feature of the river that is unique and one place you
should check out when you come to the park. There is a foot bridge that crosses
the river here that was
built by the Civilian Conservation Corps in the 1930's. The view of the river
here is spectacular and it's a great place to snap a picture from here
There's camping, hiking and biking trails and a really nice picnic area that make it a nice place to start your visit to the park. There is a ranger station here and a large parking area and the best thing about it is that the day use is free.
Getting There
The route getting to the park is not straight forward so here is a map to guide you and below are written directions.
- From Interstate 90 take the Maple St Bridge exit (exit 280)
- Head north on Maple St. across the bridge until the Maxwell St intersection.
- Turn Left onto Maxwell and follow it as it winds northward and turns into Pettit Drive. You'll see Downriver Golf course on your right and then into Riverside State Park.
Off-Road-Vehicle Area
The OVR area is 600 acres of land set aside for off road enthusiasts to enjoy riding dirt bikes and ATVs. The area is patrolled by rangers to enforce the park rules which consist mainly of riding within the posted boundaries, having OVR tabs and having a spark arrestors on you rig.
Directions to the OVR Area
- From I-90 take exit 280 (Maple St.) go north across the Spokane River.
- Take a left on Northwest Blvd.
- Stay on this road until Francis Ave. (Hwy 291) take a left.
- When the road bends north, it becomes Nine Mile Rd.
- Take a left on Seven Mile Rd. and follow the signs to the ORV area (approximately two miles).
So, pack up the car and head to the park and spend the day or the weekend enjoying the natural beauty of Spokane's Riverside State Park.
