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Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

Outdoors blog

Pend Oreille River Poker Paddle Aug. 13

Participants in the annual Pend Oreille Poker Paddle have a tradition of having fun while traveling 32 miles downstream on the Pend Oreille River in two days from Usk to Ione.  (Eileen Dugger )
Participants in the annual Pend Oreille Poker Paddle have a tradition of having fun while traveling 32 miles downstream on the Pend Oreille River in two days from Usk to Ione. (Eileen Dugger )

WATERSPORTS –The 35th annual Pend Oreille River Poker Paddle, featuring non-motorized vessels ranging from sleek kayaks to parade-float creations, is set for Aug. 13.

The event will start at 8 a.m. at Pioneer Park Campground at Newport and finish 15 miles downstream at Usk by 5 p.m.

Formerly a two day event, the Poker Paddle participants spend a day on the river with stops at Sandy Shores, Gregg’s Addition, Ponderay Shores and Davis Road.

The first paddlers will launch at 8 a.m. with assigned start times running to 11 a.m.

At each stop, paddlers toss a dart to get a card with the goal of achieving the best poker hand to win prizes.

Grand prize is a night’s stay at the Northern Quest Hotel with dinner for two.

Register: $35, porpokerpaddle.com.



Rich Landers
Rich Landers joined The Spokesman-Review in 1977. He is the Outdoors editor for the Sports Department writing and photographing stories about hiking, hunting, fishing, boating, conservation, nature and wildlife and related topics.

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