Spokane River Paddle Tour (Peaceful Valley To Meenach Bridge)

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Distance: 4 miles

Difficulty: Moderate

Paddling time: 1 hour or less

Season: Year-round

Maps: USGS Spokane NW

Info: Washington Water Power river flow recording, 482-8043

PADDLE TOUR NOTES

Access: Put-in: In downtown Spokane, go to Monroe Street. Just south of Monroe Street Bridge over Spokane River, turn west (downstream) on Main Street. Almost at bottom of hill (across Main from Wright Street) bear right on one-lane road to Glover Field. Bear left on Water Street. Park under Maple Street Bridge. Put-in is on downstream side of Bridge pilings.

Take-out: From under Maple Street Bridge, continue west on Water Street past old casket factory. Turn left at end of block onto Ash. Turn right on Main. Left on Elm. Right onto Clarke. (Runners will recognize following directions as Bloomsday route.)

Drive 3/4 mile and turn right on Riverside Avenue. Cross Latah Creek and bear right. At stop sign, turn right on Government Way. Drive nearly 1-1/2 miles to stop light and turn right onto Fort Wright Drive. Go 1-1/3 miles and bear right immediately after crossing T.J. Meenach Bridge. (Sign says Riverside State Park.) At stop, turn right again on Pettit Drive. Head downstream along Spokane River 1/4 mile to gated access on river-side of road.

Attractions: Quick fix for canoe play beginning from downtown Spokane. Trip can be paddled in as little as 30 minutes at flows over 6,000 cfs. But plenty off areas beckon canoeists to play. Beach at mouth of Latah Creek considered risky in winter because of cold water, rocks and Class II rapids. Same area considered risque in summer, when nude sunbathers are common. River holds rainbow, brown trout in this area. Good fly fishing during summer evenings. Expect to see ducks, mergansers, blue herons plus raptors. Houses common along river, but many wild stretches.

Hazards: Temporary river-level cable strung across river shortly after put-in. Abandoned bridge pilings.

Comments: Flow levels play big role in appeal of this trip. Route fairly easy in winter flows around 6,000 cfs. Spring flows around 19,000 cfs wash out some rapids but create hard eddy lines and serious hydraulics, particularly at bridge pilings and near mouth of Latah Creek. Trickiest paddling could be in late summer when flows drop below 1,200 cfs. Area going into abandoned bridge pilings very rocky, as are rapids.

Beware in case temporary cable used for water pipeline construction remains strung dangerously low across river near USGS gauging station. Passage possible only along shoreline.

Best channel to take through abandoned bridge pilings near beginning of trip depends on skill and flow. Scout from pullout at intersection of Clarke and Riverside during shuttle.

After Latah Creek, paddling fairly straight forward. Bigger waves can can be skirted if desired.

Some public land borders river, but most areas private.

Look for first take-out shortly after passing under Meenach Bridge near street sewer outlet. Go another 100 yards for next good take-out somewhat camouflaged in willows. Again, scout during shuttle.

Spokane River flows listed daily on page A2 of The Spokesman-Review.

, DataTimes ILLUSTRATION: Map of Spokane River Paddle Tour

The following fields overflowed: SUPCAT = COLUMN - Routes: Classic Trips in the Inland Northwest