Shuttles ease trip upriver for boaters

Little Spokane River paddlers with kayaks, canoes and kids on their hands can let someone else do the driving.

For $8 a person, families with children 8 and older can leave their vehicles at the put-in location near St. George’s School, paddle the roughly 7 miles to a takeout at Nine Mile Road, and take the Spokane Parks and Recreation Department’s one-way shuttle back to their vehicles.

The city has offered the shuttle service in past years. This is the first year the shuttles are pulling trailers to haul kayaks and canoes along with people, said Gar Anderson, of the Parks and Recreation Department.

The river trip takes about 2  1/2 hours. It features fish and more.

“You’ll see ducks, blue heron. There’s quite a few osprey out there,” Anderson said. “There’s been a couple of people who’ve seen river otters. Frequently you’ll run across deer. There’s a moose that kind of moseys around out there that from time to time you get a chance to see.”

Inner tubes, air mattresses and rafts are prohibited, to prevent dangling feet from disturbing the riverbed, a trout spawning ground.

Life jackets are required for everyone. Each vehicle must have a Washington state Discover Pass. Go to www.discoverpass.wa.gov to buy a pass.

Adrian Rogers

When: The shuttle runs hourly from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturdays through Aug. 30.

Where: The put-in location is in Spokane between St. George’s, 2929 W. Waikiki Road, and the nearby fish hatchery.

To register: Go to http://bit.ly/1moGuVu and click on “Adults” to find “Shuttle Service Little Spokane River.”

Cost: $8 per person

More information: (509) 625-6200 or (509) 363-5418