Little Spokane Poses Danger

The rain-swollen Little Spokane River is hazardous to canoeists and rafters, officials at Riverside State Park said Monday.

“It’s not a pleasant or safe place for a floater to be,” said Frank Dorman, park ranger. “The channel is hard to find because it’s overflowed its banks and there’s hidden debris that could cause trouble.”

The Little Spokane normally is a tame float for nature watchers this time of year.

However, the river access near St. George’s School has been closed, Dorman said. Not only is the parking area partially flooded, but the river is so high that floaters would not be able to pass under a private bridge downstream, he said.

The access at Indian Painted Rocks is open, but Dorman warned he has had reports that trees have fallen across the channel.

“That’s something that can change for better or worse on an hourly basis,” he said.

For information, call park headquarters at 456-3964.