The Spokesman-Review Newspaper

The Spokesman-Review Newspaper The Spokesman-Review

Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883
Partly Cloudy Night 63° Partly Cloudy
Cache Reset
Admin Edit Exit Admin
Log in Subscribe
Activate
My account Log out
Go to e-Edition Sign up for newsletters Customer service
Subscribe now
Sports >  Outdoors

St. George’s Put-in on Little Spokane River temporarily closed due to flooding

June 22, 2022 Updated Wed., June 22, 2022 at 4:15 p.m.

Andy Curtis pushes off from a rock after putting in his inflatable kayak at Pine River Park in north Spokane, Wash. on July 11, 2021. Curtis comes to the park often to access the Little Spokane River, where he spends about two hours on the river until he reaches the fish hatchery. (Libby Kamrowski/ THE SPOKESMAN-REVIEW)
Andy Curtis pushes off from a rock after putting in his inflatable kayak at Pine River Park in north Spokane, Wash. on July 11, 2021. Curtis comes to the park often to access the Little Spokane River, where he spends about two hours on the river until he reaches the fish hatchery. (Libby Kamrowski/ THE SPOKESMAN-REVIEW)
By Eli Francovich elif@spokesman.com(509) 459-5508

The St. George’s Put-in on the Little Spokane River is closed following flooding.

“Once the water recedes, we will reopen the area,” said Lara Gricar, a spokeswoman for Washington State Parks and Recreation.

Kayakers and other river users can put-in at the Indian Painted Rock trailhead.

The Little Spokane River Natural Area is a 1,500-acre preserve along a river that would otherwise be off-limits to the public.

In 1900, the Washington Supreme Court ruled the Little Spokane River to be non-navigable, giving property owners the right to stop public use of the river where it flows through their land.

Former Spokane County Parks Director Sam Angove, along with the late river residents Morey and Margaret Haggin and others, secured the natural area for public use in 1985. Per the natural areas rules, swimming, drinking and other activities are prohibited in an effort to “conserve a unique natural environment.”

The county eventually transferred management authority to Riverside State Park. A Washington Discover Pass is required in vehicles parking at Little Spokane River access sites, including the St. George’s Put-in and the Highway 291 takeout.

The Spokesman-Review Newspaper

Local journalism is essential.

Give directly to The Spokesman-Review's Northwest Passages community forums series -- which helps to offset the costs of several reporter and editor positions at the newspaper -- by using the easy options below. Gifts processed in this system are not tax deductible, but are predominately used to help meet the local financial requirements needed to receive national matching-grant funds.

Active Person

Subscribe to the sports newsletter

Get the day’s top sports headlines and breaking news delivered to your inbox by subscribing here.

Top stories in Outdoors