Riverside State Park is an Eastern Washington gem!
Located just nine miles northwest of downtown Spokane, Riverside State Park is nestled along the Spokane River and Little Spokane River, and is beloved by all in the area.
Within Riverside State Park there are 14,000 acres for hikers, equestrians, rock climbers, campers, and bikers.
Keep reading to learn all about Riverside State Park, popular trails in the area, and where to stay in this Spokane classic!
Before you begin reading, we’d like to acknowledge that Spokane and Riverside Park are situated on Spokane Tribal land. We recognize and honor the first stewards of this land.
Riverside State Park was historically a gathering place for Native American tribes and was home to a fur trading center.
Nowadays, the Spokane House Interpretive Center at Nine Mile Falls specifically focuses on this early fur trading and its effects on the Spokane Tribe of Indians, who originally called the land home.
In 1933, the area was established as Riverside State Park and was reserved for conservation, safe from development.
In the 1930s, the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC)–a work relief program during the Great Depression–built many park structures at Riverside Park to make it a recreational area.
One structure that still stands today at Riverside State Park is the suspension bridge that was built over the Spokane River in 1940.
The most popular access point to Riverside State Park is near the Bowl and Pitcher Area where there are picnic spots, the historic suspension bridge, shelters, and a campground.
Nine Mile Falls Recreation Area is another access point into Riverside State Park, which offers two shelters that can accommodate up to 40 guests (first-come, first-serve)!
Here’s a Riverside State Park map to help you navigate these trails, parking areas, and access points for your next visit.
Because it’s a state park, all vehicles entering Riverside State Park need a Washington Discover Pass.
An annual Discover Pass for one vehicle costs $30, whereas a day pass costs $11.
You can pay for your parking fee at Riverside State Park by using their automated pay stations in the lots.
You can also pay for your Discover Pass by calling the number listed at the automated pay station.
Instead of purchasing a Discover Pass to visit Riverside State Park, library card holders can rent one for a week at a time from one of these participating libraries in Spokane:
You can also visit Riverside State Park on any of the Discover Pass free days!
You get what you put into your outdoor adventure when hiking in the 55 miles of hiking trails in Riverside State Park.
If you’re up for a leisurely walk through the woods, check out the easy, 2-mile Bowl and Pitcher Loop Trail in Riverside State Park that passes over the historic suspension bridge (124 feet elevation gain).
Up for more of a challenge? The Indian Painted Rocks Trail starts as an easy hike along the Little Spokane River, but meets up with the Knothead Valley Loop Trail and becomes more challenging as it travels up a bluff and back to the parking lot (moderate, 6.8 miles with 1,049 feet elevation gain).
Military Cemetary/Equestrian Area Loop is another wonderful trail that is perfect for hiking, horseback riding, and running, as it’s a moderate 5.8-mile loop with 534 feet of elevation gain.
A cool thing about the Indian Painted Rocks Trail is that it features a protected Native American pictograph at the trailhead!
There is one mile of ADA-accessible hiking trails at Riverside State Park as well near the Bowl and Pitcher parking area and campground.
Check out this Riverside State Park trail map to find your way on your next visit!
Within Riverside State Park, there are over 70 miles of mountain biking trails!
These mountain biking trails are a combination of double and single tracks.
If you’re only looking for a one-day adventure at Riverside State Park, consider renting a mountain bike at North Division Bicycle ($50 a day)!
Because of the equestrian campground and the 25 miles of equestrian-friendly trails, horseback riding in Riverside State Park is very popular.
There is even an obstacle course with a 60-foot round pen for you to practice with your horse!
The Equestrian Area in Riverside State Park is strictly for horses only and includes a horse-friendly campground.
There are over 600 acres of Off Road Vehicle (ORV) special terrain where you can take your bikes!
The ORV area in Riverside State Park is welcoming to both beginners and trained riders.
In the summer, you can use this space for your ORV, and in the winter, you can use it for snowmobiling!
The Centennial Trail has been extremely popular since its construction in 1989 to celebrate Washington’s State centennial.
With that, one reason why Riverside State Park is so popular is because it has direct access to the Spokane River Centennial State Park Trail.
Stretching across 63 miles of the Pacific Northwest, the paved Centennial Trail goes from Nine Mile Falls near Spokane to the Idaho Stateline!
Perfect for bikers and urban walkers, this Spokane hotspot is extremely popular and is loved by visitors and locals alike.
While the Centennial Trail is easy to access throughout the city of Spokane, the portion of the trail in Riverside State Park is particularly unique for its views alongside the Spokane River.
Riverside State Park camping and recreation is the perfect getaway for Spokanites and visitors, because of its secluded campground and unique day-use areas.
There are four campgrounds at the Bowl and Pitcher Campground in Riverside State Park for those planning on camping overnight (~$45 per night).
You can also check out the Nine Mile Recreation Area for camping (~$20 per night), swimming, and using the public boat launch along the Spokane River.
If you’re planning on making a day trip to visit Riverside State Park, there are numerous recreational opportunities.
Bring the whole crew–there are also 30 unsheltered picnic tables and picnic shelters at Riverside State Park (by phone)!
Got a large crowd? Riverside State Park has a reservable Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) kitchen shelter that has electricity, wood, a stove, a sink, and six picnic tables that can fit 60 people!
The gentle Little Spokane River is the place to be during hot Spokane summers!
Kayaks, Stand Up Paddleboards (SUPs), anglers, and swimmers are all welcome along this lazy river.
Plop your watercraft in at Nine Mile Dam Take-Out or at Indian Painted Rocks Kayak Put-In/Take-Out for some good times!
In these areas of Riverside State Park, inner tubes, pets, and bikes are not allowed in the Little Spokane River or nearby trails.
There are three main watercraft launch areas and 120 feet of dock in Riverside State Park where you can launch your boat and other watercraft.
Within Riverside State Park, these motorized boat launch areas are at Lake Spokane in Spokane, off of Highway 291, and in Nine Mile Falls Recreation Area.
There are also five non-motorized boat launches at Riverside State Park: Plese Flats, Nine Mile Dam Take-Out, Saint George’s Kayak Put-In, Indian Painted Rocks Kayak Put-In/Take-Out, and Highway 291 Take-Out.
In addition to the kayaking the gentle shores of the Little Spokane River, hitting the rapids on white-water kayaks or rafts are very popular on the Spokane River (check out Fun Unlimited for rentals and kayaking instructions)!
All levels of white-water kayakers and rafters are welcome on the Spokane River, as there are routes for beginners, novice, and more advanced adventurers.
An annual ($80) or one-day ($7) Natural Investment Permit and an annual ($30) or one-day ($10) Discover Pass are required to launch at Riverside State Park.
Check out more information on boat launching requirements at Riverside State Park here.
Freshwater fishing is another exciting water activity at Riverside State Park–just make sure you have a Washington Recreational Fishing License and understand the fishing regulations of the area!
Want to stay dry? Climbing at Deep Creek Canyon in Riverside State Park is a great way to get outside and enjoy Eastern Washington!
Basalt climbing at Deep Creek is one of the best sport climbing locations in the area, due to the challenging, overhung routes here that local climbers love.
You can also visit the Spokane House Interpretive Center, which helps bridge the gap between the established Riverside State Park and its history as ancestral Native land (Open 10 AM-4 PM on weekends, free admission).
The center is open from May – September and opens 10 AM-4 PM on weekends. Admission is free but a Discover Pass is required for parking!
Just this year, the murals on the side of the Spokane House Interpretive Center were restored (originally painted in 2005), so make sure to check it out on your visit to Riverside State Park!
Here’s a map of the Spokane House Interpretive Trails surrounding the building that commemorates the land as an important gathering place.
While Riverside State Park has many opportunities for summer activities, the park is just as lively in the winter!
Cross-country skiing, snowshoeing (moderate, 6-mile loop around the Bowl and Pitcher area), or snowmobiling are all popular activities at Riverside State Park.
In Riverside State Park, there are approximately five miles of cross-country ski trails that start at the Seven Mile Trailhead (Discover Pass required–no need for State Sno-Park Passes).
If you don’t have skis or snowshoes, consider renting or purchasing them from any of the several ski shops in Spokane, such as Rambleraven Gear Trader!
What are some of your favorite things to do at Riverside State Park? Tell us in the comments below!