Surprising Spokane, a river runs through it

kayaking to dinner on the Spokane River                                       photo by Carol Canter

I kayaked to dinner on the Spokane River, burnished gold with the setting sun. A leisurely 45-minute paddle took our group meandering past homes and under bridges, as a freight train chugged by.

I pulled ashore at my destination, Northern Lights Brewing Company, for an outdoor meal with a handcrafted Huckleberry Beer.

The night was warm, the beer chilled, and my muscles gently throbbed from the workout. A Spokane resident passionate about her city spoke to me of the river, and how much life there is influenced by its ebb and flow.

For the Spokane Tribe of Indians, the river has always been a life-giving waterway, providing sustenance, both physical and spiritual. This lovely eastern Washington city takes its name from the tribe: Spokane, pronounced Spokan, is translated as “children of the sun”.

We felt like children of the sun as we paddled, pedaled, rafted and hiked under Spokane’s brilliant summer skies, our every activity centered on the river that runs through its heart, and gives it soul, as well as power, vistas and cooling spray.

Here are some of Spokane’s favorite river-related activities:

Bike the Centennial Trail, which stretches from Riverside State Park to the Idaho border, where it continues as the North Idaho Centennial Trail. The non-motorized pathway follows the Spokane River through parks, Spokane’s downtown and secluded natural areas. Think scenery, safety and exercise along 37-miles of paved trail to the Idaho border and beyond.

Silver Bike Tours provides self-guided, custom and special interest tours like Mining & Railroad History, Native American History, Bird-Watching and All-Women programs.

Pangaea River Rafting offers a delectable float on the Spokane River, putting in near the heart of town. On a hot summer day, there’s no better place to be than on a raft sipping local Washington state wines, nibbling on gourmet taste treats and slipping now and then into the chill river to cool down.

ROW Adventures, the respected outfitter that has been named one of the “Best Adventure Travel Companies on Earth” by National Geographic Adventure, offers excellent whitewater and float trips, walking, hiking and biking tours and fly-fishing.

Spokane Parks and Recreation has activities from whitewater rafting to gentle kayak and canoe trips, like our Kayaking to Dinner on the Spokane River. The Peaceful Wilderness Paddle on the Little Spokane River is hugely popular. Spokane Parks and Rec, the second largest such department in the nation, is known for creative programming and forward-thinking policy.

The signature Riverfront Park in the center of town showcases the Spokane River and its waterfalls. The 100-acre public park was created for Expo ’74, an environmentally-themed World’s Fair, when city planners removed the railroads from the downtown riverfront. Now, instead of railyards, Spokane residents and visitors enjoy the park’s tree-lined walkways, expansive meadows, cascading waterfalls and rocky outcroppings. A host of family-friendly attractions includes the park’s new Skyride, in which viewers rise over Spokane Falls and back in a gondola.

Contact the Spokane Regional CVB for a wealth of information on Spokane.

 C. Story and Photos by Carol Canter

      Photo of 3 rafters courtesy of Visit Spokane.