Riverside State Park

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No trip to Spokane is complete without a stop at Riverside State Park. Approximately 9 miles from Spokane, Riverside provides recreational opportunities for almost every type of visitor. From mountain biking to horseback riding, rock climbing and hiking. Riverside has it all!

You can go as easy or hardcore as you like here. Fifty-five miles of trails will keep hikers and mountain bikers busy. The 40-mile, mixed-use Spokane River Centennial State Park Trail extends from Nine Mile Recreation Area east to the Idaho border. Equestrians will find a horse-friendly campground, 25 miles of trails and an obstacle course with a 60-foot round pen. Off-road vehicle drivers have 600 acres of special terrain. The Little Spokane River welcomes paddlesports enthusiasts (and prohibits inner tubes, bikes and pets). Lake Spokane invites boaters, anglers and water sports fans. And, for those who equate vacation with relaxation, day-use areas, picnic shelters and four different campgrounds offer solid family and camp chair time.

In winter, Riverside is a prime recreation hub, boasting some of the best snowshoeing, cross-country skiing and snowmobiling east of the Cascades.

Riverside has deep historical significance as a gathering place for Native American tribes, and as a thriving fur trade hub. The Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) built many of the park's structures during the Great Depression, which still stand today. The pedestrian suspension bridge at Bowl and Pitcher replaced a CCC bridge built in 1940.

Riverside is close to the restaurants, shops and coffee stops of Spokane. Indeed, Riverside State Park has everything a traveler could want, except more vacation time.

Park features

Riverside State Park occupies 9,194 acres along the Spokane and Little Spokane rivers just north of Spokane. With nearly 200,000 feet of shoreline, Riverside is home to Ponderosa pines, lakes, marshes and a wide variety of wildlife.

Automated pay station: This park is equipped with four automated pay stations for visitors to purchase a one-day or annual Discover Pass.

  1. Activities
  2. Boating
  3. Camping
  4. Maps

ADA amenities/facilities

  • Campground (Riverside and Nine Mile Recreation Area)
  • Restroom (Riverside and Nine Mile Recreation Area)
  • Hiking trail (Nine Mile Recreation Area)

Use our interactive ADA recreation map to search for other state parks with ADA amenities and facilities 

Picnic & day-use facilities
Riverside Bowl and Pitcher State Park offers two picnic shelters without electricity and 30 unsheltered picnic tables available first-come, first-served. The shelter closest to the main day-use parking lot has one picnic table and the shelter across the river has four picnic tables. The CCC Kitchen Shelter at the Bowl and Pitcher is is reservable by calling (509) 327-2635. This shelter is built of logs, has electricity and provides a wood stove, sink, and six picnic tables, accommodating a maximum of 60 people.

The Nine Mile Recreation Area offers three kitchen shelters with water and electricity. Two can accommodate up to 40 guests and one can accommodate up to 20. Shelters are available on a first-come, first-serve basis. The day-use area and boat launch are open April 1 through October 31.

Activities

Trails

  • 55 miles of hiking trails
  • One mile of ADA-accessible hiking trail
  • 55 miles of bike trails
  • 25 miles of horse trails

Water activities & features

  • 120 feet of dock
  • Boating
  • Fishing (freshwater)
  • Watercraft launches (3)
  • Waterskiing
  • White-water kayaking

Winter recreation

  • Cross-country skiing
  • Snowmobiling
  • Snowshoeing
  • Snow play

Other activities & features

  • Amphitheater
  • Bird watching
  • Dump station
  • Fire circles (3)
  • Interpretive activities
  • Mountain biking
  • Museum
  • Off-road vehicles permitted
  • Rock climbing
  • Wildlife viewing

Concessions

  • True West Trail Rides - If you are seeking a quiet and peaceful activity with some amazing scenery, consider a horseback trail ride.  Rides are offered at both Riverside and Mount Spokane State Parks May through September. To learn more and reserve a time, visit their website or Facebook.

Interpretive opportunities

The Spokane House Interpretive Center at Nine Mile Falls tells the history of the early fur trade in the area and its effects on the Native American population. The center is open Saturdays and Sundays from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Memorial Day through Labor Day. An interpretive trail in Riverside State Park features guide-posts and a self-guiding brochure connecting the Indian Painted Rocks area with the mouth of the Little Spokane River. A kiosk at the site of Seven Mile camp tells the story of the Civilian Conservation Corps and its role in building the park.

Additional information

  • The park provides a 600-acre off-road vehicle area for dirt bikes and snowmobiles and more than 37 miles for bike riding on the Centennial Trail, as well as other bike trails.
  • All-terrain vehicles are only permitted in the off-road vehicle area.
  • An equestrian area features several hundred acres with loop trails and 40 miles of linear trails for horseback riding.
  • The park contains a protected Native American pictograph area.
  • A recreational license is required for fishing and shellfish harvesting at Washington state parks. For regulations, fishing season information, or to purchase a recreational license, visit the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife website.
  • Printable park brochure (PDF).