Riverside State Park Expansion
Project summary
In spring 2026, Washington State Parks will officially acquire a 900-acre parcel of land, formerly known as the Glen Tana Property, to expand Riverside State Park. The property provides habitat for many wildlife species and connects existing recreational and conservation areas.
- Location: Riverside State Park
- Estimated start date: Spring 2026
- Estimated end date: Summer 2028
The expansion of Riverside State Park presents an exciting opportunity for environmental stewardship, expanded recreational access and supports salmon reintroduction efforts, all within close proximity to the growing metro-Spokane area.
Natural Area designation restrictions
The new property is classified as a “Natural Area,” which limits recreational activity to hiking, trail running and snowshoeing. Bicycles, horses and pets are prohibited, consistent with the rest of the Little Spokane River Natural Area.
Currently, the property does not have an established trailhead, parking area or a connected network of trails.
Next steps
The purchase of this property was funded largely through grants awarded through the Recreation and Conservation Office. This acquisition was funded by the 2024 grant cycle.
During the 2026 grant cycle, we’ll be applying for RCO grant funding to build a trailhead and trail network. If the grant application is successful, trailhead and trail system construction will take place in late 2027 and into 2028.
Other places to visit
While we’re in the process of developing a trailhead and trails for you to explore on this new property, we encourage you to check out Riverside State Park’s – our second-largest state park – other 9,194 acres and more than 80 miles of trail.
In fall 2025, we completed a brand-new trailhead just five minutes from the Glen Tana Property area – the Knothead Loop Trailhead, which provides access to 7.5 miles of trail with views of Mt. Spokane and the Little Spokane River Valley.
Community participation
Provide written comments, questions and suggestions by completing this comment form.
Project history
This acquisition was made possible through a unique partnership between Washington State Parks, the Inland Northwest Land Conservancy, the Spokane Tribe of Indians, the Kalispel Tribe of Indians, and the Washington State Department of Fish and Wildlife.
A brief video, from Inland Northwest Land Conservancy, on the Glen Tana story and the Conservancy’s commitment to acquiring and preserving this property for future generations can be viewed on YouTube.
For more information, visit the Inland Northwest Land Conservancy website: Glen Tana: Future for Salmon and Trails in Spokane.
CAMP process
In August 2023, State Parks began a public planning process to update the long-term boundary for Riverside State Park to include the Glen Tana property.
The long-term boundary adjustment and land classification update are a central part of State Parks' park planning process, known as CAMP. Land classifications range from low to high-intensity land uses. By classifying park lands, State Parks strikes a balance between protecting park resources and providing an appropriate variety of recreational opportunities for park visitors.
The CAMP process is completed in four stages.
Stage One: Identify Issues and Opportunities, occurred in the fall of 2023. The public workshop can be viewed here.
Stage Two: Explore Alternative Approaches, uses input gathered in Stage One to host a second public workshop where the alternatives offer solutions and strategies to address the hopes and concerns raised during the initial planning stage.
Stage Three: Preliminary Recommendations was held at the Spokane Hive on July 23, 2024. During this stage, the most suitable ideas from Stage Two are combined into a preliminary plan. The plan may include recommendations for land classifications (uses), changes to the park’s long-term boundary, and solutions for concerns raised during the planning process. During this stage, the State Environmental Policy Act (SEPA) checklist that describes environmental impacts associated with the recommendations is completed.
The Stage Four: Final Recommendations is when final adjustments to the proposed recommendations are made and submitted to the Washington State Parks and Recreation Commission for approval. The Public Hearing was held at the October 10 Commission meeting in Clarkston. At this meeting, the Commission unanimously adopted the staff recommendations for inclusion of Glen Tana into Riverside State Park’s long- term boundary along with recommended land classifications of Natural Area, Resource Recreation and Heritage Area.