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Where? Launch from the Little Spokane River Natural Area St. George’s Kayak/Canoe put-in. When? 7/5/18 & 7/8/18. How far from Dick’s Hamburgers (Downtown Spokane) About 10.1 miles, 24 minutes.
My board: Stand on Liquid “Sammamish”
Photos: GoPro Hero 5
Why SUP here?
It’s absolutely gorgeous.
You feel like you’re in the middle of the wilderness with a viewpoint from the river.
You paddle with the current, so it’s not going to suck all of the energy out of you.
It’s a great challenge to navigate the various obstacles you find including rocks, trees protruding out of the water, bushes along the banks, shallow spots and more.
You see various forms of water fowl. We even saw a moose and her calf on the bank nipping at the leaves on a tree during a ride last summer.
There are some nice sandy beaches to stop at for a quick break.
The 1898 room at the Kalispel Golf and Country Club offers a great happy hour with majestic views and fantastic service.
Overview: This is definitely my paddle boarding happy place. On my first voyage this year with my buddy JD, we agreed that we need to come here every other time we paddle board because it’s so incredibly awesome! The only drawback is you have to drop one or more cars off @ the end of the route then drive back to the St. George’s launch to enter the water. Once you’re standing on your board, looking down at the crystal clear water, your realize the 30 minute trek to the drop-off spot and back is so worth it. On my 2nd voyage on the same route, I was joined by my wife, my brother and his wife.
Where we parked and launched: Follow My Get Out Spokane Map . We typically meet at the entrance to St. George’s, follow each other on Rutter Parkway to Highway 291 (N. Nine Mile Rd). After you take a right and find the parking area just north of the Spokane House, leave as many cars there as necessary to carry the number of boards your group will be traveling on downriver. Next, head back to the St. George’s parking area to launch yourself into nirvana.
This is a wider part of the river. Beyond the bridge is Saint George's school.
There are great places to stop for a break, enjoy a beverage or whatever else you're in the mood for.
This is pretty much what the view looks like the entire trip. It truly is natural beauty at its best!
This is the last stretch headed toward the parking lot just past the road heading to Lakeside. The parking lot is near the Spokane House. As you can see, the water is quite clear here, as it is all along the Little Spokane River, at least all of the stretches I have paddled.
what we saw
what we saw
This stretch of the river is only open to canoes, kayaks or paddle boards. We were pushed downstream by a strong current and navigating the river without running into shrubbery or trees can be a challenge. My wife can attest to that after three tussles with foliage lacing the banks. If you’re traveling on a paddle board, I would only recommend that intermediate or advanced paddlers tackle this ride. As long as you can quickly slow down and change directions, you should be fine, but there are a few spots where the water runs quickly and it’s good to be with someone who knows where these tricky spots are allowing you to safely navigate the obstacles. We saw multiple groups of ducks with moms followed by her brood of ducklings. We’ve spotted herons near the banks and even saw a moose and his calf eating leaves off a tree on the bank of the river. The river meanders its way through trees, tall grass, rock-faced mountains and many other species of bushes.
bottom line
bottom line
For one of the best paddle board rides you will ever experience, this is one ride you must take. Although it takes some planning to transport your boards, it’s worth every minute. You will forget you’re just north of Spokane because you’re surrounded by beauty and the wilderness.
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