Washington State Parks St. George's Put-In On Little Spokane River Will Open On May 28

Press release from Washington State Parks:

May 25, 2021

OLYMPIA – Washington State Parks will reopen the St. George’s Put-in on the Little Spokane River this Friday, May 28.

The put-in is located in Riverside State Park and is a popular place for people to launch kayaks, canoes and, in more recent years, stand up paddleboards. From the put-in, paddlers follow the approximately 7 nautical mile stretch of river that flows east to west into Lake Spokane. This section of river is part of the Little Spokane River Natural Area, which was established by the State Parks commission in 1987 to conserve a unique natural environment.

Starting this year, State Parks will no longer allow stand up paddleboards (SUPs) in the Little Spokane River Natural Area. This is in keeping with the regulation that prohibits certain activities within the area such as swimming, use of inner tubes or similar flotation.

When the law was established, SUPs did not exist. SUP users have been more likely to fall in the river than those who use canoes, rowboats, kayaks and rafts. SUPs, like inner tubes, make it easy to dip, swim or float partially submerged in the water. With the rise in SUP use, Parks staff have seen an increase in habitat and resource damage to the Little Spokane River.

Recreation is not the primary focus of natural areas, so Parks staff are taking this step to help protect the resource.

Where SUPs are allowed

Alternate locations in the park where paddleboards are permitted on the Spokane River and Lake Spokane are:

• Please Flats (on the Spokane River)
• Nine Mile Recreation Area (Lake Spokane)
• Carlson Road Put-in (top of the dam)
• Lake Spokane Day-Use Area (Lake Spokane)

Coming later this summer…kayak rentals at St. George’s

Riverside State Parks has entered into an agreement with City of Spokane Park and Recreation, which will offer kayak rentals for the first time starting this summer at St. George’s Put-in. For more information, contact Ryan Griffith, Outdoor Program Supervisor, (509) 363-5414.

This press release was produced by Washington State Parks. The views expressed are the author's own.