Q'emiln Park
4.7(1.7K)google
4.3(4)yelp
RiverHikingFamily
Overview
Q'emiln Park is a spectacular 78-acre regional nature park located along the roaring Spokane River in Post Falls, celebrated locally as an outdoor paradise. The park features a scenic, lifeguarded swimming beach, fully covered community picnic shelters, a boat launch, and access to the world-famous Q'emiln Climbing Walls, which boast dozens of premier, challenging rock climbing routes on natural granite cliffs. Miles of scenic forested trail loops guide hikers through steep canyons and unique rock formations, offering stunning, misty overlooks of the dynamic downstream dams.
Practical Info
Every day6:00 AM – 9:00 PM
Suggested Duration2.5-5 hours
Best TimeSummer (June to September) is spectacular, when the dammed Spokane River creates a pristine, slow-moving swimming beach and boat launch channel. Late afternoon from 4:00 PM to 7:00 PM is the ultimate window; the setting sun illuminates the sheer granite cliffs, providing excellent conditions to watch rock climbers scale the famous Post Falls walls.
Getting ThereNestled on the south bank of the river in Post Falls. Driving is straightforward: from I-90, take Exit 5 (Spokane Street), drive straight south across the river bridge, and turn right into the park road until it ends. The venue maintains a massive, paved municipal surface parking lot out front with quick walk-up access to the swimming bay.
Travel Tips
- The south basalt walls undergo seasonal climbing raptor closures through early July; executing technical vertical routes on flagged faces is a federal infraction.
- River currents fluctuate rapidly based on upstream Avista Dam spillway releases; sudden surges make shoreline boulders slick and open swimming highly hazardous.
- The municipal lot requires a separate city vehicle parking permit; trailer congestion from river floaters peaks at noon, requiring strict adherence to lane layouts.
Reviews
Positive
- An incredible riverside park boasting top natural rock-climbing cliffs, clear Spokane River swimming beaches, and pine woods.
- Hiking trails are beautifully maintained and heavily shaded, featuring scenic platforms overlooking the roaring historic dam.
- Flawless infrastructure equipped with huge covered picnic pavilions, clean toilets, BBQ grills, and expansive playgrounds.
- Zero park admission, and charging only a tiny vehicle fee in summer, offering top-tier raw natural relaxation. Superb value.
Heads up
- During peak July/August weekend afternoons, the beach and shallows get packed with floaters, destroying any quiet solitude.
- Some steep dirt paths leading to climbing crags get muddy and slick after rains; without steps, regular sneakers will slip.
- Water temps stay quite cold due to dam releases, and currents near deep-water drop-offs are swift, demanding constant vigilance with kids.
- The main lot runs out of spots by summer noon; outer grass overflow lots are chaotic, dusty, and lead to brief traffic jams.