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Washington | Spokane River / Spokane County

Spokane RiverBarker Road public boat launch (water-entry edge) to Upriver Dam public access (water-entry edge)

A full upper Spokane River itinerary from Barker Road to the Upriver Dam access boundary.

Access and safety sources last checked September 18, 2026.

Route location

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Plan this route

DistanceAbout 12.5 river miles
DifficultyModerate
Typical timeAllow 5–8 hours with scouting and shuttle margin
ShuttleCar shuttle
The Spokane River flows beneath the SkyRide in Spokane, Washington.
River contextSpokane River same-river context; exact endpoint not claimed river-level context — not necessarily this exact reach.Photo by ARCloud via Wikimedia Commons

Need to know

Why this call
This route is documented for planning, but does not receive a Paddle Today score.
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Route overview

Trip details

Access rules, camping, seasonal conditions and trip length.

Distance, difficulty, rules and camping
On-water distanceAbout 12.5 river milesBarker Road public boat launch (water-entry edge) to Upriver Dam public access (water-entry edge)
DifficultymoderateThe Water Trail describes Harvard–Barker as Class I and Barker–Mirabeau as Class II. Flows and access differ within the upper reach; scout features and verify water at the launch.
ShuttleCar shuttleStage the downstream public access first, then drive to the upstream launch. Confirm parking, carry paths and any gate or fee before unloading.
PermitsCheck posted rulesConfirm Washington State Parks, City of Spokane, utility and local access rules before launching.
CampingDay tripNo overnight river camping is included. Use established campgrounds or lodging near Spokane and Riverside State Park; do not camp at an informal shoreline access.
SeasonApr-SepPost Falls Dam operations and late-summer drawdown change the upper river quickly. Check the Post Falls gauge, dam notices, weather and the actual channel near the access before launch; downstream water can differ from upstream telemetry.

Plan ahead

Tomorrow and the weekend

Forecasts can change. Check current conditions again before leaving.

TomorrowChecking

Waiting on forecast.

WeekendChecking

Waiting on forecast.

Plan

Plan your trip

Launch points, shuttle details, distance, and access notes.

Route logistics

Access and shuttle

A full upper Spokane River itinerary from Barker Road to the Upriver Dam access boundary.

Access map

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Start

Put-in

Barker Road public boat launch (water-entry edge)
Open mapDirections to put-in

Mission, Sullivan, Mirabeau, Islands, Plante’s Ferry and Boulder Beach are intermediate public bailouts. Stop at Upriver Dam and verify utility notices before launch.

Finish

Take-out

Upriver Dam public access (water-entry edge)
Open mapDirections to take-out

Post Falls telemetry does not confirm local water through the Barker–Sullivan reach; inspect the channel at the access before launching.

Road shuttle

Driving shuttle routeShuttle in Apple MapsOpenStreetMap
Access notes and hazards

Access caveats

  • Mission, Sullivan, Mirabeau, Islands, Plante’s Ferry and Boulder Beach are intermediate public bailouts. Stop at Upriver Dam and verify utility notices before launch.
  • Post Falls telemetry does not confirm local water through the Barker–Sullivan reach; inspect the channel at the access before launching.
  • The Water Trail launch list includes dam boundaries and access-specific restrictions; stop at the documented take-out.

Watch for

  • USGS gauge context and utility releases
  • Cold water, strainers, bridges and changing current
  • Dam boundaries, technical rapids and private shoreline

Plan this paddle

Choose your trip times

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Trip schedule

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Conditions

Water levels, gauge history, and hourly forecast

Check the forecast and local water levels before launching.

Gauge detail

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Gauge

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Weather

Hourly forecast

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Route gallery

Photos

Check each caption: some photos show the surrounding area rather than this exact trip.

The Spokane River flows beneath the SkyRide in Spokane, Washington.
Spokane River same-river context; exact endpoint not claimed river-level context — not necessarily this exact reach.Photo by ARCloud via Wikimedia Commons
Wikimedia Commons license on linked file page

Sources

Data and sources

Read the access and hazard notes and check the linked guides. We do not issue a daily score for this trip.

NotesWhat to know before you go

These notes cover the access details, route quirks, and source caveats most likely to matter once you get there.

  • Route and distanceBarker Road to Upriver Dam; about 12.5 river miles

    Planning estimate for this start and take-out pair. Water Trail section distances are repeated where published; longer combinations may span sections and are not surveyed paddle distances.

    Source

  • Reach flow context1,350 cfs minimum; 3,000 cfs optimum (upper river)

    The Whitewater Study values describe the upper river. The Water Trail separately describes 4,000–19,000 cfs as a strong Class I–II run and notes substantial late-summer drawdown.

    Source

  • Gauge contextUSGS 12419000

    USGS 12419000 records Spokane River discharge at Spokane River near Post Falls, ID; it is broad context, not a route-specific local reading or threshold.

    Source

  • Access and safety review2026-09-18

    Water Trail, Conservation District, City rules, State Parks and launch pages checked. Sullivan Park has two north-bank small-craft access paths; the bridge-side shoreline entry is imagery-georeferenced at about 50 ft uncertainty. Verify notices again before travel.

    Source

  • Campingnearby_basecamp

    Day-use route; use established campgrounds or lodging near the corridor.

Verify it yourselfCheck the source links

Use these links to double-check the gauge, route details, and access notes before you head out.

Reports

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Keep exploring

More routes to check next

Compare another stretch on this river, or explore different rivers within 75 straight-line miles.

More in Washington

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Washington route guideBrowse every tracked Washington route.Spokane River / Spokane CountyJump to routes in this region.

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All 22
Aubrey White Parkway public boat launch (water-entry edge) to Nine Mile Dam public river access (water-entry edge)Spokane River / Spokane CountyModerate · About 6 river milesAubrey White Parkway public boat launch (water-entry edge) to Plese Flats public river access (water-entry edge)Spokane River / Spokane CountyModerate · About 2.5 river milesBarker Road public boat launch (water-entry edge) to Islands Trailhead public boat launch (water-entry edge)Spokane River / Spokane CountyModerate · About 7.3 river milesBarker Road public boat launch (water-entry edge) to Mirabeau Park public small-craft access (imagery-georeferenced shoreline entry)Spokane River / Spokane CountyModerate · About 4.5 river miles

Nearby routes within 75 miles

St. Joe RiverShadowy St. Joe Campground to St. Maries Aqua Park · about 43 straight-line mi awayModerate · About 12.8 river milesPriest RiverMcAbee Falls Bridge to Priest River Recreation Area (Mudhole) · about 44 straight-line mi awayHard · About 13.5 river milesSt. Maries RiverMashburn to St. Joe River · about 51 straight-line mi awayModerate · About 28.1 river milesNorth Fork Coeur d'Alene RiverBabins Junction to Little North Fork · about 52 straight-line mi awayModerate · About 14.9 river miles

Quick answers

Spokane River paddling FAQ

What water level is best for the Barker Road public boat launch (water-entry edge) to Upriver Dam public access (water-entry edge) route on the Spokane River?

This planning route has no live Paddle Today score. Review the linked water-level sources, current access notices and route-specific hazards before travel.

Where does the Barker Road public boat launch (water-entry edge) to Upriver Dam public access (water-entry edge) route on the Spokane River start and end?

This route starts at Barker Road public boat launch (water-entry edge) and ends at Upriver Dam public access (water-entry edge), about 12.5 river miles on the water.

Is the Barker Road public boat launch (water-entry edge) to Upriver Dam public access (water-entry edge) route on the Spokane River suitable for beginners?

This is listed as a moderate route. Review the difficulty notes, hazards and current access conditions against your group's skills. No live score assesses this trip.

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