Deanna's Guidebook

Source: TheCrazyTourist.com The Dam at Falls Park A local go-to for walks in a spectacular landscape without having to leave the city, Falls Park also sends you back to the earliest years of European settlement. The dam on the Spokane River here was first constructed in the 1870s to power a lumber mill. In 1905 the dam was adapted for hydroelectricity, providing power to mines up to 100 miles away. The man-made falls created by the dam are a sight to behold in spring when the Spokane River swells with runoff from the mountains via Lake Coeur d’Alene. The scenery is wonderful at any time, when you can gaze into the canyon down to the deck arch bridge a short way downriver. Interpretive signs recount the story of Post Falls’ early days, while Falls Park itself is equipped with shelters, a fishing pond, restrooms and a playground with a swing designed for children with motor skill disabilities.

On the south bank of the Spokane River is almost 80 acres of pristine nature promising a wide variety of activities. With steep, rocky slopes Q’emiln Park is a rewarding place for a hike, and the trails in this 40-acre system are always well-maintained. The pine-covered terrain is primed for rock climbing, offering scores of routes and what is billed as the best “5.10 cragging area” in the inland Northwest. On the riverside there’s a boat launch and a swimming area with lifeguards on duty daily during the school summer break. Other amenities include four large shelters, BBQ grills, horseshoe pits, seasonal concessions, picnic areas and a children’s playground.

Wide and slow-moving, the Spokane River is a magnet for water activities in summer. The place to go is Fun Unlimited, by Templin’s Marina, opposite Q’emiln Park. If you’re here to paddle you can rent kayaks and stand-up paddleboards, but the company offers a wide range of motorized activities as well. You can rent a variety of vessels, whether you want to try jet-skiing or wakesurfing, or just want to cruise to a quiet spot along the river or at the beautiful Lake Coeur d’Alene, a few miles east. You’ll find a beach area at Fun Unlimited’s Post Falls location, with a roped-in swimming area and a launch area for paddlesports.

Crossing through Post Falls and hugging the riverbank on the east side of the city is a 24-mile paved trail, running from the Idaho/Washington border to Higgens Point, east of Coeur d’Alene. As you’ll gather from the name, the North Idaho Centennial Trail took shape in the 1980s to celebrate the 100th anniversary of Idaho’s statehood in 1990. Since 2017 the trail has undergone thorough repairs, and all 24 miles have been repaved. If you have the time and energy it’s a fine way to walk or ride to Lake Coeur d’Alene without having to contend with traffic. Ten miles pass through Post Falls, linking a series of parks, and furnished with a lot of seating and several historical signs. At the Idaho-Washington border, the trail continues for another 37 miles as the Spokane River Centennial Trail.

Downriver from Falls Park, Corbin Park is 28 acres of beautifully rugged riverside, with views across to an impressive outcrop on the opposite bank. This is a popular place to access the river for kayaking and rafting, and also comes with a lot of seating, picnic areas, a playground for children, day camp sites, barbecue grills, a ball field, a volleyball court and a football field. A great feature is the newly updated 18-hole disc golf course, with a kiosk at hole #1 and custom tee signs to help you find your way.

There’s a staggering amount of publicly-accessible golf courses in a 20-minute radius of Post Falls, with four courses next door in Coeur d’Alene, and two more directly across the state line at Liberty Lake. Right in Post Falls you have three more options, all framed by the sublime mountainscapes bordering the city. The Links is a traditional Scottish-style course, using the natural contours of the landscape and testing players with deep bunkers and powerful winds. The Highlands is an 18-hole, par 72, with six scenic but challenging water features and one of the best practice facilities in the region, with a full-size grass driving range and spacious putting and chipping area. Finally, Prairie Falls Golf Club is a blend of a parkland and links course, on which you may come across wildlife like elk, moose, eagles and osprey.

For anyone in need of some high-speed action there’s a small stadium-style racetrack with a steady stream of events from April to September. Stateline Speedway has a varied program, with late models, bandoleros, legends and dedicated open wheel nights. Kids into cars will love the Wreck It Racing nights, when the demolition derby mayhem includes a “bump to pass” race, a towing race, a race with motorhomes and even a boat race. Other events in the calendar include car shows, monster trucks and family nights on Wednesdays.