Recreation
Come and play in our parks
Besides generating clean, renewable hydropower, our Clark Fork and Spokane River Projects provide abundant recreational opportunities. They are surrounded by thousands of acres of land that offer outdoor recreational activities such as boating, camping, fishing, bird watching, swimming, hiking, and more.
The Clark Fork River and Spokane River are generally open to the public and accessible from both land and water for day-use recreational activities. As you enjoy the many activities this area has to offer, please play it safe above and below a dam and obey all posted warning signs.
Plan your next day trip along the Clark Fork River or Spokane River.
Upriver Park
Avista has begun exploring a park that includes a new river access point with a non-motorized boat launch. One design option includes closing a portion of Upriver Drive to create a linear park and separate Centennial Trail from vehicle traffic. In this process, we have commissioned a traffic study and a habitat management plan.
- Avista Utilities – Upriver Park, Habitat Management Plan, August 2019
- Upriver Drive Public Road Vacation Traffic Impact Analysis, June 2019
Advisory: Low river flow conditions between Cabinet Gorge Dam and Lake Pend Oreille for the remainder of 2019.
Please exercise caution if recreating on the lower Clark Fork River for the remainder of 2019. Avista is building a new fish passage facility at Cabinet Gorge dam and releases of water through the dam will be carefully coordinated to facilitate the safe and efficient completion of this work. For the remainder of the year, river flows may fluctuate rapidly and without warning and will frequently be at low flow elevations.
To increase public safety and awareness, signs will be posted at river access sites along the river. Waterway users should always be alert to signs of such changes and exercise the highest level of personal caution and safety.
For more information, please contact Eric Oldenburg, fisheries biologist, (406) 847-1290.