Aubrey White Put-in and Take-out Improves Water Trail Access

The Spokane River Forum, City of Spokane, Spokane Indians Baseball Redband Campaign and Silver Bow Fly shop teamed up to improve Spokane River access for anglers, paddlers and rafters at the Aubrey White Water Trail access point. This put -in and take-out is located adjacent to the City of Spokane Riverside Park Water Reclamation Facility.

This improvement project showcases the dramatic rise in the Spokane River becoming a destination recreation attraction for both residents and visitors alike. In 2010, the Spokane River Forum founded the Spokane River Water Trail (www.spokanewatertrail.org) to connect the community to the Spokane River in ways that also promote stewardship and conservation values. The City has been a stalwart partner as it implements investments for its Cleaner River Faster initiative.

The Great Gorge section of the Spokane River, the area from below Monroe Street Bridge to the City of Spokane’s Riverside Park Water Reclamation Facility, has long been a gem hiding in plain sight. Just outside downtown Spokane’s backdoor, this iconic area is quickly becoming renowned for scenery and diverse river experiences, e.g.– sport fishing, paddling, rafting and tubing. It’s also a critical spawning area for Redband Trout, whose protection and restoration Spokane Indians Baseball has promoted with their Redband Rally Campaign.

The Aubrey White Water Trail Access was originally restored in 2015 via a Forum partnership with the City and Innovia Foundation. Restoring this site was a high priority for anglers putting in upstream and paddlers needing to exit before entering the Class III rapids of the Bowl and Pitcher. The success of this effort resulted in such high usage that a 2019 investment was needed to assure its ease of use and safety well into the future.

Also in 2019, new water trail access was developed at Redband Park. With additional improvements scheduled for People’s Park and TJ Meenach, the City of Spokane, the Forum and our partners continue to leverage environmental and recreational improvements that also promote the unique culture and history of the area.

For more Spokane River Water Trail information, visit www.spokaneriver.net.