This 39.4 mile stretch of river includes Lake Spokane and offers a number of scenic flat-water paddles. River goers should note that three dams—Nine Mile, Long Lake, and Little Falls—break up this section. As such, plan your access points for entry and exit accordingly. While this reach does not include rapids, flow levels can fluctuate dramatically based on season and operations at the dams.
Plese Flats to Nine Mile Dam is a 5-mile flat-water stretch. Less experienced paddlers can enjoy this section in the summer, but should wait until spring runoff is complete. Exit the river at the Nine Mile Dam access site on river left before the Nine Mile Dam.
Below Nine Mile Dam is Lake Spokane, a 28-mile flat-water paddle. The access points here provide good opportunities to put-in and tour around in your kayak or canoe. Paddlers should be aware that this lake has motorboat traffic. Also when strong winds kick up, it can make for very difficult paddling in open areas. Paddlers looking to head downstream should note that once they pass Nine Mile Resort, it’s 10.37 miles to the Highway 291 access point. Once you pass the Highway 291 access point, it’s another 5.22 miles to Lake Spokane Campground, the last take-out before Long Lake Dam.
From Long Lake Dam to Little Falls Dam paddlers can enjoy a scenic, undeveloped stretch of the river. River right below Chimakum Creek is the Spokane Tribe of Indians Reservation. After putting in at the Long Lake Dam access site, which is just below the dam, there is no take out point on this 4.35 mile reach to Little Falls Dam. As such, paddlers must put-in and take out at the same access point. The difficulty of paddling upstream varies significantly based on water releases from Long Lake Dam.