Riverside State Park, Bowl & Pitcher, Spokane

This site is located in the Day Use area of Riverside State Park in Spokane, WA at the Bowl & Pitcher unit of the park system. The wooden walking bridge that crosses the Spokane River is a modern replacement of the original, made in the same style as the original, with architecture that very nearly duplicates the look of the antique bridge built generations ago.

The so-called bowl and pitcher are natural geological formations that create pools along the side of the river near the colossal boulders, while the volcanic rock is pitted in a way that creates natural riffles that generate the rapids you see flowing under the bridge.

The bowl on the west side of the river under the massive boulder nearest to the bridge is just deep enough at the edge to stand up in with your head out of the water while holding onto the pitted rocks, which I did yesterday at sundown.

The two pictures of the river upstream and downstream were taken from the center of the bridge where the huge steel wire that supports the structure meets the wooden bridge railing.

Day use requires a Washington state Discover Pass that costs $10 for the day or $30 for a year from the date of purchase. Vendors tack an additional fee onto the pass. I bought mine at Walmart for $35.

Camping is expensive here. I paid $32 for a site with no hookups for my van. RV sites with full hookups cost $45 a night. I spoke with the ranger about the pricing and she said that due to this park being the most popular in the area, and compared to the even more expensive private RV campgrounds in the area, that they felt justified to charge a premium for a stay. By comparison, the park at Sullivan Lake upstate charges $24 a night.

Trees are sparse in the park, mostly being young growth of around 8 inches diameter, so there’s not much shade, and with Spokane’s unusually high summer temperatures, the van heats up quickly. It’s 75 degrees right now at 9:45am, and will probably reach 96 degrees outside today, which means about 10 or more degrees inside the van in the afternoon.

If you can stand to swim in an unheated pool or take a cool shower, getting in the river is a great respite, although it’s not for the faint of heart or for kids. The river current is fast, the rocks are sharp, and holding onto anchored shore rocks is imperative to keep from being swept away, although just taking off your shoes and sticking your feet in the water is an easy way to get some relief from the summer sun.

Enjoy the slideshow and see you down the road! 🌞