Discover Spokane: Nature, Trails and Culture

Spokane can be explored through a variety of highlights: its waterscapes, trails, gardens and culture. Spokane Falls, the Spokane River Centennial Trail and the city’s varied green spaces each offer something different. As you plan your trip, consider whether you’d like to focus mainly on viewpoints, a recreational trail, garden landscapes or cultural sites.

Spokane Falls and the River Landscape

Spokane Falls is Spokane’s most significant natural attraction and the centerpiece of Riverfront Park. It is also a historic gathering place for the Spokane Tribe of Indians: from the earliest times, the tribe used the falls as a place to meet and as a source of food and beauty. Visitors can see the lower falls from Huntington Park. The Numerica SkyRide offers views of the Spokane River and Spokane Falls. The 15-minute round trip takes place in an enclosed, weather-independent cabin; the SkyRide is wheelchair accessible.

Recreational Trail and Gardens

The Spokane River Centennial Trail is designated a National Recreation Trail. The paved recreational trail is nearly 40 miles long and intended for pedestrians and non-motorized vehicles. In downtown Spokane, the trail can be accessed between mile markers 20 and 23 via most streets running north or south between Mission Park and Kendall Yards. These two figures describe different things: nearly 40 miles refers to the trail’s length, while miles 20 to 23 identify the downtown section mentioned for access.

Manito Park is known nationwide for its diverse horticultural gardens. The John A. Finch Arboretum offers a different focus: a botanical collection of trees and woody plants labeled for field study. Its landscape ranges from a native pine forest to a shady grove covered in rhododendrons. A walking guide leads visitors on a self-guided tour through some of the collections and to notable trees. The two green spaces therefore differ in their thematic focus: Manito Park highlights its diverse gardens, while the arboretum focuses on its collection and varied landscapes.

Culture, Theater and Local History

Spokane Civic Theatre was founded in 1947; its venue on Howard Street opened in 1967. The theater produces 15 to 20 plays, musicals and other live events each year. If you’d like to plan your stay around a performance, check the current schedule. The Northwest Museum of Arts & Culture has five exhibition galleries highlighting regional history, art and American Indian culture.

Historic sites and objects also offer further cultural points of interest in Spokane. The 1909 Looff Carrousel is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The historic Campbell House dates from 1898. Together with the museum and theater, they offer visitors different points of connection for those interested in regional history, art or stage performances.

As you plan your trip, the highlights are easy to distinguish: Spokane Falls brings together the waterscape and history, the Centennial Trail offers a long recreational route, and Manito Park and the arboretum provide different connections to gardens and plants. Culture enthusiasts will also find historic sites, museum galleries and a theater with a changing annual program.

Discover more destinations: Nine Mile Fls, Mica, Airway Heights, Mead, Liberty Lake, Cheney, Spokane Valley

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