Riverfront Park

In 1974 Spokane hosted Expo 74, the first World's Fair built around an environmental theme. With a population of only around 170,000, Spokane became the smallest city ever to hold a world's fair, yet it drew more than five million visitors over a summer and put the little city on the map.

The whole point of the fair was renewal. For decades the Spokane River and its falls, the very reason the city existed, had been hidden behind a tangle of railroad tracks, trestles, and industry. Clearing that ground to open up the river was the fair's mission, and Riverfront Park is the lasting result, a green civic heart where an industrial wasteland once stood.

The soul of the park is the Looff Carrousel, a hand-carved wooden merry-go-round from 1909. It was crafted by the master carousel maker Charles Looff, who made it as a wedding gift for his daughter Emma, and its horses, giraffe, and tiger are carved and painted with the exuberance of a golden age of amusement parks.

The carousel spent its early life at Natatorium Park, a lakeside amusement park on the edge of Spokane, entertaining generation after generation until that park closed in the late 1960s. Saved from disappearing, the carousel was brought out of storage and given a permanent home in Riverfront Park in the mid-1970s, where it still spins, brass ring and all, in a purpose-built pavilion.

The park is built around the Spokane Falls, a series of drops where the Spokane River tumbles through the city in a roar of whitewater. Footbridges cross to islands in the middle of the river, putting you close enough to feel the spray, and the sound of the falls is a constant companion.

For the best view, the Spokane Falls SkyRide, a gondola, carries you out over the lower falls and back, a soaring look down at the churning river and the basalt gorge. In spring, when snowmelt fills the river, the falls are a genuine spectacle; by late summer the flow can quiet as water is diverted for power.

Beyond its landmarks, Riverfront Park works as Spokane's front yard. The Pavilion, a striking cable-hung structure left from the fair, now glows with lights and hosts concerts and events. The Centennial Trail runs through on its way along the river, and lawns, gardens, and public art fill the spaces between.

Because it sits right downtown, the park pours you straight into the city. The historic Davenport hotels, Spokane's restaurants and breweries, and the Northwest Museum of Arts and Culture up the hill are all close, making the park a natural hub for a visit to eastern Washington's biggest city.

The closest Boutel™ stays, so you can turn this stop into an overnight. Each is a place we chose through independent editorial review, never a paid placement.

Riverfront Park, in the heart of downtown Spokane in eastern Washington, is a beautiful and beloved urban park along the Spokane River, built on the site of the 1974 World's Fair, Expo 74. The park showcases the dramatic Spokane Falls, with the river tumbling through the city center, and features a variety of attractions, including a gondola ride, the SkyRide, over the falls, a historic hand-carved carousel, the giant Radio Flyer wagon, gardens, walking and biking paths, and pavilions. A lively gathering place hosting events and festivals year-round, Riverfront Park offers a wonderful blend of natural beauty, recreation, and attractions in the heart of Spokane, Washington.

You can view the impressive Spokane Falls from the park's viewpoints and bridges, ride the SkyRide gondola over the falls for a thrilling perspective, ride the beautifully restored historic Looff Carousel, see the giant Radio Flyer wagon that doubles as a slide, walk or bike the scenic paths along the river, enjoy the gardens and public art, and take part in the many festivals and events held in the park. There are ice skating in winter and splash areas too. With its Spokane Falls, gondola, carousel, trails, and attractions, Riverfront Park offers a delightful and lively outing in downtown Spokane, Washington.

The SkyRide is a gondola ride at Riverfront Park that carries visitors in enclosed cabins out over the Spokane River and the dramatic Spokane Falls, offering a thrilling, close-up view of the rushing water and the downtown scenery from above. Gliding directly over the falls provides a unique and memorable perspective on this natural feature right in the heart of the city. The ride is a popular attraction and a highlight of a visit to the park, especially when the falls are running high and powerful. The SkyRide gondola offers an exciting and scenic way to experience Spokane Falls at Riverfront Park.

Riverfront Park is enjoyable year-round, with spring especially dramatic for the Spokane Falls at their most powerful from snowmelt, summer lively with festivals, warm weather, and all attractions open, and fall pleasant with color along the river, while winter offers ice skating and holiday events. The SkyRide and carousel operate seasonally, so checking hours is wise. For the most powerful falls, aim for spring, and for the fullest range of attractions and events, summer is ideal, though the park offers something enjoyable in every season in downtown Spokane, Washington.

Riverfront Park is in downtown Spokane in eastern Washington, encompassing the Spokane Falls, near the city's downtown shops, restaurants, and the Northwest Museum of Arts and Culture, the Mobius science and discovery center, and within reach of Turnbull National Wildlife Refuge to the south. That makes Riverfront Park a central stop to combine with the Spokane Falls, downtown Spokane's attractions, the Northwest Museum of Arts and Culture, and the other sights of Spokane on a visit to Washington.