SPOKANE, WASH. — More than 1,600 acres of Riverside State Park burned in two recent fires, but park officials are moving quickly to restore access to the popular recreation area. The Old Trails and Autumn Lane fires destroyed several structures, though about 40 percent of the park is already open to the public.
The Old Trails Fire destroyed a picnic area and damaged several structures on the north side of the park. The Autumn Lane Fire caused significant damage at the Nine Mile Recreation Area, where officials lost a tool shed and the pump house that supplies water to the park’s system.
“The Autumn Lane Fire did a lot of damage at the Nine Mile Recreation Area. There, we lost a tool shed and more importantly, we lost the pump house that feeds the water system,” said Rex Schultz, community engagement manager for Washington State Parks.
One of the park’s most iconic landmarks—the suspension bridge at Bowl and Pitcher—survived the fires completely untouched.
“We were just excited as heck to see that the swinging bridge that we’re standing on made it through the fire. No worries there,” Schultz said.
However, the area on the north side of the bridge remains unsafe. Even when the Bowl and Pitcher area reopens, officials plan to install a wall preventing visitors from crossing to the other side of the bridge where fire damage is most severe.
“What folks will probably see over the rest of this calendar year will be segmented re-openings. As we can open areas, we will. As we can do it safely, we will. But we’re not going to rush it. There’s never been a fire of this magnitude in any of our state parks,” Schultz said.
Park officials are taking a deliberate approach to restoration. Removing hazardous trees is the first step toward reopening additional areas, and crews have already identified 500 trees that need to be removed from the north side of the park alone.
“We’ve been working with the firefighters that are still in the park, putting out hot spots. They’re also going hazard tree removal with us. Avista is doing a lot of hazard tree removal around their utility lines,” Schultz said.
The community has responded with enthusiasm to help. Schultz said park officials have received numerous offers from volunteers wanting to assist with repairs and restoration work. Officials hope to coordinate volunteer projects in the near future to help accelerate the park’s recovery.
Visitors planning to return to Riverside State Park should check with Washington State Parks for updates on which areas are open and which remain closed. The park’s website and social media channels will provide the most current information on reopening timelines and any restrictions on access.
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