Entry No. 52 — the Spokane file — filed under: after-dark
Spokane Riverkeeper Full Moon BYO-Boat Paddle
A few times each summer, Spokane Riverkeeper leads a slow flat-water float on the Spokane River under the full moon, launching from the McKinstry Launch at Gonzaga. Paddlers bring their own kayak, canoe, or paddleboard (no boat? rent one through FLOW Adventures) for a roughly half-mile drift and back while staff narrate river history and ecology. The autumn edition runs as a "Witches' Moonlight Paddle," costumes highly encouraged.
The story
Most locals only see the Spokane River from the concrete railings of city bridges or the paved banks of the Centennial Trail. But a few times each summer, Spokane Riverkeeper quietly gathers a fleet of non-motorized craft at dusk. You haul your own kayak, canoe, or paddleboard down to the McKinstry Launch—tucked right near the UW Medicine and Gonzaga medical school parking lot—and slip onto the flat water just as the full moon clears the trees.
This isn't a swift-water white-knuckle run. It's a slow, deliberate drift covering roughly half a mile out and back. While your blade cuts the dark surface, Riverkeeper staff guide the line, pointing out night-hunting herons along the banks and gesturing into the shadowed shorelines to identify the structural remains of old industrial mill sites. By October, the mood shifts for the seasonal "Witches' Moonlight Paddle," where floaters suit up in full costume and black cloaks trail through the dark water.
What it's like
Show up well before the official launch time so you aren't fighting for space to unload and inflate your vessel near the University District put-in. The floating itself is easy-going flat water, but paddling in the dark requires keeping your eyes open and sticking close to the cluster. If you don't own a craft, secure a rental through FLOW Adventures before heading down, or keep an eye out for reserved raft seats during featured floats like the July Buck Moon paddle.
The move: Reserve a raft seat for the July Buck Moon paddle and drift the dark river while the guide points out herons and old mill sites.
- 📍 Spokane (University District put-in)
- 💸 Free
- ⚡ Up for anything
- 🌗 Outdoors
Where: Launch near the UW Medicine / Gonzaga medical school parking lot, Spokane River
Hours: Added 2026-06-24 — confirm current hours before you go.
⚠ Seasonal or scheduled — always check before you go.
Pair it with
- Hogwash Whiskey Den — After hauling your boat out of the dark river, dry off and slip into this unmarked basement bar inside the 1891 Washington Cracker Building.
- Cease & Desist Book Club — Trade your paddle for a hidden drink behind a swinging bookcase in the historic Legion Building downtown.
- Berserk — If you want to keep the late-night local vibe going after the float, grab a drink at this Riverside dive with pinball machines and a 45rpm jukebox.
Good to know
Do I need to bring my own boat?
Yes, it is primarily a BYO-Boat trip for kayaks, canoes, and stand-up paddleboards. If you don't have one, rent through FLOW Adventures or try to snag a seat on a Riverkeeper raft for specific dates.
Where does the float launch?
The group puts in at the McKinstry Launch along the Spokane River, right next to the UW Medicine / Gonzaga University medical school parking area.
How long is the river route?
It is a low-intensity, flat-water trip covering about half a mile downstream and back, focused on narration and night ecology rather than distance.
What is the Witches' Moonlight Paddle?
It's the autumn edition of the float where paddlers are encouraged to dress up in Halloween costumes before taking to the moonlit river.
Plan a visit & invite your people →
Further reading: Official site
last checked: 2026-06-24