An invigorating, conveniently located 7,655-acre parcel stretches for miles along the wooded banks and spectacular basalt lava cliffs gripping the Spokane River. Footpaths and roads follow the swift clean river through forests of mature ponderosa pine and lead to overlooks of spectacular whitewater and to the site of Spokane House, an important fur-trade outpost. At the park's entrance, a short path leads to the top of a stout knob of rock that provides an excellent view of a furious whitewater stretch called the Bowl and Pitcher, where the Spokane River dashes between massive lumps of basalt that rise dozens of feet from the water. A trail starting from the picnic area below the overlook crosses the river on a footbridge, wanders among the rock formations and connects with the Centennial Trail, which leads upstream to the streets of Spokane, or downstream approximately 5mi to the Nine Mile Falls Dam.