Post Falls’ Q’emiln Park boat launch, swim beach reopen Friday

The Spokane River’s summer rhythm returns to Q’emiln Park on Friday, June 12, when Post Falls reopens the boat launch and guarded swim beach for the season. The move restores public access to one of the city’s most-used warm-weather spots as river flows reach levels that allow summer operations at the Post Falls Dam.

Avista said recreation will again be permitted in the stretch between the Spokane Street Bridge and the boater safety cables upstream of the dam starting Friday. The utility expects summer operations to continue through Labor Day, weather permitting, giving boaters and swimmers a clearer window for the months when demand is highest along the river corridor.

Q’emiln Park, pronounced “ka-mee-lin,” sits south of the Spokane River at the end of the Spokane Street Bridge and covers 78.5 acres. The park includes a guarded swimming beach, boat launch, BBQ pits, picnic shelters, horseshoe pits, volleyball courts, a concession stand, restrooms, access to the Post Falls Community Forest and Q’emiln Climbing Walls, plus reservation facilities such as the Grand Pavilion and Trailhead Event Center.

City officials said the launch opening changes from year to year because Avista sets the dates based on water levels, weather conditions and public safety. The launch is typically closed by mid-November and generally reopens in late spring or early summer. Last year, the boat launch and beach opened June 16, 2025, with daily launch fees listed at $15 for Post Falls residents and $30 for non-residents, plus daily parking fees of $6 for residents and $10 for non-residents.

The reopening also resets a key summer stop for community events and recreation traffic in Post Falls. The Post Falls Sprint Triathlon and Duathlon is scheduled for Sunday, Aug. 2, 2026, at Q’emiln Park, and the site continues to host city programming such as the Easter Egg Extravaganza and Camp Ka-Mee-Lin. For the businesses and concessions that depend on warm-weather foot traffic, the return of boats, swimmers and trail users marks the start of the season that drives the park and the riverfront economy.