Entry No. 33 — the Spokane file — filed under: outdoor-weird

Deep Creek Canyon, Riverside State Park

At the northern end of Riverside State Park, a dry side canyon drops through a jumble of 16-million-year-old basalt lava beds toward the Spokane River. Tucked along Deep Creek are a pair of ancient lava tubes and a massive cliff of bulbous 'pillow' basalt streaked with colorful palagonite, formed where molten lava hit an ancient lake or stream in violent flashes of steam. The trail threads a surreal corridor of eroded volcanic rock; the overhanging basalt walls are also one of the region's best sport-climbing crags. It feels far wilder than its short distance from downtown suggests.

The move: Hike down through the lava-bed canyon to find the pillow basalt cliff and lava tubes, then continue out to the river overlook.

📍 Before you go Discover Pass required. About 20 minutes northwest of Spokane; the lava tubes take some scrambling to find.

• 📍 Nine Mile Falls
• 💸 Free
• ⚡ Up for anything
• 🌗 Outdoors

Where: Deep Creek Rd, Nine Mile Falls, WA 99026

Hours: Added 2026-06-24 — confirm current hours before you go.

Plan a visit & invite your people →

Proof: source 1 · source 2 · source 3 · source 4

last checked: 2026-06-24