| Description: Just downstream
from The Idaho/Washington State Line and the Interstate 90 bridge is
the Spokane Area's best known play spot Dead Dog Hole. Dead Dog Hole
is formed by a large crescent shape boulder just upsteam of the old
state-line bridge. Dead Dog comes to life during periods of high
water on The Spokane River. Dead Dog is one of the Northwest's
classic holes a great place to come out and get your cartwheeling
and looping fix. |
| Eddy Service: The eddy for Dead Dog
Hole is located right behind the hole under the old state-line
bridge the eddy works well until about 17,000 cfs. At levels above
18,000 cfs paddlers will have to pull their way up to the hole using
a rope attached to the bridge piling. |
| Water Levels:
10,500-12,500 cfs:
There is a small pour-over to play.
12,500 cfs
to 14,500 cfs:
Good level for beginners and intermediates to surf before the hole
start to get really retentive.
15000 cfs to 17,500 cfs:
At these levels Dead-Dog is an amazing hole to play-in.
18,000 cfs to 20,500 cfs:
At these levels the hole is very retentive and you might need a exit
strategy to get out of the hole with out a fight. These levels have
been the sight of many an ego bruising, not recommended for anyone
but expert paddlers.
21,000 cfs on up: Dead Dog is still
there up until though getting into the hole requires more work. |
| Gauge: Spokane River at Spokane. Take
into account that it the spring the flows of side tributaries will
boost the gauge reading by several thousand cfs at the playspots, so
make sure that flows are a bit above the minimum. |
| Season: Spring, Early Summer |
Difficulty: The hole can be quite
retentive and shallow and is just upstream of a bridge with a
considerable amount of water moving through the area. This spot is
not recommended for beginners expect at the recommended water
levels.
|
| Driving Directions: From I-90 heading
East from Spokane take Exit 299, The State Line Exit. Take a left at
the stop sign at the end of the offramp and proceed North under the
freeway and then follow signs toward The State Line. Watch for
cyclists, the popular Centennial Trail crosses traffic just before
the road bends right heading East toward The Old State Line Bridge.
Cross the river on the bridge and park at the turn out on the East
end of the bridge. From the parking area there are a couple of foot
paths down to the river the hole is located just upstream of the
eastside of the bridge.
From I-90 heading West from Post Falls, ID take Exit 299, The State
Line Exit. Take an immediate right at the end of the offramp from
the highway and follow the sign directing you to the State Line.
Watch for cyclists, the popular Centennial Trail crosses traffic
just before the road bends right heading East toward The Old State
Line Bridge. Cross the river on the bridge and park at the turn out
on the East end of the bridge. From the parking area there are a
couple of foot paths down to the river the hole is located just
upstream of the eastside of the bridge. |
| Closest Town: Medicine Lake, WA |
| Closest Services: Post Falls, ID is
just a couple of minutes away on I-90 |
| Other Local Attractions if the play isn't
in: Most likely one or more play spots will be in. |
| Closest Camping: There are numerous
campgrounds around Lake Couer d'Alene to the East on I-90. |
| Local's Tips: Between 7,000 and
12,000 there is a dead zone...otherwise there is always something to
play. |
| Local Kayak Shops:
Mountain Gear in Spokane. |