1. North Idaho College (NIC) public beach

This park has several restroom facilities, running water, and picnic tables. There is no boat launch but it is a popular spot for kayakers or small boat sailors to portage from the road to waters edge to access either the reservoir/river or Lake Coeur d'Alene. Directions: From I90 take exit 11. Turn southeast toward the City of Coeur d'Alene city center. On Northwest Boulevard follow the signs to North Idaho College, take the road that goes around the college along the lake & river to where the boats are on the beach and dock. Maps: To view a map CLICK HERE TO VIEW PDF MAP or go to www.mapquest.com and type in North Idaho College, ID.

2. Blackwell Island Park & Boat Launch

This is the largest and main boat launch site for the Post Falls Reservoir. This park has a large double ramp boat launch and extensive dock system, restrooms, running water, picnic areas, nature boardwalks, and swim area within the non-motorized channel.  For information related to the Coeur d’Alene  Blackwell Island Park and boat launch, click here: http://www.id.blm.gov/recreation/blackwell/index.htm Info: There is a Blackwell Island RV Park right across the street from the boat launch http://www.idahorvpark.com/index.html. Directions: From I-90 take exit 11. Turn southeast toward the City of Coeur d'Alene city center. On Northwest Boulevard take the highway 95 on ramp and turn south toward Moscow Idaho. The entrance to the park is right after you cross the bridge. Maps: To view a map CLICK HERE TO VIEW PDF MAP or go to www.mapquest.com and type in Blackwell Island, Idaho.

3. Riverstone Park & Pond

This new park in the City of Coeur d'Alene park system has a man made pond that is popular with local radio controlled model sail boaters, shelters, restrooms, running water, playground, paved bike/walking trail (connected to the Idaho Centennial Trail), ample parking, and area that is used for concerts, etc.

4. Mill River Park

Mill River Park has a day use dock with swimming beach, shelter, restroom, water fountain, and paved parking area. One can easily carry your kayak or small craft from the parking lot to the beach/dock. Directions: 4340 W Shoreview Lane, Coeur d'Alene, ID.

(http://www.cdaid.org/index.phpmodule=pagemaster&PAGE_user_op=view_page&PAGE_id=53#Mill_River

http://parks.cdaid.org/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=39&Itemid=62

5. Maple Dr. Park

Maple Drive Park is maintained by the BLM. It has a porta potty at the parking area, one picnic table, and a trash receptacle. Maple Dr. Park has a nice beach to either swim and/or launch a kayak from; though the path to the beach is a bit long from Maple Dr.

6. Kiwanis Park

This is the newest park on the reservoir/river and is leased to the city for $1 a year. The Kiwanis club sold part of their land at this site to afford to develop a 4-acre park. The park includes an unguarded swimming beach, kayak/canoe launch area (have to portage a few hundred feet down a wide, level, gravel path), trails, picnic areas and shelters, restrooms, playground equipment, basket ball area, and a 34x46 covered pavilion. This is a popular site for weddings and family reunions. 4176 E. Weather by Ave. Post Falls Idaho

7. Greens Ferry Boat Launch

This park is not suited as a swim area due to the very short shore area.  It also has no restroom or running water. However, this is a great place to launch from in order to access the widest part of the reservoir. If you sail east on this portion of the reservoir watch for the power lines (very high off the water but still something to watch for).

8. Black Bay Park

There is no boat launch here but If you are boating with a sail yak or even a small dinghy you can walk your boat down the trail several hundred feet to the water (watch out for bikes). Amenities include: restrooms, running water, paved bike/hiking trails, swim area, and large parking area. For a map of Black Bay Park log onto http://www.northidahocentennialtrail.org/CenTrail.pdf). Directions: To get to Blackwell Island take Exit 11. Turn right onto Northwest Blvd toward down town Coeur d’Alene. Turn right onto the I95 on-ramp and take a right onto I95. Cross the bridge and to the right you will see the Blackwell Island boat launch and park.

9. Q'emiln Park and Boat Launches

This is the largest park on the reservoir (this section of the river) with fenced in swim area, restrooms, running water, play ground, hiking trails, and boat launches with docks. There is a fee to use this park. For more information log onto http://www.postfallsidaho.org/parks.htm#QEMILN%20PARK. Note of caution - If you are launching from Q’emiln Park be aware of the current as you could be drawn into the dam barrier. The current can be very fast (particularly during spring).  Post Falls Chamber of Commerce website: www.postfallsidaho.org. Call 208-769-1357 or log onto http://www.avistautilities.com/resources/hydro/weather.asp for more information. Directions:  From I90 heading from either Spokane or Coeur d’Alene - Take Exit 5 and turn right (south); cross the bridge and to the left you will see the park.

Islands & Bays (Places to Anchor)

Islands: There are 7 main Islands within the Post Falls Reservoir of the Spokane River as well as two more very small unnamed islands. Going from where the Spokane River starts at Lake Coeur d'Alene to Post Falls (westerly direction) are Blackwell Island and Little Blackwell Island, Blackwell being the larger of the two. These are the only Islands on the river that the public is allowed to access. When the reservoir/river is drawn down, the channel between these two Islands disappears and the Islands become one.

The channel is a nice place to swim and kayak from.  When there is water in this channel it is for non-motorized use only. Amenities include a park with double boat launch and docks, restrooms, picnic areas, nature trail boardwalk, and shelters. There is one marina, a privately owned campground, and the famous floating restaurant, Cedars.

The next Island is Marsh Island. No power boat traffic is allowed to go behind the Island due to the wildlife restrictions. One can access this area to view water foul via kayaks by launching across the river at Mill River Park.

A short distance up river is Hidden Island. It is privately owned and has a channel that dead ends due to a low bridge, which even a kayak can't go under.

The second largest Island on the reservoir/river is Harbor Island, which, like the other Islands, also has a channel that is accessible from the reservoir/river. This channel has privately owned docks along its length but is not a channel that non-resident power boaters use as it is in a no wake zone and dead ends at the bridge. At east entrance to this channel is a sign that says "dead end." However, this doesn't apply to those in kayaks or canoes which can easily pass under the bridge. This is a beautiful place to paddle and a nice way to get out of reservoir/river traffic.

There are two designated wildlife Island(s) on this reservoir/river - the Twin Goose Islands. This is one Island in the winter when the reservoir is drawn down, and two Islands in the summer when the reservoir is full. Location is about 1 mile east of the dam. These twin Islands are water foul habitation so are not to be accessed by people.

The final Island is Span Way Island, a privately owned island with houses on it. Span Way is just a short distance up the river from Q'emiln Park and on the same side of the river (south side). There is a channel around the island but a bridge more like a street with a pipe below creates an impassable barrier that even a swimmer couldn't get through. The channel on either side of this road is private and used by the owners of the homes for their water craft.

Bays: There are several bays and inlets that seem to be ideal locations to get away from the main channel of the reservoir. Black Bay (See Black Bay Park) is a perfect bay to get away from the boating traffic, particularly if you are on a kayak or non-motorized vessel. This bay is part of a park ran by the city of Post Falls. Going into the bay a short distance you can anchor your power boat and relax. The bay is a button hook shape and half way into the bay there are signs prohibiting motorized vessels. It's quite a nice place go to kayak and especially swim.

Ross Point Bay is another nice anchoring spot. It is surrounded by a Church Camp so you will want to be mindful of what you do keep the volume down if you boat near there. The land around this bay is owned by the Baptist church so the general public is not allowed to go on shore.

There are several other inlets/coves; Hidden Cove is across from Ross Point Bay. But like the other small inlets, it is surrounded by homes and is really too small to anchor from without impeding boat traffic from those homes. The public boat launch among these inlets is the Greens Ferry Public Boat Launch; there is a narrow channel leading to and from this launch facility. It was created primarily by Cedar Creek and the increased water level from the dam. There is no water in this channel during the winter and it is only 2-4 feet deep during the summer. This channel can be busy due to boats leaving from and returning to the boat launch and private residences, so is not a channel to anchor in or obstruct.