Sunset, a regional lifestyle magazine, listed the Spokane Falls among “The West’s best waterfalls” in its March 2001 issue.

Among high and scenic falls located everywhere from Arizona to Hawaii, and Wyoming to Washington, the magazine included the Spokane Falls as the only such wonder located in an urban area.

“Stoked by runoff from the mountains of Idaho, the Spokane River barges through downtown Spokane in a yearly performance that is a rite of Spring,” the article states, and “Overlooks north and south of the lower falls provide unnerving views of the river’s springtime virility.”

Also included were the Palouse Falls, just south of Spokane.

In November of 2000, the Spokesman-Review endorsed the participation of the National Parks Service’s River, Trails, & Conservation Assistance Program in the development of concepts for the River Gorge.

In ”Our View,” John Kafentzis of the editorial board stated that:

“The Spokane River is our city’s single most important piece of geography...Spokane without its river gorge would be like Seattle without Puget Sound or San Francisco without the bay.” “Now,” he continued, “with a little help from the National Park Service, Spokane has the opportunity to display this natural jewel in a way that it can be fully appreciated.”

To read the full version of the Spokesman’s editorial, click on the link below.

SR: “Natural Jewel” (69 Kb, Acrobat® file)