THINGS YOU SHOULD KNOW: It only takes a few things to ruin a good day of climbing. The main ones are mosquitoes, thieves and Park Rangers. In the summer months they are all out in force! The mosquitoes are at their worst in June and July, but the thieves and Rangers can be out any time! There are some things we can do that work; bug juice for the mosquitoes, leave nothing in your car for the Thieves and common sense for the Rangers. They all have jobs to do, just do not let them do their jobs on you!
CLIMBING SEASON: April through October is in general the best time of the year for climbing. Although routes have been sent in February, April and May are the nicest June, July and August are the hottest. Then September and October are great again, but most all the climbs face east or west, so with the time of the day using the sun or the shade, you can adjust the temperature.
Getting There
HOW TO GET THERE: Just after the town of Nine Mile Falls take a left at the bridge, over the river on Charles road (mile marker 9.5 on highway 291). The Riverside State PaIks Headquarters' are on your left (0 miles) then take a right on South Banks Road (4.2miles). The road starts out as pavement then turns to good dirt (12 miles). The road will split and parallel itself, stay to the left (many private driveways) the two roads join back up as one lane rough dirt road (12.5 miles). Then you should see an Entering Riverside Sate PaIks sign on your right (12.8miles). At 13.25 miles past the Ranger Station you will see on your left a sign reading "Fisk Day Use Area" to the right The road dead-ends at The Parking Lot. (13.5miles).
PARKING: Riverside State Park has made a parking lot at mile 13.5 at the white gate. However, the "Parking Lot" works like a trap for the thieves that prey on the cars that wander in. Keep in mind that thieves can break into your car no matter where you park it, and the State Park also reminds us that and they have rules. We did discover that it's easier to give out parking tickets than it is too catch Thieves. (The climb Twenty-four Dollars Day comes from the three 24 dollar Parking Tickets we got on one day.) Instead we park by the "Fisk Day Use Area" sign (13 .25 miles) at the intersection where you make the right turn off the main road. Alternatively, you can go left .25 of a mile farther on the main road. There are a few places you can pull off. Just make sure you park off the main road but not too far off (the reason for the tickets) the main road. Also watch out for the private drive.
Being from western washington I find the directions a bit hard to follow? Would they make sense to a spokane local? Regardless looks pretty sweet dude!
I hope it's been helpful, it's the same beta I have been giving out for a few years now. But the parking is not the hard part, it's finding the climbs your first time out that eats up your time for climbing. It helps to have a friend that knows there way around the crag. Happy Climbing David
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