Photo Courtesy: istock.com/Kirk Fisher
Post Falls Rising
Discover Northern Idaho’s outdoor playground
Locals refer to September and October in Post Falls as the “golden hour” of the year. The weather is still warm, the quietness of fall has settled on the town, and the tamaracks shine in their autumn glory. A community coming of age with an energetic, playful beat and an innovative, outdoorsy spirit, Post Falls, Idaho—founded in 1871 and tucked between Spokane, Washington, and Coeur d’Alene, Idaho—has awakened to its distinctive personality. Glowing in that hour before the secret is out, it is a nature’s playground brimming with year-round cultural and outdoor activities. This fall, grab a kayak, a bike, some hiking shoes, carabiners or a (fancy) hat and venture to Northern Idaho to catch this town in its best light.
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Begin the adventure with a history-filled sunset river cruise to learn stories about the region while basking in the setting sun. Meandering past waterfront homes and green spaces from Lake Coeur d’Alene, the Spokane River—named for the Spokane Tribe of Indians—spills into the namesake falls at the center of the city. “The river is the heart and soul of this place,” Captain Thomas Peterson of CDA Pontoons explained. Residents and visitors boat, paddleboard and swim or tackle the rushing whitewater below its falls, while watching for bald eagles soaring or a moose crossing from its forested shores.
Named a Tree City USA by The Arbor Day Foundation, Post Falls includes the 500-acre Community Forest with its extensive hiking and rock-climbing trail systems, known as some of the best rock climbing in Idaho. Marvel at the park’s giant boulders while weaving through the gold and crimson aspen, maple and oak trees lining the trails before enjoying a picnic at the riverfront Q’emiln Park. Then trade boots for a bike helmet and head out on the mostly paved North Idaho Centennial Trail, a hiking and biking path stretching east to west for 23 miles through old train tunnels and bridges.
Photo Courtesy: istock.com/Kirk Fisher
Play
Begin the adventure with a history-filled sunset river cruise to learn stories about the region while basking in the setting sun. Meandering past waterfront homes and green spaces from Lake Coeur d’Alene, the Spokane River—named for the Spokane Tribe of Indians—spills into the namesake falls at the center of the city. “The river is the heart and soul of this place,” Captain Thomas Peterson of CDA Pontoons explained. Residents and visitors boat, paddleboard and swim or tackle the rushing whitewater below its falls, while watching for bald eagles soaring or a moose crossing from its forested shores.
Named a Tree City USA by The Arbor Day Foundation, Post Falls includes the 500-acre Community Forest with its extensive hiking and rock-climbing trail systems, known as some of the best rock climbing in Idaho. Marvel at the park’s giant boulders while weaving through the gold and crimson aspen, maple and oak trees lining the trails before enjoying a picnic at the riverfront Q’emiln Park. Then trade boots for a bike helmet and head out on the mostly paved North Idaho Centennial Trail, a hiking and biking path stretching east to west for 23 miles through old train tunnels and bridges.
Photo Courtesy: istock.com/Kirk Fisher
Indulge
To start the day with huevos rancheros, don’t miss La Piñata’s version, served with a smile in a 1950s diner transformed with Mexican flair. For a lighter start, sink into a morning cup of meticulously crafted coffee at DOMA Coffee Lab. Downtown’s newly landscaped Spokane Street is framed by an old-fashioned water tower and boasts colorful sculptures, along with casual hotspots such as Post Falls Brewing, Sawdust City Brewing Company and the food cart lot Eats on Spokane. “If you love garlic, we love you!” is the motto at The White House Grill, a wildly popular Greek spot whose tongue-in-cheek puns complement zesty Mediterranean dishes. Set in a historic family home in the heart of town, Republic Kitchen + Taphouse offers heaping portions for every palate served by friendly staff. Don’t miss the strawberry rhubarb cheesecake made from plants growing in the onsite garden.
La-Tea-Da serves high tea that transports visitors to the likes of Buckingham Palace with exquisite hats for every guest, servers with British accents and fine china adorned with tea sandwiches fit for a queen. At Paws & Brews, loyal companions play in a dog park and slurp nonalcoholic pup beer while their humans sip craft beers and wine—doggie daycare is also available. On nearby Hauser Lake, the family-owned restaurant Embers by the Lake treats diners like one of its own as they curl up in provided blankets, indulge in woodfired artisan pizza, roast s’mores and gaze at the sunset from the warmly lit patio. Back in town, pick up an absurdly delicious pie at the charming Birdie’s Pie Shop for a seasonal after-dinner treat. To celebrate a special moment, the pioneering vintners behind Rosemary Manor Winery will bring locally made wine to your accommodations for private tastings and local spirit.
Photo Courtesy: istock.com/Kirk Fisher
Rest
With its proximity to Interstate 90, Post Falls and the surrounding areas offer a handful of national brand hotels to choose from, but a step off the beaten path unveils places to stay for every taste. The Club at Prairie Falls is a lively mini resort centered around its namesake golf course with suite accommodations, a restaurant and bar, golf simulators, summer concerts and the adjacent Anchored Coffee and Bakery with scratch-made pastries where first responders drink for free. At the family-owned Sowing Joy Farm, a Shepherd’s Hut for two awaits, surrounded by lush grounds alive with flowers, sheep, ducks and the devoted herding dog Lambert. Tiptoe through the U-pick flower maze and have your camera at the ready to capture idyllic moments of farm life. Lundy River House offers peaceful views of the Spokane River and plenty of wiggle room so families and larger groups can hang their hats together in elevated comfort.
Photo Courtesy: adobe stock
Discover
Set in a restored church on the National Register of Historical Places at the center of town, The Jacklin Arts & Cultural Center’s exhibits are a rotating celebration of the region’s creative pulse. Ask to ring the church bells for an invigorating moment, then head to Kindred & Co. bookstore and coffee shop to relive the wonder of childhood in a space filled with books and whimsical gifts for all ages. For an afternoon stroll, head to Falls Park to meander past a riverside amphitheater, and learn about the region’s cultural history by reading interpretive signs along a paved trail to a bird’s eye view of the falls and the town’s original dam.
Carved in a granite cliff not far from Falls Park, Treaty Rock national landmark marks the place where the Coeur d’Alene Tribe ceremoniously gave German settler Frederick Post their blessing to build a sawmill on the river in 1871. The event paved the way for a hydroelectric project that continues to provide energy to this day. Inducted into the Hydro Hall of Fame in 2023 for its commitment to utilizing renewable energy sources, the town’s spirit of innovation and goodwill endures.
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