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By late August, most dog owners have<\/a> the same routine down. Walk early, wait out the heat of the day, and save the river for the evening, when it finally cools off. These are the real dog days of an Inland Northwest summer, and they're easier to enjoy when you know where to take your pup.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n This part of the city is on their side, too. You notice it touring apartments around North Spokane, usually by the third neighbor you spot with a leash in one hand and a coffee in the other. The river is close from just about anywhere,<\/a> the ponderosa bark goes faintly sweet where the sun hits it, and this stretch of the Evergreen State runs on the belief that summer belongs to anybody with a tail. So, here's the itinerary your pup would hand you, if only those paws could hold a pen.<\/span><\/span><\/span> The dog-friendly part of Spokane runs along the water. <\/span>The Spokane River Centennial Trail<\/span><\/a><\/a> might be the best one yet, with nearly 40 paved miles from the Idaho line out to Nine Mile<\/a> Falls. Leashed dogs are welcome on the Washington side, and the shaded stretches near <\/span>Riverside State Park<\/span><\/a><\/a>, <\/a>out on the northwest edge, sit only minutes from most north side neighborhoods. Get there before eight and the whole path smells like pine and cold water. Your dog will consider this the finest thing you have ever done for them.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n Then there's the ground where the leash actually comes off. <\/span>High Bridge Dog Park<\/span><\/a> is a short drive south, down where the rivers meet, and it earns the ride every time. Spokane's first and biggest off-leash park reopened in fall of 2024 after a full renovation, with new fencing, split areas for large and small dogs, an ADA accessible section, and a lot more paved parking. The nine-plus acres run from open meadow to treed<\/a> hillside, so there's real shade even when August is at its meanest.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n For years it was the only official off-leash spot in the city, but a second one opened on the South Hill in fall 2024, and privately rentable fenced yards keep popping up around the north side for pups who'd rather have the place to themselves. One rule holds wherever the zoomies happen: stick to the early and late hours. The ground keeps its heat long after the air has cooled<\/a> off.<\/span><\/span><\/span> Washington updated its health code in 2022 to let restaurants open their patios to dogs, and this city took the invitation and ran. There are dozens of dog-friendly patios in Spokane now, and some of the easiest ones sit well north of downtown.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n Cascadia Public House<\/span><\/a><\/a>, a locally owned gastropub in the Five Mile neighborhood, and <\/span>Little Garden Caf\u00e9 on Northwest Boulevard<\/span><\/a><\/a> both welcome leashed pups outside, so a burger or a latte with your sidekick doesn't mean fighting for a downtown parking spot. Cascadia's heated patio makes it an easy call even when a north side evening turns cool, and its plant-based menu runs long if that's your thing. Little Garden, meanwhile, looks straight across at <\/span>Audubon Park<\/span><\/a><\/a>, which turns a bagel sandwich into a shady walk afterward, and there's a second caf\u00e9 near Whitworth that covers the far north end. In the Garland District, Garland Drinkery has an enclosed patio right on the strip, which suits a dog whose main hobby is sizing up everyone who walks by.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n For a river jaunt, <\/span>No-Li Brewhouse<\/span><\/a><\/a> i<\/a>s still one of the classic dog-friendly restaurants in Spokane. Its patio sits low on a shaded bank of the river, and staff keep fresh water<\/a> bowls filled through the hottest part of the afternoon, usually with a treat somewhere nearby. Order something cold and let your pup keep an eye on the ducks.<\/span><\/span><\/span> Late August brings the twist every local dog is waiting on. The city pools close to swimmers, then open right back up for a much furrier crowd. The annual Doggie Dip, run by Spokane Parks and Recreation with SpokAnimal, gives the last swim of the season to the pups, and north side pools like Shadle and Hillyard have turned up on the schedule year after year. You'll need proof of a current rabies vaccination and a healthy, well-behaved dog you keep an eye on, since the water is for the four-legged guests only. The dates move around, so check the Parks and Recreation calendar once August rolls in. <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n Between swims, a seasonal trim keeps a thick coat from turning into a portable sauna. When it comes to dog grooming, the North Spokane side is well covered. <\/span>The Yuppy Puppy<\/span><\/a><\/a> on North<\/a> Newport Highway does the whole range, from full grooms to walk-in nail trims, and there's a self-serve wash for when a river morning gets out of hand.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n
\n <\/p>\nWhere the Leash Comes Off (and Where It Stays On)<\/h2>\n
\n <\/p>\nPatios That Pass the Sniff Test<\/h2>\n
\n <\/p>\nHow North Spokane Dogs Beat the Heat<\/h2>\n