SPOKANE, Wash. — Just weeks after the Old Trails Fire scorched portions of Riverside State Park, the Bowl and Pitcher campground is bustling with activity this Labor Day weekend.
The campground filled to capacity Friday afternoon as campers arrived for one final outdoor summer adventure. Park rangers confirm the facility will remain completely full throughout the holiday weekend, with many visitors traveling from out of town to celebrate Labor Day in Spokane.
Patricia Ellingson, who traveled from Oregon, expressed relief at finding the campground intact. “It’s beautiful, I was so glad and thankful it wasn’t destroyed by the fire,” Ellingson said.
The timing of the park’s reopening comes as Labor Day weekend represents one of the most popular travel periods of the year. For many visitors, the holiday offers a final opportunity to enjoy outdoor recreation before summer officially ends.
Clark Zhang, an international student who arrived in Spokane just four days ago from Malaysia, expressed enthusiasm about his new surroundings and the chance to celebrate the holiday. “It’s a great place. People are nice, food is nice and I mean it’s just a beautiful place to be in, I mean what else could we ask for?” Zhang said.
Tony Perletti made the journey from Alaska to meet his father at the campground for the holiday weekend. For Perletti, the trip serves a dual purpose: spending time with family while soaking up sunshine he won’t experience much of back home. “Summer in Alaska ends in Early August so, it’s like extending that nice vacation and kind of weather,” Perletti said.
For some visitors, the weekend provided more than just a camping trip, it is a time for family members to be together.
Angela and Jesse F., who traveled from the East Coast, said the timing was particularly meaningful. “Our son is stationed here in the military, and his wife was visiting. And so it was a good time where we could all get together without being spread out,” they said.
Park rangers remind visitors that while the Bowl and Pitcher campground is open for the holiday weekend, certain areas remain restricted. The suspension bridge remains closed and burn restrictions are still in place throughout the park. Rangers encourage visitors to enjoy the park’s natural features while staying out of any marked burn zones for their own safety.
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