Spokane, WA

August 18th we bundled our grandkids up and set out for Metalaine Falls about a two hour drive from Spokane headed North west. With us were my daughter and her husband, my son and his two kids and my son in laws sister and nephew and seven grandkids.

The goal was a family picnic and to visit Gardner Caverns and Sweet Creek Falls. You take highway 2 to the Metalaine Falls/Newport interesection and drive past Metaliane falls following signs to the Gardener Caverns. Which is only a short walk up the trail and you find yourself in Canada. Gardner Caverns was found by a moonshine operator when he fell into a deep hole in the ground and broke his leg. The Cavern has stalagtites and stalagmites of limestone. It has some interesting formations.

They replaced the old wood steps leading down into the cavern in the 1990s with steel steps and hand rails. When we entered the Cavern there was a musky smell that our Guide Kevin told us was a pack rat they could not get rid off. He showed us many of the formations and told us the names of some. One is called Tricky Dicky after President Nixon. There are cartoon looking formations and a giant pillar of limestone where the stalagtites and stalagmites met. Touching the limestone discolors it and cause the limestone not to grow.

After we toured the interesting formations of the cave we had a picnic lunch then drove to Sweet Creek Falls. This is actually several falls the largest has a deep pool at the top of the trail where we waded in the cool waters. The kids loved playing in the water and found one pretty rose or blue quartz rock after another. They also thought the shale rock looked interesting. We had a great time splashing in the pool and watching the beautiful falls tumble down the creek bed. We enjoyed finding the pretty rocks a few were put in pockets but most we left. It was one of our most enjoyable outings of the summer. A trip well worth taking for a family day of fun and adventure.