Rock Climbing in Q'emiln Park - Post Falls Idaho
One of my big goals for my show Monica Goes (and personally), was to try rock climbing. As someone who’s afraid of heights but loves to climb things, this seemed like the perfect adventure combo! When I had the opportunity to go climbing in Post Falls, Idaho I was beyond stoked. What I didn’t expect was a park full of trails, climbing routes, and year-round adventure!
Q’emiln Park (Pronounced “Ka-Mee-Lin”) is located right in the heart of Post Falls, Idaho and features a swimming beach and boat launch, bbq pits, volleyball courts and over 40 acres of hiking trails. We met with Parks & Rec director Bryan Myers who took us exploring onto the many different trails. One thing I loved about the hiking trails in Q’emiln Park was that they’re color-coded and easy to follow, and they intertwine and connect to one another so you can choose to make your hike as short or as long as you’d like.
The Park also winds along the beautiful Spokane River where in the summertime people can float down its crystal clear waters. But the true adventure for me, was the surrounding cliff edges used for the over 100 natural climbing routes. With 78 acres of climbs ranging from 5.5-5.11 crags, it’s the perfect rock climbing destination for all skill levels.
The nearby North Idaho College offers rock climbing courses and for a newbie like myself, this was the perfect intro into the sport. After spending a couple of hours wandering the trails and taking in the parks beauty, we made our way over to Leah, my instructor for the day. As I looked up at the Q’emiln walls ranging from 50-70 feet tall, my adrenaline started kicking in, but Leah reassured me that no matter what, she had me.
Leah showed me how to put the harness on and tie my own knots (slightly intimidating) and then it was time to head up! The biggest difference between my ONE time experience of climbing in a gym and climbing outdoors was that without the helpful color-coded hand directions, I had no idea which way to go…as Leah pointed out…just go up! Easier said than done.
After those first few scary steps onto the wall, I was feeling pretty good as I moved my body from hold to hold…and then I found myself at a shelf in the wall that jutted out and could not, for the life of me, figure out how to climb up and over it. As I sat with one leg straddled onto the shelf and the other dangling below, I began to wonder how in the world I was going to continue another 40 feet in the air!
One of the greatest things about filming my show, is that it pushes me to go further than I think I can because I knew I didn't want to make an episode about climbing 10 feet off the ground and calling it a day. Slowly, I began trying different things until eventually, I was able to pull myself onto, and above the rock shelf. The cheering and encouragement from the instructors and my videographer Kristin pushed me on!
As I neared the top after about 40 minutes, my arms were turning to Jello but there was no stopping me now. The feeling of touching the carabiner at the top of the climb is one I will never forget! I had done it! I had pushed out of my comfort zone and accomplished something I would not have thought imaginable in the past. As we repelled down and I took in the views, I realized my fear of heights had been pushed aside by my determination to just keep climbing.
Once we had descended down, both climbing instructors told us that they had taken a lot of people out and not a lot kept going when they hit a wall (quite literally) like we did. They were blown away by our determination and the pride I had of doing something I thought was impossible was indescribable. They also shared with us how they got into studying rock climbing at North Idaho College because they wanted to inspire new people (especially women) to push themselves into the sport and beyond their comfort zones.
As I looked over and watched a seasoned rock climbing couple take on a more difficult route while lead climbing, I realized that this was the perfect place for climbers of all skill level to come, practice, and accomplish something. It was an epic adventure day indeed!
After tipping our instructors some extra beer money, it was time to grab a celebration drink ourselves. We headed out of the park as the sun began to set and went to the nearby Republic Kitchen + Taphouse for a hearty meal and a craft beer cheers. Beer just tastes better when you’ve earned it, trust me.
Post Falls is a destination for everyone; families to play on the lake and grill out, thrill seekers to tackle hard rock climbs, and adventure lovers like myself who are ready to try something new. Watch the full episode below and learn more about Q’emiln Park and Post Falls Idaho here.