John H. Shields Park

John H. Shields Park, also known as Minnehaha Rocks, is a 26-acre park jointly owned by Spokane County and the City of Spokane. Located on the north side of Upriver Drive near the City of Spokane's Upriver Dam site, the park offers a variety of outdoor recreational opportunities.

The western 13 acres of the park were purchased by Spokane County Parks in 1986 with funds donated by the Spokane Mountaineers and other interested user groups. The park has since been expanded to connect with the larger Beacon Hill Trail System, providing access to over 27 miles of interconnected trails.

John H. Shields Park is particularly popular among rock climbers, who frequent the Minnehaha Rocks that loom above the parking lot. The park also serves as a trailhead for hikers and mountain bikers, offering routes that range from shorter, low-elevation trails to more challenging paths leading up to the communications towers on Beacon Hill.

The park provides access to the Centennial Trail, a paved multi-use path that runs along the Spokane River. Visitors can enjoy scenic views of the river and surrounding landscape, particularly during the changing seasons.

In recent years, the park has undergone planning for improvements as part of the "Make Beacon Hill Public - Phase 2" project. Proposed enhancements include expanding and improving parking areas, installing a children's play area, paving existing pathways, and constructing a concrete staircase to connect adaptive trails and the rock-climbing area.