Palouse Falls

Palouse Falls

Palouse Falls is located 4-hours east of Seattle, and is one of Washington State’s most spectacular sights. 

The 198-foot falls on the Palouse River cascade into a deep green plunge pool, surrounded by a majestic canyon.  Visitors have a bird’s eye view of the falls from overlooks along the canyon rim, including the cathedral like spires of Castle Rock visible at the head of the waterfall.  There is no walking trail to the base of the falls.

Golden eagles and Peregrine Falcons can be viewed soaring above the canyon, and yellow bellied marmots are also a common sight in the rocks along the canyon.  In spring and summer the rugged landscape is ablaze with fields of wildflowers, including purple lupines, and blazing stars.

The steep walls of the canyon narrow as the river travels downstream.  The sweeping vistas across the ancient Palouse River Canyon are as much an attraction as the falls.   The exposed rock face of the walls is evidence of the Great Missoula floods from the last Ice Age when dirt and rock were stripped away as billions of tons of water raced across Eastern Washington to the Columbia River.   A broken ice dam upstream on Lake Missoula in Idaho was responsible for the flood, causing rivers to permanently re-route and carving new coulees and buttes.   

Palouse Falls Camping & Lodging

The Palouse Falls campground is located in a shaded area just above the falls near the overlook in Palouse Falls State Park.   If you’d prefer to stay in a hotel, motel or B&B, the township of Walla Walla is a 1.5 hour drive south.

Directions to Palouse Falls

Palouse Falls State Park is located in eastern Washington State, 69 miles north of Walla Walla.  The closest large town to the park, is Walla Walla.

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