Waterfalls aren't exactly common in the desert of central washington, so anyplace you can find the…read moresound of cascading water is special. Finding Summer Falls may be tricky, but the surrounding country roads that cut through coulees and follow abandoned railroad routes are very picturesque, so I would plan to get a little lost and enjoy it. The park is like an oasis at the end of a rocky, dusty driveway: a well-irrigated grassy park with trees, picnic tables, restrooms and a pavilion, all nestled up against Billy Clap Lake and the waterfall. Note: the only water recreation here is fishing: there is no beach and people have been seriously injured from falling on the slippery rocks of the falls. The falls are, however, very accessible if you have two legs and don't mind the "KEEP OUT" signs. If you are looking for desert hikes, there are plenty nearby (including Sun Lakes/Dry Falls state park), but not at Summer Falls. This park is a pretty sedentary place unless you are throwing frisbee or football in the grassy park. These falls and the depth of Billy Clap Lake they flow into were created when an irrigation canal was built to bring water from Banks Lake (itself a product of water diverted from the Grand Coulee Dam) to what was then dry, rocky, sagebrushy non-farmland further south. There is also a tiny, discrete power plant just up the canal from the falls. So the lake is a coulee that is full of water, and the water coming down the falls is what is leftover from the canal after the power plant takes it's share. It sounds pretty industrial, but it's not: the irrigation and power generating functions of the water are invisible at Summer Falls. Summer Falls is a good place--maybe the only place--to enjoy the relaxing sound of a waterfall amidst the area's desert landscape.

Wow. Extremely hard to find, but well worth the wild goose chase…read more This is a waterfall created by one of the many dams in Washington. There's a nice park and swimming area, a little hut for picnics, and bathrooms. You can swim/hike over to the waterfall and even walk behind it (if you blatantly ignore the signs that prohibit this activity, that is)! It was surprising how many people were here, what with how out-of-the-way it was. Glad we found this little gem! Minus one star for having thistles in the grass. My flip-flopped feet did not appreciate.

Great place for kids, clean and grassy areas on all rv spots, beach access and big pull through…read moresites. We stayed on a pull through spot with hot tub which was very clean, water get changed daily. Good staff and very nice accommodation office people, our 2nd stay and will be back, our kids love it.

So I called in at 7pm hoping for a teepee or tent space when we were to arrive at 9pm was told they…read morehad teepee but they weren't cleaned and the cleaning ladies left. Got there and was told by the man if they'd known they could of had them come back and clean. WTH? Bad customer service. Tent spots were closer than apartments with parallel parking. All open no trees to separate you from your neighbors. Kids running around til midnight. Bugs! And yes you can hear the loud constant street traffic from the highway. Bathrooms were clean and campsites where clean with e If you want quiet to sleep & be outdoorsy go elsewhere

So pretty!! I just…read morecame here for the weekend and I love it. The walks here are stunning. The views of chelan. The mountains! The choppy water. Amazing panoramic views all over. Park is currently open but faculties are closed. Still make it a fun little stop on your walk/ run or even a drive. Beautiful views!

Amazing cute little park in the cutest town. Walking distance from our hotel . We walked to rent a…read moreboat from Shoreline at this park one day. Best service! Walked here and swam wit the fam. Lifeguards are super friendly! And they have life jackets at park to borrow - how kind is that. You can walk into the water and swim. Another plus is there are actual bathrooms and they were clean!

It's not the landscape, the wildlife, the trails or the views. It's the people. Most are…read moreperfectly fine and are out there to camp, hike, and fish for the sake of the activities. However, there is a percentage that is there because it's free and remote while still being accessible to a town where they can get their drug of choice. You'll recognize them by the ancient, filthy, motorhomes. My son was hiking with his girlfriend when they were approached by one of these "campers" who asked if they had any fentanyl to sell! Wow! Is there no where to escape this scrounge? Anywhere?

Mileage: estimated about 10 miles total (2 miles to where we set up our tents, then we hiked a loop…read moreof about 6 miles, then 2 miles back to the car the next day) Backpacked: April 16-17, 2016 This past weekend a group of us did an overnight backpack trek to Ancient Lakes. 3 first timers backpacking and it turned out to be an awesome trip! We had some problems trying to find directions out to the place, so here's directions from my personal experience. Directions: we stayed in Quincy the night before, so we took the 28 to Whitetail Road. Made a left on Whitetail from the 28, then a right on road 9 NW. follow road 9 NW and it turns into Ancient Lakes Rd NW. At the end of the road, you'll find the west parking lot. I am not sure how to get to the east parking lot. There's a lot of parking here, when we got there by 11 am, it was really crowded but we still found a spot. (When you are on Whitetail Rd, it might look like you are just driving through farms, but buried in there, there's Ancient Lakes!) There is a port-o-potty at the trail head on the west side. Trail head: is well marked, we hiked in about 2 miles and got to the lakes and the rolling grass area where you can set up tent where ever. There are some man made fire rings scattered through out the area. Hiking: After we picked a spot and set up camp, we hiked a loop around the lakes. We started towards the waterfall. It was a scramble up the side of the waterfall, like a class 4 rock scramble lol. Loose rocks, loose footing. From there, we went pass that waterfall and onto the backside where the east parking lot is. Which there's another waterfall there, and there's also camp spots there too. We looped around, it wasn't too hard. We estimated this part of the hike to be around 6 miles round trip back to our tents. Lots of people camping, we counted about 50 tents, then you estimate about 2/per tent, so like 100 people were out here! But you still are able to find solitude. We came across 3 snakes, an owl, and a marmot. Easy trek, not very hilly at all. Good for first time backpackers. The area can be explored in a day. I found this site useful: https://www.theoutbound.com/washington/backpacking/ancient-lakes-day-hike-or-backpack

Such a great place to bring your family for a day of fun!! There is a swimming area, a boat dock to…read morelaunch your boat, a fishing dock, and a large park with a playground, frisbee golf course and lots of picnic areas!

This is a big lovely park on the side of I-90 in Moses Lake…read more There are mostly pros, especially in the size (it's huge!) and the variety of things to do here. Even on abuts weekend with a wedding taking place in part of the park, it doesn't feel crowded. There are gazebos galore, 3 buildings with facilities, grills, a playground, a dock, a basketball court, a swimming area and tiny beach, and a disc golf course. You can reach it by the bike path or car. Cons: the freeway is loud in the park proper if you're seeking a quiet place, but I wouldn't call it too obnoxious. I haven't been on a weekday, but on a mid-Sunday in summer, be prepared to pack out your garbage because all cans will be full (and I didn't see places for recycling). If you're an avid disc golfer like S., the course might be a disappointment, say a 2-3 star. There are only nine holes, all par three, and if you are here during a normal summer afternoon, most holes will be obstructed by other park-goers, as it's all incorporated right into the park. But it's a good place to practice, and if you arrive early, especially on weekdays, you can get in a full round. For me, it's great for a summer in-town getaway.

This Japanese Botanical Garden may be small, but it beautifully lives up to its name. Tucked away…read morein a peaceful setting, the garden offers a cozy, quiet escape with meandering walking paths, gentle streams, serene ponds, and even a few graceful koi fish gliding through the water. A charming little fountain adds a soft, soothing soundscape to the experience. Though seating is limited, there are a few well-placed benches where you can pause and take in the calm surroundings. The zen garden areas feature carefully raked sand, textured stones, and layered designs that invite stillness and reflection. You'll also find stone pagoda-like statues, stacked stone towers, and miniature trees that complete the traditional Japanese aesthetic. It's a lovely, peaceful retreat--perfect for a slow stroll, quiet contemplation, or simply enjoying a moment of calm. While it's not large, its thoughtful design and serene atmosphere make it well worth the visit.

A hidden gem in the middle of downtown Mosses Lake. We enjoyed the grassy area, trees, and…read morefountains. It's a perfect place to relax, meditate, read, and have a picnic.

Clean up the garbage. Charge a fee to keep the capacity manager. Clean the fn' toilets! Gawd…read morealmighty?

Great local park. Only problem is parking in the summer. There is a relatively small parking area…read morethat is great most of the year. But once the summer visitors roll in, it fills quickly and people park along the highway, and up into the neighborhoods. Locals are okay with that for the most part, but cut them a break and don't block driveways, block off the road, etc. You know what I mean! Nice access to the lake and a nice area for swimming. Lots of trees, so lots of places to picnic. Restrooms are available. And there's a sand-court volleyball setup. Refreshments are just a block away, so no concerns about not having enough water. Operated and maintained by Chelan County PUD, which does an excellent job keeping the park looking good.

Dry Falls is a must see in Eastern Washington. Created during the Ice Age melts it was at one time…read morethe largest waterfall in the world. It's fascinating and worth a stop. There is a visitor center and beautiful viewpoints.

Dry Falls. Yes, it's…read moredry and you won't see a single waterwall at all. So, you will probably say to yourself, "Why should I visit a falls without any water? You see, this used to be the location of the world's largest waterfall in the history of planet earth. It's about ten times the size of Niagra Falls. The flow of the water was as powerful as all of the rivers on this earth times ten! The scenery was quite breathtaking and it somewhat reminded me of the Grand Canyon, except there is a lake below the canyon. There is a visitor centre where you can see the history of the site and you can buy gifts such as toys and postcards. I learned at the centre that there used to be rhinos, camels, and wooly mammoths that roamed this area when Dry Falls actually had a water flowing. Also, I was told that this spot is very popular with Western cowboy movies. Dry Falls is a true gem and I want to spread the word for more people to explore what used to be the Mount Everest of waterfalls in Washington State.

I have been in this state park on numerous occasions. Take my airstream and hang out. It's a…read moregreat place to stage for traveling up and down the river. RV sites are large and open for the most part with electric, water and sewer. The winds at night are a riot during the hot parts of the summer. They blow like crazy. There is a day park separate from the RV park that you can walk to to swim and/or just relax. During the summer it is always crowded. Vantage has a gas station with food if you need it. Gorge is very close. Across the river are parks that are supported by Grant County PUD which are very nice and usually not many people. I'm impressed with the money and resources that Grant County PUD has put into the area. Just south of the Wanapum on the same road is a small park on a lake (small) that no one is ever there. Called the cove. If you have a boat you are in heaven with the Colombia River at your call.

Fun little park with toys for kids and a dock for fishing. Wish I had a kayak with me. The water…read morelooked dirty and swampy. No way in hell I am swimming in that. Lots of parking very quaint. Nice day to visit

Well the snow on the featured photo is pretty misleading, it was about 85 degrees when we were…read morethere in late April lol. But really, a cool park! Long walking trail right on the water with little areas to go down and access the water here and there. A definite must stop if you are visiting Wenatchee.

Hey Southern California Edison! How many parks in Southern California do you maintain?…read more The Chelan PUD has built 15 parks covering 700 acres around the Chelan County Waterways. The parks were developed under recreation plans required by the federal government as part of the PUD's licenses to operate the Rocky Reach, Rock Island, and Lake Chelan hydro projects. Walla Walla Point Park is one of the parks that the Chelan PUD built and maintains. I visited the park at the end of December 2022. There wasn't much to see in the park as everything was covered by about a foot of snow. There are supposed to be 4 softball/soccer fields here when it isn't covered in snow. There are supposed to be tennis and volleyball courts and a lot of green grass. The trail around the park along the river was nice. The trails were all paved. The snow was removed from the trail by the PUD. If you walk far enough, you can get to the Lindston Barn. The parking lot to the park was also cleared of snow. They have a electric car charging station that was free of charge to the public. It is a nice park whether it is summer or winter. The answer to the question above? ZERO! Come visit this park and see what hydro power can do for you.