We took a two hour detour to visit Palousa Falls today and if I could do it over again, I would opt not to make the drive. The roads are terrible, especially the gravel road leading up to the park. We did not have the Discover Pass so it was a $10 day use fee. There were clean restrooms and a few shaded picnic spots but no cell service. It was too hot to do any real hiking, as the only shade is near the parking lot by the tables, but we did walk to a few different viewpoints. I actually found the rock formations above the falls to be as lovely or perhaps lovloer than the falls. It was a bit underwhelming to me for the amount of effort needed to visit but, but one girl's "meh" is another girl's "wow" so I hope the photos and information are helpful to anyone trying to decide whether to make the voyage. read more

See all

Palouse Falls State Park blew me away with its thunderous 198-foot cascade plunging into the ancient basalt canyon--springtime rainbows danced in the mist during my April visit, while golden grasslands framed the scene perfectly. Short, easy trails from the parking lot offered jaw-dropping overlooks, picnic spots hummed with families, and spotting marmots added delight. Remote drive? Totally rewarding--nature's masterpiece! read more

What a beautiful park with a huge waterfall. Gorgeous western scenery with well maintained trails. Some of the trails have no rails so you need to keep little ones at the main area only. read more

See all

Beautiful spot definitely worth a visit! It is a bit out of the way from Spokane (took almost two hours drive time) but if you have the time it's a fun adventure. Big parking lot with lots of available spots but end of December certainly isn't a high tourist time so that may vary during other times of the year. Bathrooms were decent. The initial look out area just off the parking lot has a fence boundary which made me feel safe but the trail area does not and I have to admit it made my heart race a bit. It was a windy day and there's nothing between you and a huge drop Scary for people and pets, for sure. The view was breathtakingly gorgeous though and worth the drive! read more

See all

This is a tough one because the falls and surrounding canyon are legitimately amazing. There's also all these ground squirrels / marmots running around which are super cute. However, it is very much a long drive to see a couple cool sights, then you're done. The trails going down have been closed, so you can't really explore and make more of a full day of it. There's maybe a full hour of enjoyment to be had gawking at the falls from a few designated locations. Also, there's some variability in what the falls will look like so I reckon if you're coming mid to late summer it's going to be less impressive, and the surrounding lands will be brown and bleak. I personally thought the drive was pretty neat but not all will agree. It's rolling palouse hills with fields of green and brown, craggy basalt formations here and there etc. Plenty of port-a-potties. Picnic areas with charcoal grills. Parking was abundant on my visit in early May. Discover Pass is required. Parks staff were friendly. Overall I drove 4 hours round trip and it was worth it since it was on my Eastern WA bucket list, but just barely. I honestly wouldn't return unless they opened up trails to the bottom for a better experience. read more

See all

Gorgeous Falls! Palouse has been on my PNW must-see falls list for a while, and I finally got there last weekend. It's in the middle of nowhere, set in a gorgeous canyon. The road in alone should cut the stars down a notch...a long, irritating washboard drive especially frustrating in an RV. But the falls are stunning, and surrounded by a serene canyon with a lovely river, birds flying about, and gorgeous views all around. There are great viewpoints a very short walk from the parking/picnic area. However, if you like you can venture on around for a view from the side (abrupt drops if you're at all height averse). We walked along the edge to the end where you can wander down to the river. Loved the frozen edges of the falls this time of year, and the lovely rainbow nestled around the drop. Definitely a sight worth the drive if you're into waterfalls! read more

See all

I can see why this is Washington state's official waterfalls! It's beautiful! I only wish it were closer to me! A few notes, there is no cell service here, honestly, it's nice to not be so tied to techonology for a bit. Also a Discover Pass is needed to park here, or you can pay using the envelopes or the automated pay station. The hiking trail to the falls is still closed as of May 2022. I've heard this may be a permanent closure due to all the injuries and falls. There is ample parking, but I imagine it gets very full during the summer months. There are picnic tables and port-a-potties and toilet facilities in the park. It is dog friendly, but you must keep your dog on a leash, especially since there are marmots everywhere! Also there are signs warning of snakes as you make your way to the park. But the only reason to come here is to admire the falls! I can only imagine during sunrise or sunset how majestic it would look! read more

See all

Greeted by Jose, who is fantastic!!! Besides that the falls were beautiful great environment and staff. read more

Palouse Falls State Park - Falls - Parks Near Me - Washtucna, Washington

See all

Returned to Palouse Falls. Not a whole lot to add from my previous review other than one should experience the falls in the summer and in the spring. Most folks would probably prefer the spring as the water is more dramatic and more water is going down the falls. The rim and countryside is all green(This is April when we visited) so many sight seers may prefer that but the summer offers it's own dimensions and experience in the summer even though it's brown at that point. There is less water going down the falls but beautiful all the same. Although coming here in summer has it's own beauty but if you come in spring you will likely avoid wildfire season so you will get clearer viewing and not so much haze. read more

See all

I decided to take a side trip on the way back to Seattle and check out this state park. Wow, way more than I imagined. The scenery from I 90 to the park itself was worth the drive. Absolutely beautiful. As you pull into the park there are areas for tent camping. I pulled into a parking lot and started towards the sound of the fall. What a beautiful sight. Absolutely stunning. I whisper I had planned more time. I would have loved to hike down to the fall. So many great picture opportunities if you plan the time. I'm so glad I stopped. read more

See all

Have visited the park a couple times to view the falls in summer. Did not camp here. Impressive to see the falls as well as the deep canyon it has carved out of the desert. In addition to the easy short walk to the viewing areas next to the parking lot, there are many trails along the tops of the cliffs, the top of the falls, and bottom of the canyon; we didn't take time to walk these precarious-looking routes. Port-a-potties and outside faucets available. read more

Palouse Falls State Park - Late Aug 2018, mid afternoon - Parks Near Me - Washtucna, Washington

See all

Okay so all the stories and signs about the deaths kinda scared me so I was extra observant. Apparently where people have fallen off of were at the very edge of the cliffs, where the rocks underneath give way. The trail looks treacherous but once you are on it, it's not bad at all. By trail, I mean the one that takes you to the side of the river, then to the top of the waterfall, then the side of the mountain, and then back up the mountain. People have referred to this as two separate trails but since I did the whole thing without doubling back, I consider this one loop trail. With this trail, you can both: get to the top of the waterfall and down to the banks. The hardest part about the trail in question is coming back up, not so much falling off. I noticed that the few people who braved the path went up to the point where you can go down to the bank and then doubled back the way they came. That is recommended. However, as a noob who had never done the trail, I kept going, determined to loop back to the starting point. By this point there was nobody ahead of me to observe, so I trodded on with no idea of what was to come. Ultimately, I was left with a choice of going up a narrow ravine between a crack in the mountains or going up a VERY steep dirt path with no footholds. Or, I could have doubled back which wasn't going to happen. I chose to go up the dirt path, but I had to use the rocks on the side of the mountain on my rightside as holds; thank goodness I boulder or I would have never made it. You need a strong grip because a lot of the rocks have no ridges to hold. I imagine that many people will be unable to come up the mountain that way. At the top, there is a rope blocking off entry. (Definitely do NOT start there, the steep descent cannot be done safely. Start on the other end.) You then have to steer right and keep wandering until you spot the port-o-potties and get back to society, aka the cars and people taking photos at the fenced viewing area. There is no cell reception nor signs so if you don't have a good sense of direction, you may get lost with no way to find your car. Ultimately, this was probably the hardest hike I've ever done. Part of it is psychological because again, the recent deaths kinda get to you. A LOT of the rocks are loose and as we all know, the "trail" is not recommended by the park. And not many people continue on the path (there are various points at which you can head back) so there is the isolation factor. But, come at a time when there are lots of people so you won't end up wondering if you might die with nobody to spot you. It's fun to be braving the trail with others, not so much when you're alone. Of course the downside is parking, so.... read more

See all

Beautiful falls and surrounding landscape! Every year for the past 8 years I've been going to the DMB weekend at the Gorge and each year I look for something novel to do during the day instead of laying around drinking or getting sunburned. The last September we decided to make the trek out to Palouse. It was quite a long drive from Quincy to Pasco/La Crosse but it was well worth it! The falls can be viewed almost immediately down the trail from the parking lot for those old and young, and those with accessibility challenges (as well as strollers). It looks like there are a few hikes that start by the overlook but you need not hike to glimpse the wonders of Palouse. It's no wonder this is considered to be the state falls of Washington! It is really a stunner! We will need to make a pilgrimage back here anytime we are remotely close to the area again! read more

See all

A beautiful place off the beaten path south of Washtucna along Highway 261. Stopped here on April 7th on a big Idaho trip and wasn't disappointed. The falls were active, strong, and full of snowmelt and recent rains. Birds fly around the waterfall frequently. It was also a nice 1/2 mile stretch of the legs. NOTICE! All trails leading to the base of the falls have been permanently closed by Washington State Parks. This is due to injuries and mishaps that have happened due to the steepness and grade of the trails. They were permanently closed this past winter. read more

See all

Yes it's amazing! That is all. Just kidding, that's not it. I drove the 4.5 hours from Lacey to see the waterfall. While it's no Snoqualmie Falls, it's definitely still quite a sight to gander at. People said the road leading up to is it bumpy and such, but I didn't find it that way at all. Maybe it's been repaved or something. I actually missed the entrance as I was driving too fast and ended up finding the fish hatchery a little ways down which was like 2 birds with 1 stone. Anyway, I went on one of the free state parks days and got there around 11 am. The main lot was already full and the ranger on duty was directing people in to the overflow lot. There is a reasonable amount of shaded area to just lounge and picnic, but once you pass the trees it's full on SPF-2000 time on a sunny day. There are port-a-potties in both lots as there are no actual restroom facilities that I saw. The water fountains weren't working either, so don't forget water as you'll be sweating your chimichangas off during the summer months. There are several areas to see the falls near the lot and make sure you move around to get different angles. I love the shape of where the falls drop off and the gorge where the river flows nearby. It's cool that it was carved by ice age melts and now it looks like Washington's own Grand Canyonesque natural wonder (no comparison to the Grand Canyon though, let's be real). Since this place isn't super touristy it was nice to be able to just hear the falls in peace and quiet. The circular cut out of the canyon seems to boost the thunderous roar of the falls pounding the pool below. I did not trek into the wilderness nearby to get a closer view of the falls as I admit, with no fence or blockades to prevent from fallings or being blow over the edge of the cliffs I was very hesitant. There is signage to warn you as well that you're taking your own risk. I overheard some other people saying someone died 2 weeks ago, but that is unconfirmed. Keep close watch on your kids though...for real. Still an excellent experience overall and definitely worth the drive. Plan your drive though as the falls are noted on Yelp as being in La Crosse but they're kind of between Washtucna, Starbuck & La Crosse. I would say get to Washtucna and go through the town on Main St. Take Main St for about 7 miles until you get to WA-261. Turn onto WA-261 and it's about 7 miles to the park entrance at Palouse Falls Road. You will see signs once you get through Washtucna anyway so keep your eyes peeled. read more

See all

My friend drove me to Palouse Falls from Moscow, which took a little under 2 hours. Parking wasn't a problem and it cost about $10 based on an honor system (no one checks). However, avoid parking near the flowers cuz there was a crap ton of bees! There are two trails: one that leads you to the top of the water fall and another that takes you below it. We did the latter route. The hike to the bottom of the fall took about 1.5 hours, but the route was very daunting. There is a huge slope that takes you directly to the bottom of the fall. However, the slope is made of slippery rocks. Since it also just rained a few days back, the slope is extra slippery. Although they had two ropes on the slope to assist you with the descent, I was still very vigilant about my steps. Hell, I'm not Bear Grylls and I can't just run down the slope like that. The ascent is definitely easier than the descent, but I would still be careful. The fall is gorgeous (especially up close)!! Excellent opportunity for a good Facebook profile picture. Word of advice: don't bring your kids. read more

See all

What a wonderful wonder of Washington haha. I guess Palouse Falls is one of the seven wonders of Washington (who knew) we went in the beginning of July and the falls weren't necessarily "raging" at this time but it was still a sight to see. We couldn't find our way down but still enjoyed the view from the view point. We ate lunch at the picnic tables near the parking lot and enjoyed the little gofers that scurried around near us. Those little guys were so cute and my girlfriend tried to catch one and bring it home with us...what am I going to do with her lol read more

Palouse Falls State Park - The falls - Parks Near Me - Washtucna, Washington

See all

You've likely familiar with the "men are from Mars, women are from Venus" comparison. Well, when it comes to waterfall parks in the Pacific NW, this analogy kind of really works. Silver Falls State Park, in Oregon east of Salem, is definitely a "Venus" sort of place: supremely sensual, sexy, and soft falling waters, beautiful and delicate rock formations, surrounded by verdant, fertile landscapes of electric green. Utterly amazing, the Trail of 10 Falls loop, especially after a good winter rain, you will be smitten for years to come. Palouse Falls, the officially designated "state waterfall" of Washington, it is a total "Mars." Ruggedly handsome, slightly intimidating at first, very uncommunicative, except in bold, brash, muscular gestures. You will not be able to take your eyes away from the falls, except perhaps to avoid falling from the unmarked overlooks and the unofficial "rim trail" that skirts the bowl-shaped basin in which the Palouse River dumps its contents dramatically into a deep pool below, carved deeply into volcanic rock in a miniature Grand Canyon sort of way. But Palouse Falls is very, very Mars. It is hot, with little shade except at the campground and picnic areas, which are immaculately maintained, and which has a resident group of cute yellow-bellied marmots to keep you entertained. There are marked overlooks, but the trails themselves are all customary. No maps. No trail signs. Just large red warning signs that you hike them "at your own risk." The falls overlook trail begins at the main picnic area and heads off to the left on a gravel road and informal trails that lead to an active railroad line, which you follow about a hundred feet to a sloped, rocky ramp leading down to the "upper falls" section of the river, which requires some poison ivy avoidance and careful attention to your footing on the rocks. You follow the right bank of the river on a worn footpath next to the columnar basalt cliffs, and you will hear the falls before you see them. You'll come out near the large rock "fin" that is to the left of the falls, and you can test your limits here at the overlook by peering over the edge, but it's a dangerous fall, so err on the side of caution. The "rim trail" leads off to the right, a few hundred feet above the river, and wraps around the falls until ending right below the viewing areas above, where the crowds tend to gather. Personally, I preferred to stay on the rim trail, having a light snack while watching the double rainbows form in the afternoon sunlight. But there is a rope-assisted descent to the rocky river bank, where you can try to fish for salmon (the Palouse flows into the Snake), or just hang around, but it's a steep climb back out and pretty rocky and rough. The camping here is great for those who have time to enjoy a star-filled night and be greeted at 4:30 am by a cacophony of birds, as well as those gravity-defying marmots, who graze the picnic grasses and then scurry under the fence to safety on the very edges of the canyon cliff, seemingly as engrossed in the falling waters as the human visitors are. Palouse Falls is a local attraction, a place where kids come to prove their mettle by risking death to take the ultimate selfie in front of a mighty spectacle of nature. It's fine for that, but if you aren't a local and don't have anything to prove, you should still embrace the adventure of the place. While drones are officially prohibited, I saw one being piloted around the falls the evening of my visit. Rules here, they are often flagrantly broken. If you're up for it, there is another unofficial trail that leads to the river and a grassy terrace on the downstream side of the picnic area. This begins at the marked overlook (the one with the roof and stone walls) and also uses a portion of the RR track to access a rope-assisted descent down a talus field of super hard rock to trails to the river and to the terrace. They get fewer visitors than the rim trail and falls overlook, so it you are looking for some solitude and want to admire the Palouse canyon rather than the falls themselves, this route is a good one if you have time for both. It gets hot here: 90s in springtime and unrelenting sunshine. Wear hats, UV clothing, and sunscreen unless you want to burn. Water is available at the campsite and picnic area: use it! Visit Palouse Falls. Then Silver Falls. And see if you don't agree with me on the Venus versus Mars comparison. I love both. But they are very, very different, and easily rank as world-class waterfall destinations. You will want to see them both! read more

See all

YES!!! Such a good hike !!! Guys - if you want to impress your girl on a date out here - I suggest you go out first with some guy friends - take notes along the way - so when you bring your date - you'll know what you're doing, where you are going and what you need for the trip...with that said here are some suggestions that might help - Note: I wouldn't recommend kids on this trail - keep them at the site seeing area where there are rails - but not on the trail to the falls - believe me - disaster will happen. What you will need: - Time of Day: at around 9:30 am in the morning (Feb) - it is still pretty misty - so you won't get a clear shot of the falls - could help waiting for lunch time - where it clears up - or afternoon for a sunset photo-shot. - CASH! - $10 is for parking - there is a parking payment slot - you will need to write your info on a receipt and slide it in the slot - they will only take cash and or checks - no coins will fit. - Food: depending if you are looking to eat out there - they have a park with benches - and a bathroom. Not bad for a picnic pre/post hike. grass is nice and green and a picnic blanket wouldn't hurt. - good hiking shoes: Rocks get's are slippery - you will need it. - Water: not bad to have on you on the trail. - Camera: They have some good KODAK photo spots that overlooks the Falls: however on the hike please always put your camera back in the case - lest it get damaged on the trail - First Aide: okay - so I usually may go overboard with this - but I carry my first aide, water, axe, knife, compass, notebook, tarp, spikes, rope, trail mix etc with me on hikes - for the worst case scenarios - but the first aide will help if anyone slips and falls on the rocks and the knife? - well there is wildlife and a common one out there is coyotes - saw a couple of tracks on the trail...I mean - you wouldn't want to use your girl as shield right? - Trail intensity: I would say medium mainly cause of the potential injury one could get on the slippery trail Final thoughts: Have fun - take your time: and enjoy that moment when you stand right next to the falls at the end of your hike - hearing the rushing waters fall from that graceful stream. Your date won't be disappointed. Thanks for reading. Hope this helps. read more

See all

A great side trip off the beaten path. Great park with tent campsites. The falls are amazing. You have to walk the fenced trail to the edge of the cliffs and look down. The geological history of these amazing falls is very interesting. The signs around the park telling this history makes for a more fascinating appreciation of this natural wonder. read more

See all

Yelper extraordinaire Richard R. has inspired me to add reviews of waterfalls I love (and of which I have pictures on my phone). Palouse Falls certainly deserves the highest praise. Palouse Falls is a destination...it's in a rather isolated part of Washington State, so it's not exactly something you pass while you're on your way from Point A to Point B. But it is worth the trip for sure. I don't know anything about the geology of the area but the falls are a total surprise...after miles of driving through rolling hills and grasslands, the last thing you would expect is a dramatic elevational shift, let alone one with a spectacular waterfall. The Palouse River has carved a large bowl-shaped trough and plunges dramatically into it as it comes around some jagged tooth-like spires. It looks almost like the reverse of Devils Tower in Wyoming. You can hike around to the river upstream of the falls...the hike is less than an hour but is rugged and has no shade so bring water and good shoes. If the river isn't roaring, then the payoff for this hike is GREAT: the trail is rarely crowded, there are several very nice spots to wade in the river and cool off with a picnic, and later you can get pretty close to the edge of the falls along that same trail, near the craggy teeth-like rocks just to the left of the falls in the photo below. Experienced hikers and the bold at heart can then hike around the inside of the bowl, although the trail is pretty narrow. A steep trail goes down to the plunge pool for swimming below the falls. I've been here twice and stayed for hours each time, it is so majestic and unique. There are facilities but definitely bring lots of water and be prepared to be in hot sun. read more

See all

After visiting Steptoe Butte State Park in Colfax, my family decided to take a detour and visit Palouse Falls State Park. Palouse Falls State Park is located ~30minutes off of Washtucna, WA (so a total of ~1hr out of our way). MIND YOU- the drive is terrible! Yes, the views of the unrefined hills had it's own charm, but the terrible road conditions and continuous electrical fence framing the hills were a mood killer. Arriving at the park on a Saturday afternoon, the parking lot was crowded and filled with motorcyclists and young campers. We found an open stall and grabbed our cameras to take pictures of the waterfall. The walk to the actual falls was rocky and dusty- definitely not fit for a tourist! The actual waterfall itself was grand but maybe because of the summer season, the water was dirty brown. There is a trail that you could take to the top of the falls to get an aerial view, but CAREFUL- lots of loose rocks and dirt on the trail. Highly recommend being prepared with hiking shoes. Also, the view from the top of the falls is not fenced in, so it's a bit scary to look over the edge to see the waterfall. Overall, not what I was expecting from all the gorgeous pictures of the park. This state park is definitely more of a family park or a hang out area for youngins'. Maybe this park is more beautiful and less crowded during other seasons, but I wouldn't recommend visiting during peak summer times. TIPS: - wear proper shoes if you plan on visiting (even the parking lot is really dusty) - wear sunscreen (minimal shade provided) - one male and one female restroom on site - there is a fee to park, look for instructions on their bulletin board read more

Palouse Falls State Park - Waterfall - Parks Near Me - Washtucna, Washington

I'm not suicidal....well, I don't think I am. vertigo [vur-ti-goh] -noun, a dizzying sensation of tilting within stable surroundings or of being in tilting or spinning surroundings. I don't know about spinning, but I do know I felt the tilt. I was on some fairly solid footing, but no matter how hard I tried I couldn't get to within a foot of the edge. I had an urge to jump. I had an urge to fly, pull a swan dive, and splash into the slimy water hundreds of feet below. Joking aside, my last visit to Palouse Falls was excellent. I forgot how beautiful this wonder and area is. The falls are surrounded by grassy palouse-y hills for miles (obviously enough). The drive there should be done with a sports car, if possible (so yeah, I wipe the cobwebs off my Porsche in the garage). The canyon is vast. Give it another 1x10^ 6 years (i.e. million) or two and we could have a Grand Canyon on our hands. Nonetheless at this stage in its life the Palouse Canyon is breathtaking. Carved a little by the Palouse, but the Canyon, and the huge waterfall drop were caused by that little ole Missoulian Flood we had an Ice Age ago. There is a campground here and cool visitor area where one can get some good views of the Falls. There are also some trails. We walked around the trails above the falls, and then headed upriver. There is an Upper Palouse Falls (not as dramatic, but nice to sit on a rock next to). But you can pretty much make your way to the Falls when you come in from the upriver side. One of my favorite features of the Falls are the ancient-looking guardian rocks which tower over the gorge just near the falls. They look like sun-tanned dinosaurs keeping everything in its place. It's not a huge hike, but that's not what you come here for. You come here for the view. Oh, and a few years ago Palouse Falls made the news when a crazy kayaker pointed their boat over the edge. Yup, they made it over the Falls.....and survived. read more

See all

Paving the parking lot wouldn't be a bad thing and perhaps $10 is a bit much, but I understand the need to charge. It's truly beautiful. A great place to walk, have a picnic and commun with nature. read more

See all

If you're in Walla Walla for a wine weekend, please take the time to drive to Palouse Falls. It's totally worth it! The drive is stunning, especially in spring, when you'll drive through emerald green onion fields that look exactly like a real life version of Microsoft's XP's default wallpaper; you know the one I mean, see it as http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bliss_(image). Then you cross into gorgeous and dramatic desert. So the drive alone is worth the trip. The falls were pretty, but not amazing if you're a jaded Northwesterner. But the surrounding desert and canyon were gorgeous. We hiked a little in each direction and took an embarrassing number of photos. A few final tips: Make sure to have already purchased your $30 annual Washington State park pass before you leave Walla Walla. If not, you'll have to purchase a day pass. You will need exact change ($10.00). Wear a hat and sunscreen; we found the sun to be relentless, even though the temperature was a mere 73 degrees. If you have folks who can't hike, they can still see a ton from the main viewpoint. Bring your own water; we didn't see any onsite. The signage is somewhat lacking; no one could figure out how to get to either the top or the bottom of the falls, even though we knew that both were possible. read more

I decided a couple of months ago that I wanted to visit this park. I have been to Eastern Washington countless times since I was a kid but had never seen these falls. Who knew!!! Out in the middle of no where, really no where, there is a waterfall you can see! You park your car and walk down a few step and there it is, in all it's beauty. It was really busy the day we visited, Mothers Day, and hot too so we were only here briefly. We walked some of the upper trails, took some pics and left. I'd love to hike down to the river bank and check out the water some time. There are picnic tables and outbuildings, no plumbing, no sinks. This park is truly a hidden gem of Eastern Washington!! PS~If traveling with small children, be careful of the cliff sides since most of the area is not fenced and you can fall over the edge down to the riverbank. read more

Palouse Falls State Park - Parks Near Me - Washtucna, Washington

See all

The waterfall was beautiful. The hike from the entrance of the trail to the waterfall can be dangerous. My family and I took on that challenge because we like to hike. The view from being beside the waterfall is relaxing. I took off a star from this review because of the graffiti on the boulders and how parts of the river seemed polluted. The river did not seem clean and it had some white bubble foam on certain areas. I believe it can also be better taken care of if visitors did not throw their trash on the ground and disposed it the proper way. read more

Palouse Falls State Park - Parks Near Me - Washtucna, Washington

See all

Not much to say that the other reviewers haven't already said. Beautiful views just PLEASE BE CAREFUL! Don't go on the unmarked trails if you don't know what you're doing it's very dangerous! read more

See all

This will be quick- limited parking try not to go on the weekends, it was an hour and 1/2 wait to go in. Not only do you need a discovery pass, you will need to fork over $10 this is very interesting and unfortunate. Falls were absolutely beautiful and powerful as expected. Sadly we couldn't explore all of the trails because of the for mentioned wait time. If I do go back I will be better prepared. read more

Palouse Falls State Park - Palouse Falls State Park - Parks Near Me - Washtucna, Washington

See all

I had low expectations for this place based on reviews I had read saying it was a huge letdown and trashed. To my surprise it was fairly well maintained/clean and gorgeous. Having my 6 month old with us at the time we weren't able to do any of the trails because they are pretty sketch and "at your own risk" but there were still enough spots to wander around for great views. read more

Palouse Falls State Park - Parks Near Me - Washtucna, Washington

See all

Beautiful waterfall and amazing natural landscape. Parking is self service if you don't have the Washington State parking pass. We seen people staying in tents on the ground for $12 that includes parking and above additional parking and tents up. The park has about 2 miles of dirt (dusty) road with potholes and washboards. I would not recommend this for bikes or newer cars. We seen several bikes along the dirt roads and they were hard to see and were covered with dust. Once parked easy to get to top view of falls. I did not travel to base or top of falls. I did not attempt due to thin trail previous may views/comments on Yelp. It was windy and no barriers to stop any slip or fall. Just a heads up. The town Lacrosse past the falls has one CFN that take credit cards but no store. When you turn towards falls the town has self service pumps. So bring your credit/debit cards. If you are looking for a quick chain food lunch I would recommend Othello. Burger King has a kids indoor play area with free ice cream cone for 12 and under. They also have Taco Bell at another exit. All in all I would love to return again and take a longer weekend to be able to get to the bottom of waterfall. We did a day trip but will plan on staying longer due to travel time. Also bathroom consist of 3 porta-potty without locks and one additional bathroom that has a line wrapped around. Not sure how that was. read more

See all

This is a gorgeous park. Pros: +It's beautiful and great for pictures + It's not too crowded + It's hidden in the middle of nowhere + Panorama photos look amazing Cons: -Parking is 10 bucks and cash only -The roads aren't very developed -only two restrooms in the park -Not a hike you can take anyone to. (Some parts more dangerous than others) -Sunscreen mandatory It's definitely worth the trip if you're in the area. read more

Impressive waterfalls with great trails. Make sure to walk around toward behind the falls, there is a narrow canyon and the another opening in the river with a wading area. read more

Palouse Falls State Park - Parks Near Me - Washtucna, Washington

See all

#sorrynotsorry but driving 4ish hours from Seattle just to see this place was a huge letdown. The view of the falls could be immediately seen 300 yards from the parking lot, so while there's instant gratification, it was barely spouting any water and the view did not leave me breathless. ... is Washington in a drought? The state park itself seemed relatively well maintained though. One thing I learned there was that this was a "social trail", meaning the trail's unmarked and going down to the bottom of the falls was on your own risk/accord 0__0 we attempted to find a way down but it just led us to dead ends and steep corners that led us no where. We also watched other people attempt to hike down but having to turn back b/c of these "social trails" ... no thanks. Perhaps my experience would've been more positive had we known how to hike down, but being out in 95° heat, our patience was weary. I did hear there's a proposal for getting the trail paved and secure... that would make things a lot more worth it. read more

Such a beautiful place! I drove from Spokane which was a little under a 2 hour drive and very easy. I did not have cell service for most of the journey once off I-90 or in the park. It costs 10 dollars to park for the day or you can use a Discover Pass if you have one. You get a great view of the falls and the gorge almost immediately and it is pretty incredible considering the drive there is through grassy plains and farm land. If you want, you can hike down to the river and explore a bit. There is one semi-steep part that isn't too bad, but I think it's important to wear shoes with good traction because you are hiking down loose gravel and it's easy to slide. However it is definitely worth it because once you get down you can wade into the river and lay out on the rocks. Absolutely bring a swimsuit. If you want to keep hiking, you can hike down to the pool where the waterfall empties into and swim or picnic there. Most of the trail down is doable though it is narrow. At the end right before the pool it gets really slippery and steep, and for some of it I just slid down and used the rocks on the side for support (i'm not the best downhill hiker). My advice: wear sunscreen and bring plenty of water because it is not shaded, wear shoes with good traction, bring a swimsuit, and ENJOY!! read more

Beautiful falls with layered walls surrounding. We hiked down and up. Challenging but fun. We went down the longer way but safer. We went up the shorter way but more challenginng read more

See all

This rating is not for the Palouse Falls itself but for the "experience." My bf had the day off so I took a vacation day off, and thought it would be a good opportunity for a mini hike at a place I've dreamt of seeing for awhile now. My heart was set. We drove 4 hours and 20 minutes from Seattle to get here yesterday and the road to get there was closed. Due to an emergency closure and a fire. I get it... safety first. But no where on any news, on any wta or trail website did it say that it was closed. That would've saved me a lot of crying and heartache of disappointment lol... Where can I find "recent" updates to make sure I am better prepared next time? Not only did I waste my time, I wasted gas and $ too, that I can never get back. Fortunately I regrouped and did a last min planning on trying to see what else can I look at on the way back home to Seattle (I mean not going to lie I really was looking forward to seeing Palouse Falls for the first time, so nothing really compared). Hard to really find quick places to stop at since there's hardly any reception, we were running out of time and we are literally in the middle of nowhere lol. But we did the best we could to stay positive and made lemonade out of very very very sour lemons. And caught the sunset on time while overlooking the scenic view of Columbia River. read more

Palouse Falls seems to come out of nowhere. After miles of empty roads, wheat fields, and open range, you end up in a well-kept little state park that overlooks a dramatic waterfall. There are several comfortable campsites (tent camping, no hook-ups), with nice shade trees and clean restrooms. Picnic tables are also scattered around the grounds. A couple of short hiking trails leave from the parking lot. Beautiful anytime of year! read more

We spent one night camping at this wonderful state park, on our way from Seattle to a friend's wedding in Idaho. We had two small children with us (ages 4 and 2) so we didn't get to do much hiking, but we walked on some of the trails and looked across the canyon and down at the water below. It was beautiful and dramatic, and yes, quite hot in early September! When we were driving along we almost couldn't believe that we would find a place with a waterfall, it was so dry and dusty and middle-of-nowhere. We drove through a town that was almost completely boarded up. We saw no people outside and so few cars that we figured we might be the only ones at the campground- it was mid-week, past labor day, and a remote location. There are about 10 tent sites and it is first-come, first-served, no reservations taken. Well I think there were about 5 other tents there with us- I can't imagine how busy this place must get on weekends in the summer! We were the only ones there with kids but our kids loved it. The tent site is far enough away from the cliff drop-off that we weren't concerned that they would wander off and get into trouble, and since it's not wooded we could easily see where they were all the time. The ground of the campsite was grassy and flat with a few trees around- a little oasis in the desert, very pleasant. There were ample water taps available with cold water, and a very clean pit latrine. read more

The main reason for meeting up with family at the Palouse Falls was to have a family picnic. We have family from the coast side of Washington and we live in Spokane; thought it would be nice to meet up and do something different, Wow what an experience and the beauty of this hidden in the middle of no where area coming from the Spokane; rolling farming hills, old farm houses, From Spokane area you take Hwy South to Hwy 26 west to Hwy 261 South included these directions because the map from the computer we followed put is in the wrong area and we still had 26 + miles to go, if not for a nice lady in the town of La Cross we would have been lost for sure. The Palouse Falls we absolutely beautiful caught a great picture with a rainbow off to the side. read more

Palouse Falls State Park - Palouse Falls with Rainbow to the side - Parks Near Me - Washtucna, Washington