Photo: Bala Sivakumar from Seattle, USA · CC BY 2.0Palouse Falls
If you're passing
Is it plungeworthy?
A plunge on Palouse River.
The details
- Type
- Plunge
- Watercourse
- Palouse River
- Coordinates
- 46.66351, -118.22391
About Palouse Falls
Palouse Falls is a plunge in Washington, on Palouse River.
Fed largely by snowmelt, it runs hardest in late spring and early summer and can thin to a trickle by late season.
Plungeworthy rates Palouse Falls 4.1/10 — if you're passing. The score weighs its scale, how confidently it's mapped, and its character.
What you'll find
Washington's official state waterfall: the Palouse River plunges 198 feet off a basalt ledge into a huge pool carved by the Ice Age floods, ringed by columnar canyon walls that glow gold in evening light.
Know what this visit is: rim overlooks a short walk from the lot. Every route into the canyon and to the pool is permanently closed after fatal falls — there is no legal way down, and no swimming anywhere.
Getting there
- Trailhead
- Overlook trail from the day-use lot, Palouse Falls State Park Heritage Site
- Parking
- Small lot, no RVs or trailers; expect waits on weekends
- Road
- Paved
- Hike
- 0.3 mi round trip, 20 ft of climb (easy)
- Heads up
- Fenced rim viewpoints only. The canyon floor is off-limits, full stop.
When to go
April through June is the show, when snowmelt puts real volume over the ledge; by late summer the river thins to a ribbon. Open year-round — winter visits are quiet and the canyon holds frost beautifully, but watch for ice on the steps.
Rules & fees
- Fee / pass
- Discover Pass — $10/day or $45/year
- Dogs
- Leashed
- Hours
- 6:30am–dusk summer, 8am–dusk winter
- Camping
- None on-site — day use only (older listings showing a campground are out of date)
- Warnings
- Cliff edges are unfenced beyond the viewpoints; cell service is spotty; seasonal burn bans apply.
Researched from WA State Parks — Palouse Falls · WA Parks Commission — canyon access closure. Conditions change — verify before you drive. Been to Palouse Falls recently? Post a conditions report below.
Where it is
Before you go
The pin marks the feature, not a trailhead or a legal route in. Some sit on private land or need a real hike, and conditions change with season and rain. Check local access, don't trespass, and never enter water — hot or cold — where it isn't safe.
Common questions
Where is Palouse Falls?
Palouse Falls is a waterfall in Washington, at 46.66351, -118.22391.
Is Palouse Falls worth visiting?
If you're passing — Plungeworthy rates it 4.1/10.
Gear for the trip
As an Amazon Associate, Plungeworthy earns from qualifying purchases.