The Long Way
Franklin County
A scenic view of a deep canyon with a river flowing at the bottom under a cloudy sky.
Plate I. Parking area and trail, Palouse Falls Trailhead. From parks.wa.gov
A waterfall plunges into a rocky canyon basin surrounded by cliffs.
Plate II. Palouse Falls dropping into basalt gorge, Palouse Falls Trailhead. From parks.wa.gov
A tall waterfall plunges between rocky cliffs.
Plate III. Palouse Falls dropping into the basalt canyon. From parks.wa.gov
A river flows through a deep rocky canyon under a cloudy sky.
Plate IV. Palouse River canyon, Palouse Falls Trailhead. From parks.wa.gov
A marmot sits on a rocky cliffside ledge.
Plate V. Marmot on a cliff, Palouse Falls State Park. From parks.wa.gov
A tall waterfall flowing into a deep canyon with rocky cliffs.
Plate VI. Palouse Falls dropping into canyon, Palouse Falls Trailhead. From parks.wa.gov

Palouse Falls Trailhead

LaCrosse, WA, Franklin County, Washington. State park heritage site.

Details

Map. LaCrosse, WA, Franklin County, Washington. Larger map
Where
Palouse Falls Road, LaCrosse, LaCrosse, WA, WA 99143. Directions
When
Summer: 6:30 a.m. - Dusk; Winter: 8 a.m. - Dusk.
Getting there
The physical location of Palouse Falls State Park is at mile marker 20 on Highway 261.
Fees
Discover Pass required: Annual Pass $45, One-day Pass $10; entrance fees vary.
Access
All trails into the canyon and base of Palouse Falls are permanently closed. Venturing beyond designated viewing area and trails at the park is prohibited.
Walk-in or reserve
Day-use only (walk-in, no reservations).
Phone
(509) 646-3229
Managed by
Washington State Parks.
Coordinates
46.66492844, -118.2264328.

The Palouse River runs through a narrow cataract and drops 200 feet at Palouse Falls into a churning bowl, then moves swiftly through a winding gorge of columnar basalt carved more than 13,000 years ago.

Notable Events

  1. 1800sBy the late 1800s, Palouse Falls was a tourist attraction. spokesman.com
  2. 1841The falls were first documented during a regional survey led by Captain Charles Wilkes of the United States Navy's U.S. Exploring Expedition. parks.wa.gov
  3. 1867Laurence L. Dodd was one of the falls' earliest visitors recorded by this source. spokanehistorical.org
  4. 1945Palouse Falls State Park was created. spokanehistorical.org
  5. 1951Palouse Falls State Park was dedicated; its 94 acres had been donated by the Baker-Boyer National Bank, J.M. McGregor, Agnes Sells, and others. parks.wa.gov
  6. 1984A proposal to build a hydroelectric dam just upstream of Palouse Falls was not approved, preserving the falls in their natural form. wa100.dnr.wa.gov
  7. 2014Washington law designated Palouse Falls the official waterfall of the state. app.leg.wa.gov

People

  • Agnes Sells, donor of land for Palouse Falls State Park (1951).
  • Captain Charles Wilkes, leader of the first documented survey of the falls (1841).
  • J.M. McGregor, donor of land for Palouse Falls State Park (1951).
  • Laurence L. Dodd, one of the falls' earliest recorded visitors (1867).
  • J Harlen Bretz, early scientist who inferred much larger ancient floods from the oversized canyon, plunge pool, and dry waterfalls.

Sources

  1. parks.wa.gov/find-parks/state-parks/palouse-falls-state-park-heritage-site
  2. parks.wa.gov/sites/default/files/2025-08/Palouse%20Falls%20Park%20Brochure.pdf
  3. parks.wa.gov/sites/default/files/2023-04/Palouse%20Falls%20Park%20Brochure.pdf
  4. wa100.dnr.wa.gov/columbia-basin/palouse-falls
  5. spokanehistorical.org/items/show/849
  6. app.leg.wa.gov/rcw/default.aspx?cite=1.20.170
  7. spokesman.com/stories/2016/may/20/washingtons-palouse-falls-a-site-of-wonder-for-tho