The Long Way
Whitman County
A scenic view of rolling green hills from a high vantage point with trees in the foreground.
Plate I. Rolling hills landscape, Palouse Scenic Byway. Photograph by Dsdugan, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
An exterior view of a rustic white barn with metal wheels arranged in front.
Plate II. Barn and wheel fence, Palouse Scenic Byway. From stateofwatourism.com
A wide landscape of rolling golden hills and distant mountains under a soft sky.
Plate III. Rolling farmland, Palouse Scenic Byway. From stateofwatourism.com
A waterfall cascades into a deep pool surrounded by steep canyon walls.
Plate IV. Palouse Falls, Palouse Scenic Byway. From stateofwatourism.com
An aerial view of a winding road through rolling green and brown hills with a large hill in the background.
Plate V. Rolling hills and road, Palouse Scenic Byway. From palousescenicbyway.org
A high-angle view shows rolling green hills with farms and buildings nestled in the valleys.
Plate VI. Rolling hills along the Palouse Scenic Byway. From palousescenicbyway.org

Palouse Scenic Byway

Colfax, Whitman County, Washington. Scenic byway.

Details

Map. Colfax, Whitman County, Washington. Larger map
Where
Colfax, Whitman County, WA. No street address stated. Directions
Season
Year-round; spring for green fields, fall for golds and browns.
Getting there
Multiple highways south of Spokane, including Highway 195, SR 26, SR 27, and SR 272.
Fees
None.
Access
Year-round access; spring for green fields, fall for golds and browns.
Phone
509-334-3565
Website
stateofwatourism.com
Managed by
Pullman Chamber of Commerce & Visitor Center (sponsor).
Established
2003.

Known as a renowned photography destination, the Palouse Scenic Byway winds through rolling hills and farmland dotted with buttes formed by prehistoric glacial flooding. A mix of highways and quieter roads provides ample opportunity for peaceful exploration.

Notable Events

  1. 1858On May 17, 1858, the Indigenous warriors and soldiers engaged in a 10-hour running battle that ultimately pinned down the soldiers on a small hill above Tohotonimme (today's Pine Creek Valley). parks.wa.gov
  2. 1888In 1888, Cashup Davis built a multistory hotel on top of Steptoe Butte in an attempt to revive the good times that he had enjoyed as proprietor of the station. parks.wa.gov
  3. 1946The park was dedicated on July 4, 1946, 58 years to the day after the grand opening of Cashup Davis' hotel. parks.wa.gov
  4. 1966Recognizing the site's geological significance, Steptoe Butte was dedicated as a National Natural Landmark on October 30, 1966. parks.wa.gov
  5. 2001A Scenic Byway Committee was formed and met monthly throughout the planning process for the byway. cdm16977.contentdm.oclc.org
  6. 2002The Whitman County Commissioners adopted Resolution No. 059318 agreeing to abide by the Scenic Vistas Act of 1971 for both state and national scenic byway designations. cdm16977.contentdm.oclc.org
  7. 2003The US 97 Scenic Byway and the Palouse Country Scenic Byway are designated as State Scenic Byways. lawfilesext.leg.wa.gov
  8. 2021A new chapter in the preservation of Steptoe Butte began on December 7, 2021, when 437 acres of private lands surrounding the park were purchased by the Washington Department of Natural Resources to establish the Steptoe Butte Natural Area, protecting the largest remaining expanse of the native Palouse prairie ecosystem. parks.wa.gov

People

  • Ed Barnes, Commissioner who spoke for the proposed byway.
  • William P. "Pap" Breeding, established a flour mill; the town of Palouse was founded with it (1874).
  • Senator Parlette, prime sponsor of the bill designating the byway.
  • Cashup Davis, built a multistory hotel on top of Steptoe Butte (1888).
  • Chief Kamiakin, Leadership of allied warriors (Yakama/ Palús).
  • Edward J. Steptoe, Lieutenant Colonel who led one of the US Army expeditions sent into the area (May 1858).
  • Virgil McCroskey, local philanthropist; began to acquire property on the butte (1945 and 1946).

Sources

  1. palousescenicbyway.org
  2. fhwaapps.fhwa.dot.gov/bywaysp/byway/54775
  3. stateofwatourism.com/scenic-byways/palouse-scenic-byway
  4. iceagefloodstrail.org/notes/p-p5-20-st-john-loess
  5. cdm16977.contentdm.oclc.org/digital/api/collection/p16977coll2/id/2257/download
  6. historylink.org/File/21016
  7. scenicwa.com/palouse-scenic-byway
  8. parks.wa.gov/about/news-center/field-guide-blog/steptoe-butte-state-park-heritage-site-history
  9. lawfilesext.leg.wa.gov/Biennium/2003-04/Htm/Bill%20Reports/Senate/5937.FBR.htm
  10. lawfilesext.leg.wa.gov/biennium/2003-04/Pdf/Bill%20Reports/House/5937.HBR.pdf