Palouse Falls

Hubby had a fabulous idea for another impulsive day trip.  We called Dad to see if he’d like to come, packed up our lunch and headed south to Palouse Falls State Park.

Palouse Falls is a scenic gem that is nearly hidden in the scablands and canyons of southeastern Washington State.  It you want to visit a place that is off the beaten path, then this is the place for you.

There are many hiking trails and it is possible to hike to the bottom of the waterfall, or up around the top, or even behind the waterfall where the Palouse River cuts through the scabland.  Some trails are paved, many are not.  Rock climbing is allowed here too.

The falls plunge 186 feet and, incredibly, you don’t see it until you are nearly on top of it.

The orange that you see in the photos are rock climbers.

We were treated to gentle rain showers on our visit, and we had a very pleasant day.  I’m proud of my Dad; he’s in his 80’s and recently had knee replacement surgery.  Yet, he’s out here hiking!  I really do come from great stock!

The Palouse River behind the falls:

Up on a plateau:

On the way home, we visited Steptoe Butte State Park.  The butte is an unexpected height reigning over a sea of agricultural land.  It is named for Edward Steptoe, a colonel in the US Army, who, in May of 1858, was defeated by 1000 Indian warriors in a battle near here.

Steptoe Butte  is a great place for kite flying, hang gliding, picnicking and just taking in the view.

Serene.

Clicking on a photo will give you a larger look.