Palouse Falls Overlook

Palouse Falls Overlook is a short, paved path to one of the most spectacular natural wonders in Washington State, the 200-foot Palouse Falls, which plunges into a dramatic basalt canyon carved by the cataclysmic Missoula Floods approximately 15,000 years ago. Washington's official state waterfall, Palouse Falls tumbles over the lip of a basalt escarpment into a deep plunge pool surrounded by towering columnar basalt walls that rise in geometric precision from the canyon floor. The overlook platform provides a safe vantage point directly above the falls, offering a heart-stopping view of the full cascade and the swirling pool below. The surrounding landscape is a testament to the raw power of the ice age floods that repeatedly swept across eastern Washington, carving this canyon system virtually overnight in geological terms. The Palouse River above the falls flows through a broad, gentle agricultural valley before making its dramatic plunge, creating a striking contrast between the pastoral plateau and the savage canyon. The basalt columns display classic hexagonal fracture patterns that formed as ancient lava flows cooled slowly over thousands of years. Golden eagles nest on the canyon walls and are frequently observed riding thermals above the gorge. The falls are most dramatic during spring runoff. Visit at sunrise or sunset for spectacular light on the golden basalt walls.