Palouse Falls Campground (closed)
Details- Season
- Closed for safety improvements; day-use only.
- Sites
- None currently available.
- Verify reopening status with Washington State Parks; base at Lyons Ferry or the Tri-Cities instead.
State Park · Washington
Palouse Falls State Park
Washington's official state waterfall: a 198-foot plunge into a basalt scabland canyon, viewed from rim overlooks. Day-use only since the campground closed, with all canyon trails and swimming off-limits.
Field briefing
Palouse Falls State Park starts with access, not mileage.
Before you go
Palouse Falls is a short, high-impact stop, not an overnight destination.
The campground closed for safety improvements and the park is day-use only, so plan to sleep elsewhere. All trails into the canyon and to the base are permanently closed, and swimming in the pool below the falls is prohibited because the current can overpower swimmers. Bring a Discover Pass, enjoy the rim overlooks, and drive five miles to Lyons Ferry if you want to swim.
- Best window
- March to May for peak snowmelt flow and spring wildflowers, with desert heat building by summer
- Signature routes
- Palouse Falls overlooks, The scabland canyon
- Pack focus
- Water, weather checks, layers
Palouse Falls in photos
The landmarks worth the trip. Tap any photo to enlarge.
Location
Washington
Best time
March to May for peak snowmelt flow and spring wildflowers, with desert heat building by summer
Entrance
Washington Discover Pass required to park ($10 day, $45 annual)
When to go
Weather, crowds, and what the season changes about the trip.
Spring
High crowds
Peak waterfall flow from snowmelt, green canyon walls, and the best wildflowers.
Pack Layers for wind, sun protection, and a Discover Pass.
Summer
Moderate crowds
Hot, dry, and exposed, with lower flow and little shade at the overlooks.
Pack Lots of water, sun protection, and a heat-aware midday plan.
Fall
Low crowds
Cooling, quieter, and pleasant for overlook visits, with lower flow.
Pack A wind layer and water; services nearby are sparse.
Winter
Low crowds
Cold and stark, with occasional ice on the overlook paths and short days.
Pack Insulation, traction, and a willingness to skip icy edges.
Top things to do
Palouse Falls overlooks
Three viewpoints, including the Fryxell Overlook, frame the 198-foot falls and its basalt canyon. The overlooks are the whole experience here.
The scabland canyon
An Ice Age flood landscape of layered basalt, dramatic in any light and a favorite for photographers at sunrise and sunset.
Lyons Ferry side trip
About five miles away, Lyons Ferry State Park offers the swimming and paddling that Palouse Falls itself prohibits.
How long to spend
Anchor the day around Palouse Falls overlooks
Lock the boat, ferry, tide, or water access first, then fit the route list around that schedule. For one day in Palouse Falls State Park, make Palouse Falls overlooks the non-negotiable, add The scabland canyon only if the first stop runs clean, and keep Lyons Ferry side trip as the flexible finish.
- 1Start with Palouse Falls overlooks: Three viewpoints, including the Fryxell Overlook, frame the 198-foot falls and its basalt canyon. The overlooks are the whole experience here.
- 2Add The scabland canyon: An Ice Age flood landscape of layered basalt, dramatic in any light and a favorite for photographers at sunrise and sunset.
- 3Use Lyons Ferry side trip as the optional finish, not as a reason to rush the whole day.
Plan your trip
Turn Palouse Falls's conditions into water, pack, and sleep-system decisions.
Build around access
Plan the transfer before the trail list.
Plan your trip
2 quick tools, already seeded for Palouse Falls State Park. Tune the route, pack weight, weather margin, and overnight setup after the access plan is real.
What to pack
Start with the gear decisions this park changes: footing, weather, camping, and water.
Kit Authority
Palouse Falls State Park packing list
0 of 15 packed. Check items as you pack, then take this list to the store, trailhead, or campsite.
Pack planning
Decide what Palouse Falls State Park asks of your kit before you start checking boxes.
Use this as a constraint check while you are still shaping the trip. The active checklist becomes useful once your route, dates, and sleep plan are set.
- First constraintHydration and exposureWater, Electrolyte mix, hat, sunscreen, sunglasses, 4 more
- Route realityFooting and tractionHiking boots, Hiking socks, Trekking poles
- Load choicePack and carry systemDaypack
- Season checkLayers for conditionsMoisture-wicking base layers, Insulated jacket, Traction devices for ice
Checklist mode
15 items, grouped for the trip you are actually taking.
- Dates and season are set.
- Primary route, campground, or lodge is chosen.
- Water, footwear, and overnight needs are sized.
One researched pick
The first gear decision for Palouse Falls
An 8x42 binocular is the useful middle ground between reach, field of view, and all-day carry weight.
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THE WILDLIFE PICK
Vortex Diamondback HD 8x42 Binoculars
Best Value$150–$250
9.0/10
Kit Score, how we research →- Magnification
- 8x
- Objective lens
- 42 mm
- Weight
- 21.8 oz (618 g)
- Field of view
- 393 ft at 1,000 yds (7.5 deg)
- Eye relief
- 17 mm
- Waterproof / fogproof
- Yes, argon-purged, O-ring sealed
The Diamondback HD delivers HD glass, dielectric and phase-corrected coatings, and a wide 393-foot field of view at a street price well below its MSRP. Reviewers and birders routinely note it performs like binoculars costing twice as much, and Vortex backs it with an unlimited, unconditional transferable warranty.
- Exceptional brightness and contrast for the price: measured light transmission outperforms comparably priced models
- Wide field of view aids bird-finding and tracking fast-moving wildlife
- Some chromatic aberration visible at the edges of the field in high-contrast scenes
Gear for Palouse Falls
The buying guides that match what Palouse Falls asks of your kit, with our current top picks across budget and use case.
Where to stay
Because Palouse Falls no longer has camping, base elsewhere. Lyons Ferry Marina and the towns of Washtucna, Starbuck, and Dayton have the nearest limited options, and the Tri-Cities (Pasco, Kennewick, Richland) about an hour away offer the broadest lodging. Pair the falls with a Lyons Ferry day for swimming and paddling.
Camping reservations
Camping reservations
Palouse Falls is day-use only; the campground is closed.
There is no overnight camping at Palouse Falls right now. The reservation question is really about a Discover Pass to park and about where you sleep nearby, since the campground closed for safety improvements.
Reviewed June 8, 2026
Booking window
No camping reservations are taken at Palouse Falls while the campground is closed. A Discover Pass is required to park, and nearby Washington State Parks campgrounds reserve through the state system up to nine months ahead.
- The Palouse Falls campground is closed for safety improvements; the park is day-use only. Confirm reopening status with Washington State Parks before planning an overnight.
- A Discover Pass is required for parking: $10 daily or $45 annual.
- All trails into the canyon and to the base of the falls are permanently closed, and swimming below the falls is prohibited.
Where to book or verify
Palouse Falls official page
Official Washington State Parks page with current closures, access rules, and the day-use status.
Washington reservations
Reservation path for nearby reservable Washington State Parks campgrounds.
Search Recreation.gov
Check for federal campground, backcountry, tour, and permit inventory tied to this park.
Campgrounds to know
Getting there and practical info
Make the transfer plan before the trail plan.
Weather windows, boat schedules, flight buffers, and backup days shape what is realistic.
Getting there
Get to Palouse Falls State Park by solving the transfer first.
- Access rhythm
- Transfer time matters
- Region
- Washington
Transfer plan
Palouse Falls sits in remote southeastern Washington off Highway 261, about an hour northeast of the Tri-Cities and roughly 45 minutes from Lyons Ferry.
Car strategy
The final stretch is gravel road.
Car strategy
A car is required, services are sparse, so arrive with a full tank, water, and a Discover Pass.
Pair this with lodging: the best base is the one that protects the departure window, pickup point, or weather buffer.
Can you photograph here? Permit and drone rules
Washington Filmworks acts as the state film office but issues no permits; Washington State Parks require a commercial filming and photography permit with published fees, plus a Discover Pass to drive in.
- Permit
- Usually fine for personal shoots; commercial or large productions can need a permit
- Drones
- Legal under FAA rules; commercial drone work requires FAA Part 107
- Land
- Yes: photographing people and property visible from public space is legal in the US
Full photography rules for Washington
From our photography sister site, Aperture Authority. Verified 2026-07-01.
Frequently asked questions
Can you camp at Palouse Falls State Park?
Not currently. The campground closed for safety improvements and the park is day-use only. Confirm reopening status with Washington State Parks before planning an overnight, and base at Lyons Ferry or the Tri-Cities in the meantime.
Can you swim at Palouse Falls?
No. Swimming in the pool below the falls is prohibited because the current can overpower swimmers, and all trails into the canyon and to the base are permanently closed. For swimming and paddling, Lyons Ferry State Park is about five miles away.
Do you need a pass for Palouse Falls?
Yes. A Washington Discover Pass is required to park, $10 for a day or $45 for the year. You can buy one online, at retailers, or at the park.
How tall is Palouse Falls?
Palouse Falls drops 198 feet into a basalt canyon carved by Ice Age floods. It is Washington's official state waterfall, viewed from rim overlooks since the canyon trails are closed.