Drumheller Channels National Natural Landmark

Drumheller Channels is a geological formation on the Columbia Plateau characterized by hundreds of steep-sided hills and dry stream channels carved through basalt rock. The landscape spreads across a large area and reveals the full scale of water erosion within this volcanic terrain.

During the late ice age, massive floods from Glacial Lake Missoula carved these channels through volcanic terrain. These catastrophic water surges left behind one of the region's most dramatic geological features.

The name comes from a local farming family who hosted researcher J Harlen Bretz and his students in 1922. This connection to early scientific exploration remains part of how the place is known and remembered.

Visitors can explore the channels on hiking trails, including an interpretive path from wetlands to elevated viewpoints. The best time to visit is spring and fall when temperatures are comfortable and visibility is at its best.

This location overlaps with Columbia National Wildlife Refuge, which supports more than 200 species of mammals and birds across eight different habitats. The abundance of wildlife within this geologically distinctive landscape makes it particularly rewarding for nature observers.

Location: Washington

GPS coordinates: 46.97500,-119.19600

Latest update: December 8, 2025 19:46