Palouse Falls, Waterfall in Franklin County, United States.
The Palouse Falls drops 198 feet into a deep canyon, forming a vertical cascade surrounded by tall basalt cliffs along the Palouse River.
The falls originated during the last ice age when massive Missoula Floods carved through the Columbia River Basalt, creating the current geological formation.
Native Palouse Indians named the falls Aput Aput, meaning Falling Water, reflecting their long connection to this natural formation in eastern Washington.
The state park includes paved pathways to viewing areas, picnic tables, information displays, and restroom facilities for visitors throughout the year.
In 2014, local elementary school students successfully campaigned to designate Palouse Falls as the official state waterfall of Washington.
Location: Franklin County
Part of: Palouse River
Website: https://parks.state.wa.us/559/Palouse-Falls
GPS coordinates: 46.66340,-118.22371
Latest update: May 26, 2025 21:32
Washington holds far more than the well-known attractions of Seattle and Mount Rainier. Across the state, dozens of less-visited sites offer insight into the region's geological history, military past, and natural diversity. From waterfalls to ancient forests to historic lighthouses and military fortifications, Washington presents a substantial range of landscapes and cultural sites. Palouse Falls in Franklin County drops 198 feet (60 meters) into a basalt gorge, while Cape Flattery at the northwesternmost point of the continental United States looks out over jagged cliffs and the open Pacific. Ape Caves in Skamania County is one of the longest lava tube systems in the country, and Beacon Rock rises 848 feet (260 meters) above the Columbia River. The Trail of the Patriarchs leads through centuries-old Douglas firs and cedars, and Deception Pass Bridge connects Whidbey Island to the mainland via a 180-foot (55-meter) steel structure from 1935. Fort Worden in Port Townsend served as a coastal defense installation, and the Wing Luke Museum in Seattle documents the Asian American history of the Pacific Northwest. Dry Falls in Grant County shows the remains of an Ice Age waterfall that was once wider than Niagara Falls. Mima Mounds in Thurston County forms a field of hundreds of symmetrical earth mounds whose formation continues to be scientifically debated. These sites offer practical alternatives to the crowded main attractions and allow for deeper engagement with Washington's natural and historical features.
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