Dry Falls

Dry Falls is a former waterfall site in Grant County, Washington. The semicircular rock wall stretches for several miles and rises about 400 feet (121 m) above the floor of the present dry valley.

At the end of the last ice age, a glacial lake broke through its dams and flooded the area with an immense volume of water. These floods carved the present rock formation in a short time before the water ceased and left the landscape in its current state.

The name comes from the fact that no water flows over the cliffs today, though once this site channeled one of the greatest water volumes on Earth. The area is now walked by hikers who cross the dry basalt rocks and trace the scale of the erosion that shaped the land.

A visitor center provides information about the formation of the landscape and sits directly on the main road, from which several viewpoints are accessible. Hiking trails run along the cliffs and down into the valley, where traces of erosion can be seen up close.

The rock wall shows clearly visible channels and basins carved by the flowing water into the stone. Some of these depressions are so large that entire houses could fit inside them, illustrating the force of the former flood.

Location: Grant County

Elevation above the sea: 460 m

Height: 121 m

Part of: Columbia River

GPS coordinates: 47.60572,-119.35364

Latest update: December 17, 2025 09:31