Washington's official state waterfall, a roughly 200-foot drop into a basalt canyon, viewed only from the rim.
Palouse Falls drops about 200 feet into a plunge pool at the bottom of a basalt canyon carved by Ice Age floodwaters on the Palouse River; the Washington Legislature named it the state's official waterfall in 2014. Washington State Parks keeps viewing entirely above the rim: a short stepped path from the day-use area, a paved interpretive trail, and the higher Fryxell Overlook make up the designated viewpoints, and the agency states that all trails into the canyon and down to the base of the falls are permanently closed.
A Discover Pass is required to park, with a one-day pass priced at $10 or an annual pass at $45, and the park currently has no potable water, so bring your own. State Parks also warns of extremely limited parking with long waits during weekends and holidays, since the day-use area is small; arriving early or on a weekday improves the odds of finding a spot. Park hours run 6:30 a.m. to dusk in summer and 8 a.m. to dusk in winter. Check the official park page for current burn-ban status and any trail or facility notices before visiting.
As of the official Washington State Parks page (checked 2026-10-11): parking is extremely limited with long waits on weekends and holidays, no potable water is currently available, and all trails into the canyon and to the base of the falls are permanently closed. Check the official alert center before visiting. Check the current notice ↗
Know before you go
Palouse Falls State Park Heritage Site, Palouse Falls Road, near LaCrosse, WA; viewing from the canyon rim only.
Open year-round; summer hours 6:30 a.m. to dusk, winter hours 8 a.m. to dusk.
Short paved and stepped paths to rim viewpoints, including the Fryxell Overlook; all trails into the canyon and to the base of the falls are permanently closed.
Discover Pass required: $10 one-day or $45 annual.
Rim viewpoints are reached by short paved and stepped paths; parking and water access are both currently limited, so verify conditions.
2026-10-11. Conditions and requirements can change; confirm with the land manager before travelling.
Sources & further reading
- Washington State Parks — Palouse Falls State Park Heritage Site ↗
- USGS Geographic Names Information System (GNIS) ↗
This is a researched visitor guide, not a claim that our editors have personally visited. Trail conditions, permits, and access can change.
