Palouse Falls Hike
Waterfall · about 200 ft high | Washington
1 mi round trip
Palouse Falls Hike at a Glance
The Palouse Falls hike via the Palouse Falls viewpoint trail is 1 mi round trip.
| Falls height | About 200 ft |
|---|---|
| Trail | Palouse Falls viewpoint trail |
| Distance | 1 mi round trip |
Your time: about 20 min of moving time at Naismith pace (3 mph plus 1 hour per 2,000 ft climbed); about 25 min at a relaxed pace. A 160 lb hiker with a daypack burns roughly 190 kcal. No elevation gain is published for this route, so climbing time isn’t included.
Adjust for your pace and breaks →Route line not shown. The 1 mi distance for this hike is verified (wta.org), but we don't yet have a trail track we trust, so the map shows only the destination. Carry an official map.
About Palouse Falls
Palouse Falls is a waterfall in Washington, about 200 feet high, on land managed by Washington State Parks (Palouse Falls State Park Heritage Site). Its height is from parks.wa.gov.
The Hike
The hike to the falls follows the Palouse Falls viewpoint trail: 1 miles round trip, from Palouse Falls State Park day-use area. Distance from wta.org.
Before You Go
- Dogs are allowed on leash. (parks.wa.gov)
- All trails into the canyon and to the base of Palouse Falls are permanently closed. (parks.wa.gov)
- Going beyond the designated viewing areas and trails is prohibited. (parks.wa.gov)
- Rock around waterfalls is slick when wet; stay on the trail and back from the edge.
- Check Washington State Parks (Palouse Falls State Park Heritage Site) for current conditions, closures and parking before you go.
Sources
Frequently Asked Questions
How long is the hike to Palouse Falls?
The Palouse Falls viewpoint trail to Palouse Falls is 1 miles round trip.
Where does the Palouse Falls hike start?
It starts from Palouse Falls State Park day-use area.
How tall is Palouse Falls?
Palouse Falls is about 200 feet high.
Are dogs allowed on the Palouse Falls trail?
Dogs are allowed on leash.
Safety Information
Current Hazards
- Slippery wet rock near the falls
- Fast, high water after rain or snowmelt
- Check weather before departure
Turn-Around Time
3:00 PM
Plan to reach the falls by this time so you are back before dark.
Essential Gear Checklist
* Critical items - do not hike without these
Emergency Contacts
Emergency / Search & Rescue
911Point Forecast
NWS Point Forecast →In most of the US, backcountry search and rescue is dispatched through 911 — tell the operator you have a hiker emergency and your GPS coordinates.
Downloads
Sources for The Palouse Falls Guide
Where the trail data, elevation and route line on this page come from.
- Verified against
- wta.org
- Distance
- wta.org
- Falls height
- parks.wa.gov
- Falls location
- en.wikipedia.org
Conditions change. Check the land manager for closures, fees and weather before you go.