Washington's official state waterfall (200 ft); fully accessible viewing platforms, but canyon and base-of-falls trails permanently closed for safety.
Discover Pass required ($10 day / $45 annual)
Parking is extremely limited with long waits common on weekends and holidays; trailers and RVs are not allowed. All trails into the canyon and to the base of the falls are permanently closed for safety — the basalt cliffs are unstable and multiple fatal accidents have occurred off designated viewing areas.
Palouse Falls is Washington’s official state waterfall, a spectacular 200-foot drop on the Palouse River near LaCrosse. The fully accessible viewing platform offers excellent views and is available year-round. Dogs are permitted on the designated viewing areas.
Critical access information: All trails into the canyon and to the base of the falls are permanently closed for safety. The basalt cliffs are unstable and multiple fatal accidents have occurred when people left designated viewing areas. Parking is extremely limited with frequent long waits on weekends and holidays; trailers and RVs are not allowed. Arrive early or plan your visit for a weekday. A Discover Pass ($10 day / $45 annual) is required.
Open year-round; designated viewpoint areas are accessible in all seasons. Expect very limited parking and long waits on weekends and holidays.
30-60 minutes (parking delays possible)
Fully ADA accessible viewpoint; canyon and base-of-falls trails permanently closed.
Expect severe parking shortages; trailers and RVs not allowed. Do not attempt to access closed canyon trails—basalt cliffs are unstable and multiple fatal accidents have occurred.
Discover Pass required ($10 day / $45 annual)
It's viewable without a hike, from a pullout or short walk near the parking area.
Yes, per the managing agency's own page — but check current leash rules before you go.
No — the managing agency's page states swimming/wading is not permitted here, often for safety reasons (current, rockfall, or cold water).
We track 11 waterfalls in North Cascades, 3 of which are roadside like this one.
parks.wa.gov
Washington State Parks official Palouse Falls State Park Heritage Site page, checked Aug 2026
Checked August 2026.