Palouse Falls is a stunning oasis in the middle of Eastern Washington's vast desert. The 198-foot falls tumbles through a crease in a semicircular basalt bowl. Visitors view the falls from above after a short hike on a level path. To experience the falls and the surrounding desert more intimately, camp in Palouse Falls State Park or at an area campground.
Palouse Falls State Park covers 105 acres around the park's namesake cataract. The park's 10 tent spaces sit near the parking area and within a few steps of the path leading to the falls overlook. Only one site is ADA accessible, and no sites have hook ups of any kind. The park offers a pit toilet restroom and braziers, small containers in which you can make a campfire. The campsites are first-come, first-served, and tend to be competitive on mild weekends in spring, summer and fall.
Palouse Falls is an eastern Washington gem, but the campground is austere and bare, and the spots are small and lack privacy. You won't find much in the way of amenities here, nor will you find much in the surrounding area: just seemingly endless miles of vast, untouched desert. What the campground lacks in creature comforts, it makes up for in proximity to the falls and its deep canyon. At night, the stars above are abundant, and the campground's stillness lends a tranquility unmatched in other spots.
Eastern Washington fully experiences all four seasons, sometimes in extremes. Summers, for example, are hot and dry, with winter bringing cold temperatures and occasional snow storms. You'll be most comfortable sleeping in a tent at Palouse Falls in spring and fall, when the weather is at its mildest. Spring and early summer are the best times to view the falls, when heavy snow melt turns the Palouse River into a raging torrent of coffee-colored water. If you're a hardy camper, visiting in winter may show off the canyon covered in giant icicles and a dusting of snow.
If the campground at Palouse Falls is full, you have a few other options in the vicinity. The Lyons Ferry KOA has RV and tent sites along the Palouse River; each site includes a picnic table and fire ring. The closest state park is Lewis and Clark Trail State Park, on the Touchet River. The 24 campsites there are first-come, first-served, and group camps for up to 100 campers are also available. Coyote Run RV Park offers 72 spaces for RVs, each with hook-ups for water, sewer, cable and electricity. Some spots are combination, with a space for an RV and a tent.
