The Elk Creek Falls Recreation Area is one of northern Idaho's unique natural areas. The falls is among the most scenic in the northwest, with a setting which includes a deeply dissected gorge, numerous cascades with natural pools, lush coniferous forests, and impressive vistas. Elk River Falls as a series of waterfalls that plunge almost 300 feet into a forest canyon. The trail winds through a forest of pine and cedar trees. Elk Creek and nearby Elk Creek Reservoir are favorite spots for catching rainbow and brook trout.
Located on Elk Creek, approximately 3 miles south of the town of Elk River, the area has been set aside for semi-primitive, non-motorized recreation activities. A recently improved trail system built with the help of volunteers, includes several overlooks which not only give the viewer a good look at the falls themselves, but of the surrounding landscapes as well.
A unique and beautiful place to visit with scenic opportunities including a deeply dissected gorge, the Elk Creek Falls, impressive vistas, and wildlife viewing. Located just south of Elk River, with a total drop of 300 feet, it is the highest water fall in northern Idaho. The National Recreation Trail guides visitors from the parking area to view points overlooking the various cascades.
The total height of the falls is approximately 300 feet, with the middle falls being the highest at about 70 feet, the lower falls having a drop of nearly 50 feet, and the upper falls at about 20 feet. The geologic structures in the immediate environment of Elk Creek consist of distinct basalt columns, and help contribute to the unique appearance of the falls.
Elk Creek itself is habitat for several species of trout. Populations of brook trout are found above the falls, while rainbow and westslope inhabit the lower reaches below the falls.
Elk Creek Falls is a beautiful day hike, located just outside of the town of Elk River. Great for casual walks full of conversation, the hike features three different waterfalls, with three different viewpoint spots. The trail is very well marked, and the difficulty of the hike is low.
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| Trail Map | Upper Falls - 20 feet |
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| Middle Falls - 70 feet | Lower Falls - 50 feet |
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| Palouse Falls |
The Palouse River thunders off a precipice at this beautiful spot outside Washtucna, WA. Palouse Falls is a hidden oasis for the visitor. A drive to the falls takes you off the beaten path to an excellent view of the falls that cascade 198 feet into a round salt-rock canyon. The falls are unique because they emerge from the channeled scablands of southeastern Washington, an arid landscape. It is most spectacular in the spring and early summer, and particularly beautiful when the sun strikes spray at the base of the falls and creates a rainbow.
The falls are 198 ft. high and the top of the falls is about 100 ft. below the developed part of the park; from the top of the rim to the bottom of the canyon is about 300 ft. The park is a wildlife viewing area with over 50 different species of birds identified. Lots of bird watchers hang out here. There are also yellow belly marmots, jack rabbits, cottontail rabbits, and coyotes. Just to make things more interesting, there are rattlesnakes and black widow spiders.
The Park is an oasis in the desert of the channeled scablands of eastern Washington, located on the Palouse River Canyon, between Starbuck and Washtucna, two miles off state highway 261.
General Decription:
This remote state park is well worth the trip. Spectacular 198-foot Palouse Falls is a sight not to miss. A quarter-mile wheelchair-accessible
trail has been completed to a waterfall overlook. The park is set at the confluence of the Snake and Palouse Rivers, and it does not receive
heavy use, even in summer. The park covers 1,282 acres and features a waterfall observation shelter, shaded picnic facilities, historical
displays, and an abundance of wildlife.
Hiking, site seeing, picnic, get out on those country roads. Glacial floods formed a series of waterfalls along the Palouse River before it entered the Snake River. Palouse Falls, with a height of 198 feet, is the only one that remains today and is most spectacular in the spring and early summer. At the heart of a rock-rimmed amphitheater, the Palouse River takes a precipitous, plunge into a deep green pool, creating one of the most spectacular natural sights in the state. When the sun strikes spray at the base of the falls, a rainbow can often be seen. The falls itself is breathtaking, but its beauty is enhanced by the surrounding rock formations. Just above the lip of the falls, a serrated rib of basalt spires mimics the turrets of the medieval castle, with defenses manned by stalwart seagulls. From the falls the river continues down the narrow gorge that it has carved over time, enroute to the Snake River which is 6 miles hence. The walls of the river channel are sheer columnar basalt, layered in 100-foot-thick lava flows, separated by narrow shelves clad in dried grass and brush.
Palouse Falls is the last remaining falls created by glacial floods along the Palouse River before it entered the Snake River.
Origin:
The Palouse River used to flow all the way into the Pasco Basin of South Central Washington. Much of the discharge of the great Missoula
floods went from Spokane through Cheney to the Palouse River, but that river's ancestral valley could not accomodate the Missoula floods,
which therefore jumped the divide and rushed south to the Snake River. This cut three deep coulees across the divide: Palouse, Davin, and
Devil's. These three coulees started as 3 waterfalls on the north rim of the canyon of the Snake River. With each Missoula flood, the
waterfalls migrated by erosion of the falls ledge, upstream until the current day coulees were formed. This is how the Palouse River became
a tributary of the Snake River and how the falls can exist in the middle of a desert.
Park Trails
A dirt road/trail north from the parking lot follows the gorge, descends abruptly down a wall to the railroad, track, then heads to the
river's edge, which it follows to the top of the falls. A second beaten-out trail heads south from the parking lot, where again a short,
steep descent to the railroad tracks is required. Several hundred yards south on the tracks, a steep path leads to a shelf between the
lava layers. This shelf can be followed south for about .5 mile to a wide bench, or the trek can be abandoned if one is nervous about
traversing its narrower spots. None of the impromptu trails in the park are maintained, and they are not casual undertakings.
Park Facilities
Above the parking lot, tent camping is permitted on a small tree-shaded lawn with picnic tables and fire braziers. A companion picnic area
with tables and a shelter lies on the opposite side of the road. Uphill from the picnic area, an overlook perches at the canyon rim, with
views to the falls. The park has overnight camping with standard hours, and is day-use only from the end of September to the end of March.
The park is 83 acres with 8,750 feet of freshwater shore-line on the Palouse River. There are 10 primitive campsites, 10 picnic sites,
picnic shelter, hiking trails, vault toilets, observation shelter, and a historical display.
Canyons, cliffs and coulees carved by massive Ice Age floods can be seen at Sun Lakes-Dry Falls, Steamboat Rock and Palouse Falls.
The park was dedicated June 3, 1951. For many years the falls were called "Aputapat." Later, the name was changed to commemorate the Palouse Indian culture.
According to a story of the Palouse tribe, the Palouse River once flowed smoothly into the Snake. But four giant brothers, in pursuit of a mythic creature called "Big Beaver," speared the great creature five times. Each time Big Beaver was wounded, he gouged the canyon walls, causing the river to bend and change. The fifth time he was speared, he fought the brothers valiantly and tore out a huge canyon. The river tumbled over a cliff at this point to become Palouse Falls. The jagged canyon walls show the deep marks of Big Beaver's claws.
Although Lewis and Clark didnÕt quite make it here, they missed one of the state's most beautiful waterfalls, Palouse Falls drops from a height of 200 feet through an eroded basalt chasm. Palouse Falls is the last remaining falls created by glacial floods along the Palouse River before it entered the Snake River. It is most spectacular in the spring and early summer, and particularly beautiful when the sun strikes spray at the base of the falls and creates a rainbow. If youÕre lucky youÕll witness a nesting pair of Falcons darting amongst the cliffs.
Location - Palouse Falls State Park, in southeast Washington, is located six miles north of Lyons Ferry and 17 miles southeast of Washtucna. Two miles of gravel road lead to this park from State Highway 261.