| Palouse Falls State Park is a 105-acre camping park with a unique geology and history. The park offers a dramatic view of one of the state's most beautiful waterfalls. Palouse Falls drops from a height of 200 feet. An ADA-accessible hiking trail overlooks this natural wonder. The park has an observation shelter and historical displays. The park provides one sheltered picnic area with two braziers and 18 unsheltered picnic tables with two acres of picnicking area. Picnic sites are first-come, first-served. Other activities at the park include overnight camping and viewing of 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. |
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