Forum Index > Trip Reports > Lyons Ferry to Palouse Falls Hike March 17, 2021
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RichP
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RichP
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PostWed Mar 17, 2021 8:50 pm 
This is an 8ish mile hike each way from the confluence of the Palouse and Snake Rivers at Lyons Ferry upstream to Palouse Falls. The Ice Age Flood Institute offers this as a guided outing once a year but hasn't in recent times likely due to the pandemic. I decided to give it a try myself. I parked at the Lyons Ferry Game Management Unit (Lyons Ferry SP proper still closed for winter) and started walking up the road until an old two track appeared below me. This will eventually connect to a trail that leads to Marmes Pond.
Confluence of The Palouse and Snake Rivers.
Confluence of The Palouse and Snake Rivers.
A pretty good use trail goes from Lyons Ferry to Marmes Pond.
A pretty good use trail goes from Lyons Ferry to Marmes Pond.
Basalt on Peak 362.
Basalt on Peak 362.
Layers.
Layers.
Looking back to the mouth of The Palouse River.
Looking back to the mouth of The Palouse River.
The submerged Marmes Rock Shelter and its failed attempt to wall off the rising water after dams were built downstream on The Snake.
The submerged Marmes Rock Shelter and its failed attempt to wall off the rising water after dams were built downstream on The Snake.
From there I checked out a rock shelter above the pond and started cross country trying to stay near the rim of the canyon.
A rock shelter above Marmes.
A rock shelter above Marmes.
Looking out.
Looking out.
Palouse Buttes.
Palouse Buttes.
Staying high. I occasionally had to scramble to higher ground when getting cliffed out.
Staying high. I occasionally had to scramble to higher ground when getting cliffed out.
About 3.5 miles into the hike side canyons began to appear and forced me away from the river. I crossed over the railroad and joined a road which took me to the falls. Along the way I saw another rock shelter and investigated.
This rock shelter is enormous and is about 15' high inside and goes back 40.'
This rock shelter is enormous and is about 15' high inside and goes back 40.'
Circular stone structures inside.
Circular stone structures inside.
An island ahead.
An island ahead.
Side canyons began to appear and forced me away from the river.
Side canyons began to appear and forced me away from the river.
The final 1.6 miles is on an old road.
The final 1.6 miles is on an old road.
The road goes all the way to the bridge over the railroad tracks at the park entrance where I took a couple of photos and started to retrace my tracks.
Nearing Palouse Falls.
Nearing Palouse Falls.
Bridge over the railroad and park entrance.
Bridge over the railroad and park entrance.
After about 8 miles I reach my destination.
After about 8 miles I reach my destination.
Hiking back to Lyons Ferry.
Hiking back to Lyons Ferry.
Lots of onlookers.
Lots of onlookers.
Random.
Random.
I took a shortcut down this canyon back to Marmes Rock Shelter.
I took a shortcut down this canyon back to Marmes Rock Shelter.
Nearing Lyons Ferry.
Nearing Lyons Ferry.
I walked over Peak 362.
I walked over Peak 362.
I stopped by the Old Bones Cemetery before getting back to my car.
Old Bones Cemetery.
Old Bones Cemetery.
Old Bones Cemetery.
Old Bones Cemetery.
Old Bones Cemetery.
Old Bones Cemetery.
An interesting hike which I'd repeat with The Ice Age Flood Institute to learn about the geology of the area. https://iafi.org https://www.wta.org/go-hiking/trip-reports/trip_report.2014-04-24.4029668621 Edit to add: I've been informed that I crossed some private property during this hike. Though there is no indication of leaving public land and entering private parcels, it is our responsibility to know this information. Please keep this in mind if you attempt this hike. I made the false assumption that since others have done this hike that it was ok to proceed. I'll leave the trip report up as a source for this info. If you are interested in the hike I suggest contacting The Ice Age Flood Institute.

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fourteen410
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PostWed Mar 17, 2021 11:07 pm 
I have this same trip planned for the spring. Your pics make me excited to go 🙂

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neek
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PostThu Mar 18, 2021 6:23 am 
This looks great! Ticks out yet?

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RichP
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RichP
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PostThu Mar 18, 2021 7:38 am 
neek wrote:
Ticks out yet?
Haven't found any yet.
fourteen410 wrote:
I have this same trip planned for the spring. Your pics make me excited to go 🙂
Should be some flowers out to make it even more scenic.

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Pyrites
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PostThu Mar 18, 2021 10:56 am 
Apparently this route exists clear to outskirts of Cheney. Did it look as if it could be ridden on a mountain bike?

Keep Calm and Carry On? Heck No. Stay Excited and Get Outside!
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RichP
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PostThu Mar 18, 2021 11:01 am 
Pyrites wrote:
Did it look as if it could be ridden on a mountain bike?
You could take the service road toward Marmes Pond and break off toward the railroad tracks to get on the dirt road to Palouse Falls. You wouldn't get to see the neat scenery along the river but it's totally bikeable with the exception of having to push it through a couple areas where rocks have fallen. I thought about the possibility during my hike. Continuing to Cheney would be a challenge if you are referring to the Columbia Plateau Trail. Much of it is fist-sized rocks on the old rail bed which ain't too bike friendly. I tried hiking on it in Washtucna Coulee and it is difficult. If they can ever get some smaller gravel on top of this it will be a spectacular ride/hike/horsie route. It's already been established as a state park but save for a few sections on the northern end, it's not really usable.

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Pyrites
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PostThu Mar 18, 2021 8:16 pm 
Thanks.

Keep Calm and Carry On? Heck No. Stay Excited and Get Outside!
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Slugman
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PostFri Mar 19, 2021 1:10 pm 
Looks like a good canoe trip.

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kite
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PostFri Mar 19, 2021 3:03 pm 
Slugman wrote:
Looks like a good canoe trip.
might want to skip the fall's I think they are still looking for the kayaker that went over a few years ago.

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Slugman
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PostFri Mar 19, 2021 6:28 pm 
He started at the Snake and hiked upriver to the falls.

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puzzlr
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PostSat Mar 20, 2021 12:41 am 
Fantastic report. This really makes me want to go do some section of this hike. The water impounded burial grounds is a sad story, but at least something was done.

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Downhill
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PostTue Mar 23, 2021 9:17 pm 
Excellent TR - thank you for the post and photos! For those who are so inclined, there is excellent fishing in the Snake, Palouse, and the Marmes pond. Just upriver from the Palouse-Snake confluence is the confluence of the Snake and the Tocannon rivers. The Tocannon has excellent fishing all the up to and beyond the tiny town of Starbuck, WA (yup, it exists, without a coffee shop).

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Gil
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PostThu Mar 25, 2021 11:32 pm 
Great TR. I'd like to do that some day. Maybe hike up to the Palouse campground, spend the night and hike back.

Friends help the miles go easier. Klahini
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bobbi
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PostSat Mar 27, 2021 3:56 pm 
wow~ what a great hike! so many interesting features! I love the shelters. I'm wondering if there is some written history of these places. thank you for sharing!

bobbi ૐ "Today is your day! Your mountain is waiting. So…get on your way!" - Oh, the Places You’ll Go! By Dr. Seuss
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RichP
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PostSun Mar 28, 2021 11:28 am 
bobbi wrote:
I love the shelters. I'm wondering if there is some written history of these places.
I haven't found anything other than info on the Marmes Rockshelter since it got some attention from archaeologists prior to the completion of The Lower Monumental Dam. https://www.historylink.org/File/7970

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