The first time I happened upon Dry Falls in Eastern Washington I was on assignment to write about Lake Roosevelt for “Trailer Boat” magazine. I was blown away by the dawning awareness that this was the home of the Montana Lake of eons ago.
I suggest you bundle up the family, a friend or partner and take an overnight trip to this part of the state. There is much to learn, see and do this fall.
It seems that Dry Falls is one of the great geological wonders of North America. Carved by Ice Age floods that long ago disappeared, the former waterfall is now a stark cliff, 400 feet high and 3.5 miles wide. In its heyday, the waterfall was four times the size of Niagara Falls. Today, it overlooks a desert oasis filled with lakes and abundant wildlife.
Sun Lakes-Dry Falls State Park is a 4,027-acre camping park with 73,640 feet of freshwater shoreline at the foot of Dry Falls. The park’s dramatic landscape was formed by Ice Age floods that swept through the area 15,000 years ago. The park and the interesting exhibits at Dry Falls Visitor Center offer many opportunities for people to learn about this unusual landscape. Special programs, hikes, talks, and classroom visits are available by appointment through the visitor center by calling 509-632-5214. Other park features, available seasonally, include boat rentals, a nine-hole golf course, and a miniature golf course.
Sun Lakes-Dry Falls State Park
34875 Park Lake Road N.E.
Coulee City, WA 99115
Ph: 509-632-5583
