Palouse Falls — Monday, Jul. 25, 2022

I see that WTA's website says the trail down to the upper falls is 'permanently closed' and I'd say there isn't much permanent about it. There's an open gate to the trail (which could easily be closed and locked if it was 'permanent'), and signage saying to be careful, stay back from the cliffs, keep kids close and keep dogs on a leash. There are also signs noting that this is rattlesnake country. However, there are ZERO signs that use any words like 'closed', 'do not enter' etc., and in company with an open gate, I consider that fair game. We walked the widest and clearest trails to keep our eyes open for rattlesnakes (zero sighted minus one shed skin, but that really means nothing about their population numbers), and stayed well back from cliff edges. There is a diagonal trail down from the train tracks that drops you into the basin around the upper falls, which are much smaller. I was heading here off a recommendation from the book Swimming Holes of Washington, published in 2018 by the Mountaineers press. About that part... while I did get in and enjoyed the water close to the upper falls, I wouldn't rave about this as a swimming hole. The current is slow enough, the water was very refreshing if very foamy around the edges, and the algae was not terrible. It is, however, a lot of trouble between the general uncertain status of the trail access, the risk of rattlesnakes (sorry, not a fan), and the poison oak, which is quite healthy in the basin. The falls were gorgeous! The road was washboarded but not very pot-holed, there's no water at the falls, as well as no cell service. There are picnic tables (some in the shade), pit toilets with hand sanitizer and a ranger box, which was closed while we were there. Discovery pass required.