Palouse Falls is just beautiful.  The best of it can be seen from the viewing areas below the main parking area and the stone monument/shelter above and to the right of the main parking area. The area directly below the main parking area also has the large trees, picnic tables, and lawns. The graveled service road to the left of the parking area leads to the top of the mesa where one can look down on the Palouse River above the Falls, up the canyon, and over a lovely set of small falls. I highly recommend coming to see this incredible place as a day visit.  The sun on the Falls is best towards the end of the day - in the morning the Falls are in the shadows of the cliffs. 

I completely agree with previous posts about the dangers of trying the oh-so-enticing social trails. My feet wanted to hike them, my eyes looked at the access trails to them, and my brain wisely said "no." The park aid told me there have been 6 different helicopter rescues so far this year. The trail that appeared to be the easiest way down to the river above the Falls requires crossing the well-used train tracks and climbing a chain link fence. 

I camped overnight at the campground which has 11 walk-in tent sites, some closer to parking than others. The campground is VERY small, probably not even an acre. There are no demarcations between sites and the picnic tables marking the sites are 35-40 feet apart in a grid pattern. The sound of the waterfalls is great and the stars are to die for. Unfortunately for me, another group at the campground had come explicitly to party all night with multiple drugs and significant amounts of alcohol. The other campers all packed up and left, and I spent the night in my car at the far end of the overflow parking area. 

I arrived during a rescue operation, and access was blocked to the lower trails. Actually, there are no "official" trails, although they appear to go everywhere- including right up to the cliff edges and down the steep embankment to the river. There are signs everywhere warning you of the dangers, but to no avail.

 I was paying a surprise visit to my daughter (who works there), but she was assisting in the rescue, so I had to wait til it was over. Looked to be a pretty technical affair, as the accident happened just below "Castle Rock", a rock formation just above the falls. From there it was a rocky, difficult route back up the river to the waiting chopper. The rescue team did a great job, stopping often to survey the best route. (The patient was conscious, and at one point waved to the crowds that were lining the rim.)

Read the signs! Between the Park Ranger, the Sheriff, several emergency vehicles, a Rescue Team from Pasco, a helicopter ride, and a hospital visit; it's gonna be a heckuva bill!

Please be careful on your visit. I saw many careless and unprepared people while I was there. The unofficial trails lead right up to the cliff edge; a several hundred feet drop. The soil is loose and sandy, the volcanic rock fractured- a recipe for disaster. Heading down to the river in flipflops and no water is foolhardy. Park personnel have limited authority to keep you from being stupid, so you're on your own...

 

Over Memorial Day Weekend (2017) we decided to make the trek out to Palouse Falls by way of the Columbia River Gorge to avoid the I-90 traffic.  We made a stop at Beacon Rock on Saturday, stayed at a hotel, and did Palouse Falls on Sunday.  We arrived around 11a and the parking was already getting packed.  The volunteers were phenomenal at packing in the cars and we only had to wait about five minutes (unlike when we were leaving and there were cars waiting for significant amounts of time).  

Parking is right at the edge of the falls.  You can walk down a few dozen feet and stand at the railing overlooking the falls and canyon.  It's the best waterfall I have seen in Washington.  Bring a picnic lunch and hang out in the grassy area in the shades of the trees.

If you step out - it's hot.  It was end of May and well into the 90s (F).  There is a 'trail' that goes up and around the side of the waterfall and looks down on it but it's really not very impressive.  You can see everything you need to see from near the parking lot -- unless... you want to go down to the headwaters.  There is a trail that leads down and to the railroad tracks.  Caution with kids and pets -- the trail is very hard, hot, and has loose gravel.  We hike with our medium sized dog fairly often but he came away with tender feet.  The trail is not maintained by the WTA (I think) and appears to be more of a rogue trail.  It leads down into the canyon upstream form the falls where there are rapids/tiny falls that people were wading into.  Dip your feet, get cool, and reapply the sunscreen.  

There is a trail that leads down stream towards the head of Palouse Falls - we did not take it because the dog's feet were already getting tender, we drank all four bottles of water, and our picnic food was waiting for us back at the car.  Next trip out...we may give that extension a try.  It looks like it circles around to the top of the falls.

In talk to others, the best time to come is in the fall when the fall foliage is out and it's slightly cooler.  May have to come back!

There are NO trails that lead closer than the viewing area to the fall, above or below. There is an unofficial beaten path that is super dangerous. When we were there everyone followed everyone down the beaten path: adults, kids, dogs. We thought "oh we've seen photos - theres a way, its fine". It was not fine. We got very far and then realized how unsafe it was and turned around. People were sitting on the edge of the cliffside taking photos and exploring. Everyone was doing it. And the next day a 25 year old man fell in. We felt horrible learning this and knowing that we too had just kept following the crowd the day before. We were lucky. Please do visit the falls but please don't try to find your way closer than the viewing area.

There are NO trails that lead closer than the viewing area to the fall, above or below. There is an unofficial beaten path that is super dangerous. When we were there everyone followed everyone down the beaten path: adults, kids, dogs. We thought "oh we've seen photos - theres a way, its fine". It was not fine. We got very far and then realized how unsafe it was and turned around. People were sitting on the edge of the cliffside taking photos and exploring. Everyone was doing it. And the next day a 25 year old man fell in. We felt horrible learning this and knowing that we too had just kept following the crowd the day before. We were lucky. Please do visit the falls but please don't try to find your way closer than the viewing area.