WA Hwy 261 Palouse Falls

Motorcycle Roads & Rides > Routes > United States > Washington

Average Rating - This road has been rated by 2 visitors

State: Washington
Date Submitted: June 1, 2009
Submitted by: DeDe
Motorcycle Road Length: 30 Miles

Written Directions

From Washtucna, Wa. head south on hwy 260 for approx. 6 miles and turn left onto Hwy 261. Follow 261 for about 10-12 miles, there is a sign posted for Palouse Falls, turn Left on the dirt road for 2.5 miles to the falls. After visiting the falls you'll turn Left, off the dirt road, onto Hwy 261 to go to Delaney and Hwy 12 approximately 18 miles.

Scenery

Hwy 261 winds though the grass lands of the Washington Palouse. In the spring temperatures are mild and the grass is emerald green. At certain vantage points the Palouse looks to be relatively flat farm land; however, there are beautiful deep canyons and ravines tucked away that have been carved over time by the powers of nature. At Palouse Falls state park you'll have spectacular views of the falls and the river gorge. Continuing to Delaney where Hwy 261 meets US Hwy 12 you will have full views of the lower Palouse River. If you're into geology you will love this ride.

Note: Hwy 12, either into Clarkston/Lewiston or down to Walla Walla offer some great riding and connections to other great roads.

Road Quality

This short hwy gives you a little bit of everything from tight twisties, to hills, flat straight areas and some nice sweeper turns. The pavement is in fairly good condition with some patch work here and there (09). To get out to the falls you will need to take the 2.5 miles of well kept dirt/gravel road. Most of the dirt road is relatively flat and it is only the last mile that there is much of a hill. In the parking area the gravel is deeper and it can be a bit of a challenge for a novice rider.

Roadside Amenities

Camping is available at Palouse State Park (right at the falls). There are several trails to hike around the falls and down into the canyons. (Beware of poison ivy by waters edge and rattle snakes). Other camping is available in the area and limited services are available in Starbuck. Gas can be scarce depending on the time of year and many stations are a card swipe only on Sundays. There are a couple of cafes in the small towns - though we have never stopped at any of them, we usually picnic at the falls.

Additional Info

- View the weather forecast for this area from Yahoo weather .

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Reviewed by Guest on September 4, 2010 (0 out of 0 members found this review useful.)
Creator: ZX12R
motorcycle_year: 2005
motorcycle_make: Kawasaki
motorcycle_type: Sport-Touring
Comment: Eastern WA in general has beatiful roads for any type of motorcylce. Wide open terrain, very open roads, remember to fill up the gas tank and have fill up points noted as the fuel amenities are spread out quite a bit.
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Reviewed by Guest on June 20, 2010 (0 out of 0 members found this review useful.)
Creator: Mitch Von
motorcycle_year: 2001
motorcycle_make: Kawasaki
motorcycle_type: Sport-Touring
Comment: Welcome to the wide open spaces. Few vehicles and lots of rolling hills and winding curves. Road surface is pretty good but it can be windy out here. Because of hills you can't always see where the road goes. The scenery is spectacular. Not much in the way of services. I took this route from Seattle out to Lewiston ID on the way to Lolo Pass. Great ride.
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