Dry Falls
Cliff Cliff formation from Missoula Floods, former massive waterfall
On a basalt scarp in central Washington, Dry Falls offers a roadside viewpoint into the Ice Age Scablands-once the site of a far larger waterfall carved by Missoula Floods. Visitors hike rim trails, photograph cliff faces, and study interpretive exhibits.
Dry Falls is a broad, now-dry cataract in central Washington State formed by catastrophic Ice Age flood events. The cliff face stands roughly 400 feet high and the former waterfall channel spans about 3.5 miles across the Grand Coulee.
The site provides dramatic geology rather than flowing water; visitors use roadside overlooks and a state park visitor centre to view the cliff and read about the Missoula Floods that carved the landscape roughly 15,000 to 13,000 years ago. Trails and picnic areas around the overlook allow close-up views of the basalt escarpment.
Dry Falls is located within Sun Lakes-Dry Falls State Park near Coulee City in Grant County, in the Columbia Plateau region of central Washington.
- Scale of the falls: The cliff is about 400 feet high and the former waterfall channel is approximately 3.5 miles wide, carved by the Missoula Floods at the end of the last Ice Age.
- Viewing and interpretation: Best viewing is from the state park overlooks and visitor centre, which include interpretive panels about the cataclysmic floods that formed the Grand Coulee.
What to See #
- Dry Falls Overlook: A visitor overlook and interpretive area within Sun Lakes-Dry Falls State Park that provides panoramic views across the 3.5-mile-wide dry cataract and explanatory displays about the Ice Age floods.
- Cliff edge (former waterfall): The exposed cliff face of the Grand Coulee that marks the former lip of the waterfall, approximately 400 feet high and stretching across the coulee for several miles.
How to Get to Dry Falls #
Dry Falls is inside Sun Lakes-Dry Falls State Park, about 15-20 minutes north of Coulee City, Washington. From US-2/US-97 take local roads to the park entrance; the site is car-accessible and signed from Coulee City. The park is remote - expect limited services and follow park signage to overlooks and the interpretive center.
Tips for Visiting Dry Falls #
- Go early morning or late afternoon for the best light on the basalt cliff faces and to avoid midday tour buses.
- Visit the Sun Lakes-Dry Falls State Park interpretive center for the audiovisual reconstruction of the Ice Age floods.
- Walk the short overlooks trail and the longer rim trail (both offer different perspectives of the cliff and fossil waterfalls).
- Carry warm layers - wind through the coulees can be unexpectedly cold even in summer.
Best Time to Visit Dry Falls #
Dry Falls is accessible year-round; spring and autumn offer the most comfortable conditions and best photographic light.
Weather & Climate near Dry Falls #
Dry Falls's climate is classified as Cold Desert - Cold Desert climate with warm summers (peaking in July) and freezing winters (coldest in January). Temperatures range from -6°C to 31°C. Very dry conditions with minimal rainfall.
January
January is the coldest month with highs of 1°C and lows of -6°C. Light rainfall.
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February
February is cold with highs of 5°C and lows of -3°C. Light rainfall.
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March
March is cold with highs of 11°C and lows of 0°C. Light rainfall.
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April
April is cool with highs of 17°C and lows of 3°C. Light rainfall.
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May
May is cool with highs of 22°C and lows of 8°C. Light rainfall.
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June
June is mild with highs of 26°C and lows of 12°C. Light rainfall.
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July
July is the warmest month with highs of 31°C and lows of 15°C. The driest month with just 7 mm.
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August
August is mild with highs of 31°C and lows of 14°C. Almost no rain.
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September
September is cool with highs of 25°C and lows of 9°C. Light rainfall.
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October
October is cool with highs of 17°C and lows of 3°C. Light rainfall.
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November
November is cold with highs of 7°C and lows of -1°C. Moderate rainfall (31 mm).
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December
December is freezing with highs of 1°C and lows of -5°C. The wettest month with 37 mm of rain.
