Hiking group takes inaugural trek to Palouse Falls

If you're thinking you'd like to go hiking but don't know where to go or who to go with, you're in luck. A new hiking group has formed in the valley, and its members would love to have you join.

The group is the result of a collaboration between Jim Uhlman, a Wallace native who's been an outdoorsman all his life, and Lynn Welch of Lewiston Parks and Recreation.

Uhlman and his wife, Lorraine, have lived in the Lewiston-Clarkston Valley more than 30 years and finally decided if there was a group to hike with, they'd get out more in the local mountains. He checked with Welch, and they put a notice in the spring announcements. The rest is history - recent history, for sure, but history.

I was fortunate to be able to go out to Palouse Falls with some of the group earlier this month. They ranged in age from college student to senior citizen and included Jim and Lorraine Uhlman, Gary and Rhonda Somers, Marcu Johnson and her dog, Anslow, Norma Ray with her dog, Izzy, and daughter Rajona Champatiray, Jeanette Huber and Sue Hoovel.

Though the weather wasn't the best, I was delighted both to get to know some of the group and to reacquaint myself with the area. It'd been 10 years or more since my last visit, and I'd forgotten how fantastic it is. Though there's not a lot of hiking, the scenery is spectacular.

One of the neatest things about Palouse Falls is what a surprise it is. As you're driving toward it, the only hint that there's something special ahead is at Lyons Ferry, where the Palouse River meets the Snake. After that, you're driving flat scablands with no hint of the 180-foot gorge that's ahead. In fact, until you hit the parking lot, which borders the main viewing area, there's still no hint of what's to come.

The falls drop 180 feet into a bowl at their base. Next to the top is a fine set of basalt pillars - a place you can walk to fairly easily as long as you're not too hung up on the height thing. In the bowl, the river re-collects itself and continues its journey down to the Snake through a lovely canyon, part of which is visible from the viewing area.

To get to the top of the falls or to the fine path along the river upstream of the falls, head north out of the parking lot along the well-worn dirt path or the wider gravel, road-like path. All go to the same spot, but the dirt path features multiple opportunities to walk to the edge of the above-falls canyon and look down.

The paths end above the railroad tracks. Go slightly to the right and down to the tracks via a steep but doable path cut through the rock. Head right, and at the end of the opening you'll find a path diagonally down through the rocks to the base of the canyon. Continue to follow the path in the canyon, stopping at the river to enjoy the rapids just before the river makes a serious left turn and heads toward the falls.

The trail continues to the right and above the river - you will have seen it from above, when you were near the railroad tracks. You can stop before the pillars or continue to their south side just at the top of the falls. Either way - be sure to enjoy the lovely basalt canyon you walk through and the one below the falls.

If you go

Description and difficulty: Easy, but interesting, short hike northwest of Lewiston.

Trail notes: There are no formal trails at Palouse Falls, but walking the area is easy. There are rattle and other snakes, and poison ivy and oak in the area, so take care. I do not recommend hiking the trail along the cliff from the falls downriver.

Directions: Drive U.S. Highway 12 west to State Highway 261 and turn right. Turn right at the sign for Palouse Falls State Park between mile markers 20 and 21 and drive two miles to the parking lot.

Information: Go to www.parks.wa.gov, where you'll also find a map that suggests there is hiking to the southwest, too.

The hiking group meets at 7 p.m. on the first Wednesday of the month at the Lewiston Community Center to plan hikes. Visitors are welcome. Hikes will be listed in the Tribune Outdoors section. More information is available from Welch at Lewiston Parks and Recreation at LWelch@CityofLewiston.org or (208) 746-2313.

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Aegerter is an avid hiker/backpacker who lives in Uniontown. She may be contacted at city@lmtribune.com.