Lower Palouse Canyon

Lower Palouse Canyon

We entered the canyon just south of Palouse Falls State Park and were treated to this less common view of the falls

We went upstream to cross the river and got this view

After crossing the river, you can see the park overlook atop the cliff and some cave like openings between the basalt layers

The west wall

As we picked our way along the bottom of the cliff, we found this fresh fallen rock.

He sure looks happy for such a harsh environment

The view down river

The view up river

Well shaded mud cone swallow nests on the cliff above us

This small cave is on the east side of the canyon.

It's not a bird nest. This knot of debris from high water is almost eye level. Most of that height is probably due to summer growth of the brush.

This rock has a hole through it.

a view up river

The grassy slope is an ancient flood bar deposited by an eddy caused by the basalt cliff. Flow was from left to right.

Starting the climb out.

We found sage brush on this bench. At an estimated 12 feet, this one deserves honorable mention in the Boone & Crocket record book.

A down river view from the bench

We're still climbing as we pass a short bit of railroad that shows between tunnels. Surveyed in 1907 as the North Coast Rwy, it is now a U.P. line to Canada

These water eroded rocks bear mute testimony to the magnitude of the ancient floods.

We are now high enough to look across the canyon to the ancient flood bar. The railroad is still visible in lower right.

Atop the plateau at last. This is one of several places said to be the route of the 1858 Mullan Rd. through this region.

Back at the state park vista point, we all got the obligatory snapshot of the falls

A geologist, Bruce carried GPS and prepared this elevation profile of the hike. It makes my ears pop to look at it.

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