The Best Scenic Stops Between Pullman, WA and Moscow, ID
There’s no better way to appreciate the Palouse than leisurely exploring by bike, car or RV. Washington state designated the 200-mile Palouse Scenic Byway to showcase some of the region’s best attractions.
“This isn’t the Washington that most people think of, which is part of what I think makes it such a unique drive,” says Rebekah Huber, community engagement and events manager for the Port of Whitman County. “Instead of mountains and forest, you get to experience the Palouse’s rolling hills, small-town communities where people know their neighbors, historic barns and wildlife.”
Here are just a few of Rebekah Huber’s Byway must-sees:
Visit Steptoe Butte and Kamiak Butte for panoramic views and gorgeous sunsets. Steptoe Butte is also a popular spot for paragliders, and visitors to Kamiak can enjoy a hiking loop and playground that’s great for families.
Camp or stay in a cabin at Boyer Park & Marina to go fishing, boating or swimming along the Snake River. You can also drive across the nearby Lower Granite Lock & Dam and stop by the visitor center. “My sister used to work at the fish ladder, and if you call ahead, you can sometimes schedule tours of the dam or get the chance to touch a live salmon,” Huber says.
Stop by Washington’s official state waterfall, Palouse Falls, which is near the byway and makes for spectacular photos. Visitors can see the waterfall and the surrounding river canyons from a viewing and picnic area.
Photograph the Oakesdale Mill, the only remaining flour mill in Whitman County and wander into the nearby McCoy Valley Museum, which chronicles the town of Oakesdale’s agricultural, railroad and community history.
Get ice cream (Huber recommends huckleberry) or award-winning Cougar Gold Cheese at the student-run WSU Creamery in Pullman.
Buy a gift for a loved one at the historic Dahmen Barn in Uniontown, which features an art gallery, studio space and gift shop.
The site is also a great photography location with a fence made of wagon wheels.
Bike or run along the Bill Chipman Palouse Trail, which connects trailheads in Pullman, Washington, and Moscow, Idaho, and was built on an abandoned railroad line. The Palouse to Cascades State Park Trail, which runs through part of the byway, is also popular with cyclists.
Huber says visitors will find the Palouse Scenic Byway is beautiful any time of the year, but the weather is most consistent from late spring to early fall.
“Situational awareness is key when you visit,” she says. “Please do not trespass on private property or farmland, and be mindful of farmers moving heavy equipment and loaded grain trucks.”
And if you’re visiting the region in early September, Huber recommends attending the annual Palouse Empire Threshing Bee, where you can see grain harvested using old farm equipment and draft horses.
Get to Know the Palouse
Want to learn more about living and working in the Palouse region of Idaho and Washington? Check out the latest edition of Livability On the Palouse.