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Eastern Adams County's Only Independent Voice Since 1887
State moves to close camping, require hiking permits
OLYMPIA – Washington State Parks officials have rescheduled a public meeting on a proposal that would end camping and require a hiking permit at Palouse Falls.
The rescheduled meeting is set for 6 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 19 online at https://bit.ly/BlueMtnMeeting.
The state is also planning to host in-person meetings at 6 p.m. Nov. 8 and 9; the locations have yet to be determined.
In addition to rules to prevent "overcrowding" at Palouse Falls, the meeting will include discussions of new rules for Lyons Ferry and Lewis and Clark Trail state parks.
According to State Parks' Lauran Moxham, the proposal for Palouse Falls eliminates camping.
Prohibiting camping is necessary "to provide park visitors with a day-use experience that encapsulates the awe-inspiring power and beauty of the falls ...," according to the plan.
The plan also calls for reining in visitors who hike to Upper Palouse Falls and to the basin of the falls, noting there will be "no off-trail use."
"Visitors will be asked to get a permit in advance of their arrival," according to the plan, which also notes there would be "limited public access by trails, where appropriate."
Moxham said such a permit system would help people "be informed" before heading to Palouse Falls.
At this time, the proposal does not include a limit on how many visitors or hikers would be allowed.
According to Moxham, the new restrictions are necessary because "it's a remote park."
She also said new rules are necessary due to safety issues, graffiti and primitive camping alongside Upper Palouse Falls.
Many kayakers also use that stretch of river, but Moxham said kayaking wasn't a consideration in development of the proposal.
Along with restricting public access and use, the plan calls for designating the main part of the park as a "heritage" area at the Yakama Nation, the Confederate Tribes of the Colville Reservation and the Nez Perce and Umatilla (Ore.) tribes.
When asked why the Yakama, Colville and Umatillas were involved in planning for parks not in the areas of their reservations, Moxham said state officials followed a model other government agencies were using that included those tribes.
Parks officials also have their eye on surrounding private land with a goal of expanding the park boundary in the future.
This isn't the first attempt to restrict hiking at Palouse Falls.
Several years ago, the park installed fences around the visitor area, blocked trails and attempted to keep hikers and others from reaching the upper falls or the bottom of the basin.
That effort was met with a public outcry and the fences were removed.
In their place, warning signs were posted along the rim of the main falls, as well as along established trails to the upper falls area.
At Lyons Ferry, downstream from Palouse Falls, officials want to also declare the park a heritage area.
Lyons Ferry would remain virtually the same, except for development of a full-service campground.
Across the Snake River along the Lewis and Clark Trail, officials want to expand the state park area for camping and day-use activities, and allow non-motorized access to the river.
Roger Harnack is co-owner and publisher of Free Press Publishing. An award-winning journalist, photographer, editor and publisher who grew up in Eastern Washington, he's one of only two Washington state journalists ever to receive the international Golden Quill for editorial/commentary writing. Roger is committed to preserving local media, and along with it, a local voice for Eastern Washington.
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