Palouse Falls, Washington An amazing place, appearing in the midst of dry scablands. It was originally called Aput Aput, meaning falling waters. This is the larger, lower falls, which drops 198 feet into a huge basalt canyon. We visited in the spring, when the water was flowing strongly. The water made me think of a pipe organ, and we enjoyed the music of the water while picnicking at the rim of the gorge. Taken with a long telephoto as the shadows began to move up the falls.
Elowah Falls, Oregon McCord Creek tumbles more than 200 feet over a basalt cliff into this basin. The falls was given its current name by the Mazamas in 1915, but the meaning of the name seems to have been lost. Although not far from the interstate highway, the falls is a quiet, hidden spot, hemmed in by greenery in the springtime. It feels like another little world inviting appreciation.