The Palouse Hills

The Palouse hills of eastern Washington, often just called the Palouse, is an area of undulating hills. It is north of the Snake River, south of Spokane, west of the Idaho border, and east of the scablands.

Because of the fertile loess soil, the Palouse is one of the most agriculturally rich regions in the United States. It seemed to us that every square inch of arable land was devoted to wheat, canola, and assorted legumes, such as lentils and garbanzo beans.

Photographs from the Palouse hills

I took these photos in mid-May 2017. Some of the wheat was just coming up, along with the canola. And, other fields were brown and furrowed, providing a nice visual contrast.

This view of the rolling Palouse hills was taken from the access road to Steptoe Butte in Steptoe Butte State Park near Colfax, Washington. From the Palouse Region portfolio.

This view of the rolling Palouse hills was taken from the access road to Steptoe Butte in Steptoe Butte State Park near Colfax, Washington.

This view of the Palouse hills was taken from Steptoe Butte in Steptoe Butte State Park near Colfax, Washington.

A corrugated metal barn sits in a field of Canola in the Palouse region of eastern Washington, south of Spokane.

Lilac bushes almost hide a run-down out-building in a field in the Palouse region of eastern Washington, near Colfax.

Tractor tracks add texture to newly cultivated fields in the Palouse region of western Washington, near Colfax. In the distance wind turbines catch the prevaling winds.

Green fields of new wheat contrast with the orange, newly harvested fields in the Palouse region of eastern Washington, near Colfax. In the hazy distance you can almost make out wind turbines.

Green fields of new wheat contrast with the orange, newly harvested fields in the Palouse region of eastern Washington, near Colfax.

A row of mostly older trucks and other farm machinery are all lined up in front of a farm in eastern Washington near Colfax.

Steptoe Butte, in Steptoe Butte State Park, is a remnant of an earlier landscape that peeks through the rolling loess hills of the Palouse region of eastern Washington near Colfax.

This is a detail shot of the Rosalia Railroad Bridge located just outside Rosalia, in the Palouse region of eastern Washington.

The arched railroad bridge outside Rosalia, Washington, is unusual because it is made of concrete.

Palouse Falls, in Palouse Falls State Park, plunges 186 feet into a large plunge pool. It is one of several falls and cascades on the Palouse River. It is located between Spokane and Walla Walla, Washington.

This is the columnar Bassalt canyon of the Palouse River after it flows over Palouse Falls in Palouse Falls State Park near Spokane, Washington.

This panorama shows not only Palouse Falls, but also the columnar balsalt canyon of the Palouses River as it head south to join the Snake River, near Perry, Washington.

Why the Palouse?

What attracted us to the Palouse hills? Well, the rolling, steep hills are a patchwork of fields growing different crops at different times. So, the different colors, the many textures, and the interplay of light and shadow make the Palouse a destination that should be on every photographers bucket-list.

Learn more about the Palouse

Idaho Public Television has a wonderful overview of the Palouse hills, including links to some videos. Here is a link to just the SD video.

To purchase our photos

To license a photo or purchase a print, contact us using the form to the All of our scenic and fine art photographs are available as fine art prints. Use the contact form to the right to get more information. Or, go to our Fine Art Print page to learn about various pricing options.