Waterfalls aren't exactly common in the desert of central washington, so anyplace you can find the…read moresound of cascading water is special. Finding Summer Falls may be tricky, but the surrounding country roads that cut through coulees and follow abandoned railroad routes are very picturesque, so I would plan to get a little lost and enjoy it. The park is like an oasis at the end of a rocky, dusty driveway: a well-irrigated grassy park with trees, picnic tables, restrooms and a pavilion, all nestled up against Billy Clap Lake and the waterfall. Note: the only water recreation here is fishing: there is no beach and people have been seriously injured from falling on the slippery rocks of the falls. The falls are, however, very accessible if you have two legs and don't mind the "KEEP OUT" signs. If you are looking for desert hikes, there are plenty nearby (including Sun Lakes/Dry Falls state park), but not at Summer Falls. This park is a pretty sedentary place unless you are throwing frisbee or football in the grassy park. These falls and the depth of Billy Clap Lake they flow into were created when an irrigation canal was built to bring water from Banks Lake (itself a product of water diverted from the Grand Coulee Dam) to what was then dry, rocky, sagebrushy non-farmland further south. There is also a tiny, discrete power plant just up the canal from the falls. So the lake is a coulee that is full of water, and the water coming down the falls is what is leftover from the canal after the power plant takes it's share. It sounds pretty industrial, but it's not: the irrigation and power generating functions of the water are invisible at Summer Falls. Summer Falls is a good place--maybe the only place--to enjoy the relaxing sound of a waterfall amidst the area's desert landscape.

Wow. Extremely hard to find, but well worth the wild goose chase…read more This is a waterfall created by one of the many dams in Washington. There's a nice park and swimming area, a little hut for picnics, and bathrooms. You can swim/hike over to the waterfall and even walk behind it (if you blatantly ignore the signs that prohibit this activity, that is)! It was surprising how many people were here, what with how out-of-the-way it was. Glad we found this little gem! Minus one star for having thistles in the grass. My flip-flopped feet did not appreciate.

I have been in this state park on numerous occasions. Take my airstream and hang out. It's a…read moregreat place to stage for traveling up and down the river. RV sites are large and open for the most part with electric, water and sewer. The winds at night are a riot during the hot parts of the summer. They blow like crazy. There is a day park separate from the RV park that you can walk to to swim and/or just relax. During the summer it is always crowded. Vantage has a gas station with food if you need it. Gorge is very close. Across the river are parks that are supported by Grant County PUD which are very nice and usually not many people. I'm impressed with the money and resources that Grant County PUD has put into the area. Just south of the Wanapum on the same road is a small park on a lake (small) that no one is ever there. Called the cove. If you have a boat you are in heaven with the Colombia River at your call.

Fun little park with toys for kids and a dock for fishing. Wish I had a kayak with me. The water…read morelooked dirty and swampy. No way in hell I am swimming in that. Lots of parking very quaint. Nice day to visit

Indeed very enchanting place. We did backpacking 3 nights 4…read moredays to experience the core zone as much as possible including off-trail scrambles for Little Annapurna and Enchantment Peak. We went Colchuck to Viviane and traced back since not much to see beyond Viviane. Really nice backpacking. My detailed mileage etc is below blog post. https://himebackpacker.blogspot.com/2024/10/the-enchantments-washington.html

I've done this a couple of times so I'll give you the different perspectives…read more The first time I did it as a one-day hike because I did not have a permit. The second time I did it as a three night hike because it was after October 15th and I still didn't have a permit. Since that time, the permit season has been extended to October 30th. Either way, I suggest that hiking in the fall is the prettiest time due to the larch trees colors. Both times we started at the Stuart Lake trailhead (recommended due to reduced overall elevation gain) and ended at the Snow Lake trailhead. Now at the risk of offending someone I will say that hiking through the Enchantments in one day is like watching a porn movie on fast forward. You miss most of the scenery. My suggestion is to either get a permit, or hike outside of season, preferably in the fall, but stay at least two nights. Given that the hike up Aasgard Pass has an elevation gain of 1900 feet in about a mile, I can attest that it can be quite dangerous when raining. On the East side there will be mud & rock slides and in our case we had to duck out of the way of several large, (18 or so inch diameter) Rocks that came bouncing down the boulders with unpredictable direction at a very high rate of speed. Risks early in the season are snow slides and avalanches, so be very aware of the conditions when you are there. All that said, anyone who does not give this a five and tell you that it's absolutely one of the most beautiful hikes you'll ever take on must know something I don't, and I've hiked the Himalayas. Remember that goats are dangerous. Pee on rocks, not soil because the goats will dig it up for the salt. Try not to let a goat see you peeing or it will run towards you. Try fishing in the lakes; the trout are great for dinner up there. You should also know that when coming down toward the Snow Lake trailhead there are a large number of switchbacks and when you see the cars just down the hill, it will likely be another hour before you get there, and if you did it as a day hike, your feet may not be happy when you finally arrive. If you are a hiker, you must find a way to get this one done before you hang up your boots.

So pretty!! I just…read morecame here for the weekend and I love it. The walks here are stunning. The views of chelan. The mountains! The choppy water. Amazing panoramic views all over. Park is currently open but faculties are closed. Still make it a fun little stop on your walk/ run or even a drive. Beautiful views!

Amazing cute little park in the cutest town. Walking distance from our hotel . We walked to rent a…read moreboat from Shoreline at this park one day. Best service! Walked here and swam wit the fam. Lifeguards are super friendly! And they have life jackets at park to borrow - how kind is that. You can walk into the water and swim. Another plus is there are actual bathrooms and they were clean!

I am rating the smokiam resort rv campground on soap lake. This place does not even deserve one…read morestar. It is absolutely disgusting! Not a resort and expensive to stay. The Cafe, pool, laundry facilities are old and everything is broken. Although they did allow us to bring our 2 big dogs into the Cafe. That's a first really animals should not be allowed inside a cafe where food is being served! The place is run by rude idiotic kids! Please avoid this place at all costs!​​

This is a unique lake with magical healing properties... So they say…read more.. hehehe, the lake is definitely full of lord knows what and well we jumped in and mudded up like the rest of the people out there. My face is super tight at the moment and I am burnt crispy from the sun. There were a very large amount of Russian people taking advantage of the healing properties. The water is a bit oily feeling so don't get to weirded out. The water is free of junky debris so that is a plus as I hate touching stuff in lakes. There is are shower spickets on the beach so you can rinse off whatever mess you've been swimming in. We are going to come back just because it was so relaxing and peaceful.

Clean up the garbage. Charge a fee to keep the capacity manager. Clean the fn' toilets! Gawd…read morealmighty?

Great local park. Only problem is parking in the summer. There is a relatively small parking area…read morethat is great most of the year. But once the summer visitors roll in, it fills quickly and people park along the highway, and up into the neighborhoods. Locals are okay with that for the most part, but cut them a break and don't block driveways, block off the road, etc. You know what I mean! Nice access to the lake and a nice area for swimming. Lots of trees, so lots of places to picnic. Restrooms are available. And there's a sand-court volleyball setup. Refreshments are just a block away, so no concerns about not having enough water. Operated and maintained by Chelan County PUD, which does an excellent job keeping the park looking good.

Such a great place to bring your family for a day of fun!! There is a swimming area, a boat dock to…read morelaunch your boat, a fishing dock, and a large park with a playground, frisbee golf course and lots of picnic areas!

This is a big lovely park on the side of I-90 in Moses Lake…read more There are mostly pros, especially in the size (it's huge!) and the variety of things to do here. Even on abuts weekend with a wedding taking place in part of the park, it doesn't feel crowded. There are gazebos galore, 3 buildings with facilities, grills, a playground, a dock, a basketball court, a swimming area and tiny beach, and a disc golf course. You can reach it by the bike path or car. Cons: the freeway is loud in the park proper if you're seeking a quiet place, but I wouldn't call it too obnoxious. I haven't been on a weekday, but on a mid-Sunday in summer, be prepared to pack out your garbage because all cans will be full (and I didn't see places for recycling). If you're an avid disc golfer like S., the course might be a disappointment, say a 2-3 star. There are only nine holes, all par three, and if you are here during a normal summer afternoon, most holes will be obstructed by other park-goers, as it's all incorporated right into the park. But it's a good place to practice, and if you arrive early, especially on weekdays, you can get in a full round. For me, it's great for a summer in-town getaway.

Very nice and clean campground, hiking and trails nearby. A little bit annoying.Everyone cutting…read morethrough your camp Trying to get to the water all day

This is definitely my favorite state park!…read more My partner and I spent one night camping, though it would've been easy to stay for a longer duration. The camping loops are clean, great picnic tables, fairly clean bathroom/shower building, and friendly rangers. We spent a fair amount of time swimming and floating in the water. It's not too chilly and mostly shallow to the first water buoy. Beware, there's a lot of plant life which can entangle you. Sandy beach. We completed the 1-1.5 mile hike up Steamboat Rock. Stunning view accessed by a sometimes steep and loose rock journey. Go early in the morning and really take your time to stay safe.

Great site to visit! Highly recommend. You'll be blown away. The size of the original waterfall…read moremust have been so amazing in its day!

When we first heard about this park, it was hard to picture what would be attractive about a…read morewaterfall without any water. But once you get to see this living geology lesson in person, it's easy to consider this a must-see if you're in the area. The visitor center has great informative panels, 3D representations of what you're looking at, and friendly, helpful staff.

Came in March and aalll the trees were leaf-less along the trail, however it was still a pretty…read morewalk along the water. It balanced out all the eating (and/or drinking) that is done in town!

My friend and I had so much fun walking around Blackbird Island (Waterfront Park)! It's such a…read morebeautiful little park with amazing views and a river running through it. We learned that the main loop trail there is about 1.9 miles round-trip. As you cross the bridge onto the island, trails crisscross through a peaceful, natural area with interpretive signs, and you get to hear birds calling and see fish jumping in the water. Fun fact: Blackbird Island was formed from silt left by the old Lamb-Davis Lumber Mill, making it part of the reclaimed land that now hosts this lovely park. It's a great place to stretch your legs, get fresh air, enjoy nature, and just take in the views. I highly recommend stopping here if you're in Leavenworth!