Palouse Valley & Wallowa Mtns. in May-June: A photog friend and I are making the trek out to SE Washington & NE Oregon from May 28-June 4. With limited time to search out specific...

dmeyer Loc: Marion, NC

A photog friend and I are making the trek out to SE Washington & NE Oregon from May 28-June 4. With limited time to search out specific routes, we could sure use any suggestions Hoggers can offer for getting to the best rural roads for old barns and farmsteads as well as lakes/rivers with wildflowers for near/far compositions.

We'll be coming in from SeaTac thru Ellensburg, WA, on Hwy. 26 to Colfax and stay 2-3 night there. Know about Steptoe Butte, and Palouse Falls, but what roads would offer the most subject matter and the most accessibility on limited time?

Then we'll drop down across Rattlesnake Pass into Joseph, OR. Wallowa Lake, Zumwalt Prairie and Hells Canyon look promising--just not sure how long it takes to cover or whether some sections should be skipped. What would be the best route back to WA--Rattlesnake, Elgin to Weston, or La Grande back thru Walla Walla? We fly out from Spokane so I plan to end up at the Turnbull Wildlife Refuge and stay at Cheney.

This is a once-only trip so ideas and examples will be hugely appreciated!!

olcoach Loc: Oregon

You're going to do a lot of driving as those places are far apart. I am going to try to get ahold of a friend of mine that lived in Enterprise and his girls played basketball for Gonzaga. If there is a "best" way he'll know it. I will get back to you.

dmeyer Loc: Marion, NC

olcoach wrote:

You're going to do a lot of driving as those places are far apart. I am going to try to get ahold of a friend of mine that lived in Enterprise and his girls played basketball for Gonzaga. If there is a "best" way he'll know it. I will get back to you.

Thanks, olcoach, I look forward to any insight you can share.

Richard2673 Loc: Eastern Oregon

Its been more than a few years since I was at Palouse Falls, but at that time if you took the trail down in to the gully formed by the rail road tracks and go upriver about a mile - maybe a little less there is a set of several smaller falls. Could offer some photographic opportunities.

dmeyer Loc: Marion, NC

Richard2673 wrote:

Its been more than a few years since I was at Palouse Falls, but at that time if you took the trail down in to the gully formed by the rail road tracks and go upriver about a mile - maybe a little less there is a set of several smaller falls. Could offer some photographic opportunities.

I had not come across any mention of additional falls when researching the Palouse Falls websites. Thanks Richard2673, glad you told me about this and how to get there!

Richard2673 Loc: Eastern Oregon

PS: that time of year, be careful of rattle snakes - not a lot around there - but for me one is too many. Actually any where in the Eastern Washington/Oregon areas there is always a possibility of a rattler.
There was a trail from the park down to the pool below the falls - only about a foot or so wide - but we (my dad and mom and I) walked down it. Unique view of the falls from there.
Used to be some old farm houses and barns in the areas you are looking to see - but most are gone now. Still some out there if you know where to go or have a lot of time to explore.
Joseph area has a lot of scenic shots - tall snow capped mts. Used to be old barns etc over in that area - but its been at least 30 years since I have been over there.
Good luck on your trip...

SPUD MAN Loc: IDAHO

MAKE A CONTACT WITH THE PULLMAN, WASHINGTON , PLUS THE LAGRANDE , AND OR/ BAKER CITY CHAMBER OF COMMERCEIN OREGON..THE DISTANCE BETWEEN ALL AREAS YOU TALK ABOUT TAKE TIME TO TRAVEL THRU...MOST ROADS WILL BE TWO LANE AND NOT FREEWAYS....
PULLMAN, WASHINGTON AND MOSCOW, IDAHO ARE ONLY 9 MILES APART.
THEY ARE HOME TO THE UNIVERSITY OF IDAHO AND WASHINTON STATE UNIVERSITY..COLFAX IS RIGHT IN THE MIDDLE OF THE PALOUSE...JUST A FEW MILES FROM PULLLMAN. PULLMAN . THAT ENTIRE AREA IS WONDERFUL PHOTO COUNTRY.. YOU WILL LOVE THE WILLOWA PART OF THE TRIP...YOU WILL ALSO BE VERY CLOSE TO HELLS CANYON, THE SNAKE RIVER.

ENJOY...SPUD MAN FROM IDAHO

boydimages Loc: California

Be sure to get off the main roads. Many unpaved roads through the area. We stayed in Mosco Id at the La Quinta Inn.

lbrandt79 Loc: League City, Tx.

dmeyer2m wrote:

A photog friend and I are making the trek out to S... (show quote)

Am sorry, wish I could remember where this was but took it on a trip to the Palouse.

olcoach Loc: Oregon

I'm BAACCKK. My friend says the best way to Spokane is to take Hwy 3 from Enterprise to Lewiston, at Lewiston take 1 D to Pullman and on to Spokane. This is from a guy who had to drive it a ton of times to see his kids play. You have fun and get some great shots. I almost forgot the above is about a 4 hour drive.

unclebe1 Loc: NYC & Wellington, FL

Tim Grey, a digital photography trainer, has two photography sessions in Poluse in June. Since your schedule prevents you from attending his sessions, perhaps he would give you some advice on good locations. It's worth an email. His website is http://timgrey.com/palouse/

Good luck!

dmeyer Loc: Marion, NC

SPUD MAN wrote:

MAKE A CONTACT WITH THE PULLMAN, WASHINGTON , PLUS... (show quote)

SPUD MAN, do you have any specific roads that you would peg as "must travel"? I've done the preliminary research on the area which is why we're doing the Palouse and Wallowa. Some destinations are iconic--Palouse Falls, Steptoe Butte, Hells Canyon, Zumwalt Prairie. But, since it is a large area to cover, I really need to narrow down the routes that afford the best photo ops. And crossing into Idaho is fine. I could really use some road names or numbers. Any more suggestions sure would be appreciated.

dmeyer Loc: Marion, NC

boydimages wrote:

Be sure to get off the main roads. Many unpaved roads through the area. We stayed in Mosco Id at the La Quinta Inn.

Boydimages, do you recall any specific neighborhoods or roads you concentrated on?

dmeyer Loc: Marion, NC

lbrandt79 wrote:

Am sorry, wish I could remember where this was but took it on a trip to the Palouse.

Wonderful capture, lbrandt79; this is exactly what my travel friend and I are in seach of! I hope you have one of those 2am revelations about where this shot was take. :D

dmeyer Loc: Marion, NC

olcoach wrote:

I'm BAACCKK. My friend says the best way to Spokane is to take Hwy 3 from Enterprise to Lewiston, at Lewiston take 1 D to Pullman and on to Spokane. This is from a guy who had to drive it a ton of times to see his kids play. You have fun and get some great shots. I almost forgot the above is about a 4 hour drive.

Thanks, olcoach, good to get a handle on the 'real time' distance between Enterprise and Spokane. I don't see a hwy. 1D, only 195. Is the road possibly the one through Snake River Canyon?