Walla Walla and the surrounding areas have numerous excellent parks for you to enjoy. We've listed a few of our favorites below. Be sure to give us a call if you need more information regarding parks in our area.
Lewis and Clark Trail State Park
Location | 36149 US-12, Dayton, WA
Distance from us | 20.6 miles
Hours | Daily, 6:30 am until 7 pm
Lewis and Clark Trail State Park is a 36-acre park situated on the Touchet River, a tributary of the Walla Walla River. The park has over 1,300 feet of shoreline for you to explore. The park has plenty of old-growth trees, such as long-leafed ponderosa pine, maple, and cottonwood. The park has a bit of historical significance. Lewis and Clark mentioned the area in their writings. In addition, homesteading was common here during the 1860s, and some original homesteads are still intact.
You can enjoy a variety of activities at Lewis and Clark Trail State Park, including fishing, tubing, swimming. (Trout fishing is especially popular at the park.) It's also a great place for bird watching and wildlife viewing.
Amenities include a kitchen shelter that can be reserved, restroom facilities, showers, and a dump station. Dogs are allowed, but they must be leashed.
Established in 1902, Pioneer Park is the oldest park in Walla Walla. This relatively large city park covers 56 acres. The park grounds feature old-growth forests, a rose garden, a duck pond, and an aviary. Pioneer Park also has 1.4 miles of hiking paths, playgrounds, pickleball courts, soccer and softball fields, and plenty of parking areas.
The park is open all year, and, in the winter, it's a great place to enjoy sledding. Best of all, Pioneer Park is easy to get to. It's conveniently located near the heart of Walla Walla.
Amenities include ADA restrooms, benches and picnic tables, and a Walla Walla Free Little Library. Leashed dogs are welcome.
Bennington Lake Recreation Area, as the name implies, surrounds Bennington Lake. Located a short distance from downtown Walla Walla near Walla Walla Community College, this is the one natural area that doesn't require you to leave town. Here, you'll find beautiful views of the northern Blue Mountains and plenty of wide open space. The lake is around 50 acres and is used to hold water diverted from Mill Creek. The area has three major hiking trails, ranging from 1.7 miles in length to 4.8 miles.
At the recreation area, you can enjoy a variety of activities, including hiking and biking, kayaking and paddle boarding, and picnicking. In the winter, this is a fantastic location for snowshoeing. In addition, Bennington Lake is stocked each spring with rainbow trout, making it an excellent place to do a little fly fishing. Besides trout, you'll also find large mouth bass, perch, and crappie in the lake.
Within the Bennington Lake Recreational Area, you'll find Rooks Park an 18-acre, day-use only area. It's a nice, relaxing section of the recreation area that is perfect for a family picnic, throwing a frisbee, or playing a few games of horseshoes.
Palouse Falls State Park is a bit of a drive from Walla Walla, but it's definitely worth the trip. This 105-acre park is known for its stunning waterfalls and unique gorge formed by columnar basalt. The main feature of the park, Palouse Falls, is officially designated as Washington's state waterfall. The falls plunge around 200 feet after a short 20-foot drop. The park is at the base of the falls.
At the park, you're able to view Palouse Falls from three locations: a lower viewpoint, a view at the end of an interpretive path, and a view from the Fryxell Overlook. Make sure not to miss Fryxell Overlook. It's a great place to photograph the falls and Palouse River Canyon.
Note the Palouse Falls State Park is very popular and typically crowded on weekends and holidays. Amenities include restrooms and a picnic area. Dogs are allowed at the park, but they must be leashed.
