Whitman County Gazette - Serving Whitman County since 1877

Palouse Falls has long been one of my favorite places to hike.

Over the years, I’ve hiked the mile or so trek to the top of the main falls on numerous occasions. I’ve hiked it by myself, with friends and even my daughter when she was very young. I’ve meandered along the Palouse River to the upper falls and descended the basalt rim to the pool at the base of the falls about 189 feet below.

For those of us who grew up in Eastern Washington, hiking Palouse Falls trails has long been a rite of passage.

But not anymore, not if the state Parks and Recreation Commission’s recent decision t...