Dry Falls and Sun Lakes, Washington Weekend Road Trip
Looking for a nature-based weekend road trip? Head to Central Washington and explore Sun Lakes - Dry Falls State Park! This natural wonder features an extraordinary landscape along the Ice Age Floods National Geological Trail, and many day trips to nearby caves and other natural wonders can be made from this base. In this travel guide, we’ll show you the best places to stay overnight and some great places to explore from Dry Falls.
Getting Here
Visiting Dry Falls and Central Washington, in general, is best done by car. From Seattle, the drive takes about 3 hours and 17 minutes if you take it as a straight shot (we recommend making a few key pit stops). If you’re visiting from out of town, you can either fly into the Seattle-Tacoma International Airport and rent a car, or fly into Spokane, the second-largest city in Washington state.
Best Time of Year to Visit Central Washington
The weather in Central Washington differs from that of Seattle. It is much drier and sunnier in the Central region, making it an ideal escape from soggy Seattle during the wet months. Weather is typically sunny and warm from April through September. Temperatures will push past the high 90’s in the summer, with July and August being the hottest months. This particular road trip happened in mid-May. The weather was in the mid-70s with heavy clouds, but frequent peaks of sunshine. Our first night threatened to rain, but after a light drizzle, it turned out a normal, dry night. Like most trips, plan to dress in layers to be fully prepared for any weather situation. Outdoor clothing has gotten very lightweight, compact, comfortable, and stylish. We recommend the Patagonia Capilene Cool shirts as amazing base layers or stand-alone shirts. The fabric absorbs liquid while keeping you dry and at the perfect temperature in hot and cold weather.
The Scenic Route: Recommended Pit Stops from Seattle
Getting here from Seattle is a straight shot on Interstate-90. The drive is very scenic as it takes you through the pretty Snoqualmie mountain pass before you reach the flat, drylands of Central Washington.
First Stop - Snoqualmie Falls
If you’re a fan of the show Twin Peaks, you won’t want to miss Snoqualmie Falls. This gorgeous waterfall was featured in the opening credits of the popular Kyle McLaughlan show and is located just 30 minutes east of Seattle. You can find free parking across the street from the Salish Lodge. Stop inside for a bite to eat, then head outside for a splendid view of the falls. There’s a 0.7 mile interpretive hike that will take you to the lower falls for an alternate view. But if you’re short on time, you can get a good view from the upper platform near the lodge.
Second Stop - Cle Elum Bakery
From Snoqualmie Falls, hop back on 1-90E and drive another hour to Cle Elum. This historic small town has a great rustic design and is a good pit stop for breakfast or lunch. It’s also a popular base for outdoor activities such as hiking, camping, or watersports on the nearby Cle Elum Lake. The excellent Suncadia Resort is also located here if you’re in need of an overnight stay.
For a short pit stop, head to Cle Elum Bakery. Their cake donuts and maple bars are a local’s secret, and there are many other sweet and savory pastries to choose from. The Cle Elum Bakery is also rumored to have one of the oldest sourdough starters in the country, so grab a loaf for the road!
The view from Suncadia Resort. If you like luxury stays, this is one of the best in Central Washington.
Gingko Petrified Forest
From Cle Elum, drive another hour on I-90E to the Gingko Petrified Forest. The official Washington state gem is petrified wood, and this pit stop is a great place to get a good look at some. Visit the Gingko Petrified Forest Interpretive Center if it’s open, but if not, there are some stumps to peruse outside. It’s also a great vantage point of the Columbia River. On the way in or out, stop at the Gingko Gem Shop to buy some gems or just take photos of the curious dinosaur statues perched outside.
Wild Horses Monument
Drive east on the bridge to cross the Columbia River, and take a right into the Wild Horses Monument trailhead. The hike is short, just 0.4 miles, and fairly steep. It leads to a sculpture series of steel horses — 18 to be exact. It’s a great photo opp at sunrise, sunset, or after nightfalls and the stars come out.
The Gorge Amphitheater and Cave B Winery
The next exit down from the Wild Horses Monument will lead you to The Gorge Amphitheater, a scenic and large event space. Unfortunately, the Gorge is only open when a show is happening. However, adjacent to the property is Cave B Winery. They have rooms and yurts available for rent if you need overnight accommodations, or you can simply stop by to taste some Central Washington wine.
The view from The Gorge Amphitheater. Definitely worth seeing a show here!
Soap Lake
Not far from the Gorge is Soap Lake. It’s the name of the town as well as a mineral-rich soda lake. Studies have shown that there are 23 different minerals in the Soap Lake water, and they are thought to have medicinal value. Take a dip inside for some healing on the go, or just to marvel at the slick, soapy feeling.
Lenore Lakes Cave
From Soap Lake, hop on WA-17 N and drive 12 minutes to Lake Lenore Caves. The trailhead has ample parking and an outhouse toilet, making it a good pit stop. If you’re feeling adventurous, hike up on the easy path and explore some of the shallow yet fascinating caves in this area.
Dry Falls Visitor Center and State Park
Hop back onto WA-17 N and go another 26 minutes to Dry Falls State Park. There’s a visitor’s center on the top road with a fantastic view of this 3.5 mile-wide chasm, leftover from Ice Age floods. It’s a stunning view that can be enjoyed from up top, or explored further via the park’s 15-miles of trails. Follow the road down to Sun Lakes-Dry Falls State Park, where many of the hiking trails begin. There’s also 3,774 acres of camping and 73,640 feet of freshwater shoreline access.
We ended up spending the night here, at Sun Lakes Park Resort. This privately-owned campground features RV-pullups, tent camping sites, and cabins for rent. There’s also a full-service food window, Duke’s Diner, a grocery store, golf course, dock for fishing, and boats for rent. Next door to Sun Lakes Resort are the state campgrounds with 150 campsites, 41 full-hookup sites for RVs, and bathrooms and showers.
Grand Coulee Dam
For our trip, we saved these last few stops for the second day, but you can also keep going from Dry Falls on the same day and reach the Grand Coulee Dam in just under 40 minutes. This stunning concrete dam on the Columbia River was constructed between 1933 and 1942. It is the largest power station in the United States by nameplate-capacity. There’s a visitor’s center and you can even take a guided tour of the dam. Or you can simply walk across the footbridges for a self-guided tour.
During regular summer travel seasons, there’s a laser light show across the dam at night.
Steamboat Rock
From the Grand Coulee Dam, you can start to loop back toward Seattle. Follow WA-155 South through Electric City, and stop at Steamboat State Park. This is another great camping option. Or you can simply use the area for day hikes or fishing. The park has 320 feet of shoreline access including boat docks and launches. There’s also a cool hike up to the columnar basalt butte.
Accommodations - Where to Stay
As mentioned throughout this post, there are many options in terms of accommodations. You can opt for a tent camping site, rustic cabin, cheap motel, or luxury resort. We have tried all forms of accommodation in the area and recommend them all — it really depends on your budget and the type of experience that you are looking for. Note that camping is usually seasonal due to weather, and reservations for that and any other accommodations are recommended. Our favorite resort experience is at Suncadia, but it is a bit far from all that Dry Lake has to offer.
In Conclusion
Have you visited any of these sites in Central Washington? Would you add any pit stops, hikes, or attractions to the list? Let us know in the comments below!
