SUN LAKES-DRY FALLS STATE PARK
Sun Lakes-Dry Falls State Park is a 4,027-acre camping park with 73,640 feet of freshwater shoreline at the foot of Dry Falls. Dry Falls is one of the great geological wonders of North America. Carved by Ice Age floods that long ago disappeared, the former waterfall is now a stark cliff, 400 feet high and 3.5 miles wide. In its heyday, the waterfall was four times the size of Niagara Falls. Today it overlooks a desert oasis filled with lakes and abundant wildlife. The park's dramatic landscape was formed by Ice Age floods that swept through the area 15,000 years ago. The park and the interesting exhibits at Dry Falls Visitor Center offer many opportunities for people to learn about this unusual landscape. Special programs, hikes, talks and classroom visits are available by appointment, through the visitor center, 509 632-5214. Other park features, available seasonally, include boat rentals, a nine-hole golf course and a miniature golf course.
The park stands at the foot of one of the greatest geological wonders in North America -- a former waterfall that now stands as a dry cliff 400 feet high and 3.5 miles wide. When active, this waterfall was ten times larger than Niagara Falls. Carved by ice-age flood and known as Dry Falls, this natural monument is the site of a staff visitor center. The surrounding area is full of beautiful natural formations.
Originally called "Dry Falls," Sun Lakes was renamed to better describe the area. Victor A. Myers, lieutenant governor at the time, suggested the change.
A Discover Pass is required for vehicle access to Washington state parks for day use. For more information about the Discover Pass and exemptions, please visit the
Discover Pass web page.
The park has 152 standard campsites, 39 utility spaces, one dump station, six restrooms and 12 showers. Maximum site length is 65 feet (may have limited availability). Park campsites do not have tent pads. All campsites have fire pits.
Be prepared for the possibility of heavy winds. Reservations are advised for the summer months. To make a reservation, call (888) CAMPOUT or (888) 226-7688.
Group Accommodations:The park provides a group camp for tents only that accommodates up to 75 people. Fees vary with size of the group. To reserve, call (888) CAMPOUT or (888) 226-7688.
Check-in time is 2:30 p.m., and check-out time is 1 p.m.Quiet hours are from 10 p.m. to 6:30 a.m.Engine-driven electric generators may be operated only between the hours of 8 a.m. and 9 p.m.Length of stay: You may stay up to ten consecutive days in any one park during the summer; the stay limit is extended to 20 days between Oct. 1 and March 31.
Sites are very small and close together, there is some shade in some sites. You are not allowed to put a tent on the grass, you have to put it in the gravel. There is a charge if you have 2 cars even though they state that you can have 2 cars in most sites. The staff can get very busy on weekends and are less helpful. The boat launch is a distance away, not a short walk if you carry things to your boat. do not leave items in your boat There is a fee for a boat site at the dock but worth it not to have to launch every day and there is a fee for that as well. There is no launch site for kayaks or canoes other than using the very busy boat launch or the swimming area beach. There was adequate ATT cell service. This is not the best that Washington has to offer but is not terrible.
I look forward to pitching my tent, in this park, every year. Beautiful settings. Love the location.
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