Sightseeing

Ancient wonders and engineering marvels await

Sun Lakes sits at the heart of the Channeled Scablands, a landscape carved by the most powerful floods in Earth's history. Over 400 trillion gallons of water tore through the Pacific Northwest during the Ice Age, creating the dramatic basalt cliffs, hidden canyons, and ancient waterfalls you see today.

Must-See Attractions

Dry Falls

4 miles

One of the world's greatest geological wonders. Standing 400 feet tall and over three miles wide, this ancient waterfall once exceeded Niagara Falls by tenfold. A visitor center offers spectacular viewing platforms.

Grand Coulee Dam

30 miles

An engineering marvel measuring 550 feet tall and one mile long, often called the 'Eighth Wonder of the World.' Don't miss the free Laser Light Show (late May through late September).

More to Explore

Lake Lenore Caves

7 miles

Ancient Native American shelters featuring petroglyphs carved into stone. Accessible hiking trails lead to caves with views of Lake Lenore and the surrounding coulee walls.

Coulee Corridor Scenic Byway

On Highway 17

One of Washington's seven National Scenic Byways. Drive from Othello to Grand Coulee through majestic views of the Channeled Scablands.

Blue Lake Rhino

Near Blue Lake

A rare fossilized rhinoceros mold preserved in pillow basalt. One of the most unusual geological finds of the Columbia Plateau.

The Channeled Scablands

Between 15,000 and 13,000 years ago, a massive ice dam holding back Glacial Lake Missoula repeatedly broke, releasing walls of water up to 2,000 feet high. These catastrophic floods carved the landscape you see today.

The evidence is everywhere: towering basalt columns, dry waterfalls, ripple marks the size of hills, and enormous boulders carried hundreds of miles by the floodwaters.

What You'll See

Columnar basalt formations
Dry waterfalls and plunge pools
Deep coulees and canyons
Erratics (giant boulders)

Sightseeing Tips

Best Times

Early morning and late afternoon offer the best light for photography. The Laser Light Show at Grand Coulee Dam runs nightly from late May through September.

Plan Your Route

Pick up a map at the resort or visitor center. The Coulee Corridor Scenic Byway connects many attractions in a scenic loop.

Bring Your Camera

The scale of these geological features is hard to capture but worth trying. Wide-angle lenses work well for the basalt cliffs and Dry Falls.

Visitor Centers

Stop at the Dry Falls Visitor Center for exhibits on the Ice Age floods. Grand Coulee Dam also has a free visitor center with exhibits and tours.

Ready to Explore?

Book your stay and discover the wonders of the Scablands.

Book Your Stay