Park overview:
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.
Campsite Information:
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 available April 15 - Oct. 15 and 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, the camp accommodates up to 75 people. Fees vary with size of the group. To reserve, call (888) CAMPOUT or (888) 226-7688.
Camping Fees:
Please note that the following
general fee information is not customized for each individual park, so not
all fees will apply to
all parks (for example, primitive campsite and dump station fees listed apply only to parks that have primitive campsites and dump stations).
2010 FeesAn additional $2 per night is added to the basic camping fees listed below at this high-use park. Basic camping fees are:
Standard campsite, $19.
Full utility campsite, $26.
Partial utility campsite, $25.
Primitive campsite and water trail camping, $12
An additional $3 fee (standard) or $5 fee (utility) may be charged for select premium campsites at some parks.
Maximum eight people per campsite.
Second vehicle: $10 per night is charged for a second vehicle unless it is towed by a recreational vehicle. Extra vehicles must be parked in designated campsite or extra vehicle parking spaces.
Dump stations (if available): Year-round dump station fees are $5 per use. If you are camping, this fee is included in your campsite fee.
More about park hoursCheck-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.
To view campsites and facilities reservable at this park, visit the
reservation system and campsite maps.
Park hours/updates:
Summer: 6:30 a.m. to dusk.
Winter: 6:30 a.m. to dusk.
The park is open year round.
Deep Lake is open the last Saturday of April through Sept. 30.
Dry Falls Lake is open April 1 through Nov. 30.
Dry Falls Visitor Center summer hours: May 1 - Sept. 30, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily, including holidays
Dry Falls Visitor Center winter hours:
Oct. 1 - April 30, 9 a.m. - 4 p.m. daily, except holidays
Camping:
Check-in time, 2:30 p.m.
Check-out time, 1 p.m.
Quiet hours: 10 p.m. to 6:30 a.m.
Park Winter Schedule
| Campground Closes |
| Campground Reopens |
| Day-Use Closes |
| Day-Use Reopens |
| Watercraft Launch Closes |
| Watercraft Launch Reopens | |
| Open |
| Open |
| Open |
| Open |
| Open |
| Open |
|
Schedule Note:
Dry Falls Visitor Center summer hours: May 1 - Sept. 30, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily, including holidays
Dry Falls Visitor Center winter hours:
Oct. 1 - April 30, 9 a.m. - 4 p.m. daily, except holidays
Winter Schedule for all Washington State Parks
Driving Directions
Located seven miles southwest of Coulee City, Wash. in Grant County.
Park address:
34875 Park Lake Road NE
Coulee City, WA 99115
From eastbound I-90:
Take exit #151 to SR 283. Go through Ephrata, and continue on to Soap Lake. Turn north on Hwy. 17, and continue 17 miles to park.
From U.S. Hwy. 2:
Take Hwy. 17 south for five miles, just two miles west of Coulee City.
Park Maps
To view campsites and facilities reservable at this park, visit the
reservation system and campsite maps.
Sun Lakes downloadable pdf map #1
Sun Lakes downloadable pdf map #2
List of all downloadable Washington State Park
maps.
Park Features
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.
History
Originally called "Dry Falls," Sun Lakes was renamed to better describe the area. Victor A. Myers, lieutenant governor at the time, suggested the change.
Interpretive opportunities
Dry Falls Visitor Center is located two miles north of the main park on Hwy. 17. The center is open daily. Admission is by donation.
Services/Supplies
| Available in the park | Available in the area |
• Boat rentals
• Camping
• Commissary
• Park store
• Pay phone
• Propane
• Fire wood
| • Boat rental
• Camping
• Diesel
• Fishing/hunting
• Gasoline
• Gifts
• Golf
• Groceries
• Hardware
• Hospital
• Overnight Accommodations
• Pay phone
• Postal service
• Propane
• Wood
• Swimming
|
There is a park store and laundromat, boat rentals, propane, fire wood, a commisary and a pay phone. Most other services are available within a few miles of the park.
Activities
| Trails | Water Activities | Other |
• 15 mi. Hiking Trails
| • Boating (freshwater)
• 2 boat ramps (freshwater)
• 680 feet of dock (freshwater)
• Fishing (freshwater)
• Personal Watercraft (freshwater)
• Swimming (freshwater)
• Water Skiing (freshwater)
| • Bird Watching
• 1 Fire Circle
• Golf
• 2 Horseshoe pits
• Interpretive Activities
• Mountain Biking
• Museum
• Wildlife Viewing
|
Heavy winds are always a possibility in this park. |
Boating Features
The park provides two boat ramps and 680 feet of dock. Water-skiing activities are restricted during certain times of the year. Be sure to contact the park if you have questions about Grant County boating ordinances (509) 632-5583.
Annual launch permits also may be purchased at State Parks Headquarters in Olympia, at region offices,
online, and at parks when staff is available.
Events
Full list of
events at Washington State Parks
Picnic and Day-use Facilities
There are 90 unsheltered picnic tables, available first-come, first-served.
Wildlife
| Mammals | Birds | Fish & Sea Life |
• Bobcats
• Coyotes
• Deer or Elk
• Marmots
• Rabbits
• Raccoons
| • Chukars
• Crows or Ravens
• Doves or Pigeons
• Ducks
• Eagles
• Geese
• Gulls
• Hawks
• Herons
• Ospreys
• Owls
• Pheasants
• Quail
• Snipes
• Turkeys
• Woodpeckers
| • Trout
|
Environmental Features
| Physical Features | | Plant Life | |
| 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 four 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. | | • Ash
• Poplar
• Thistle
• Poison Oak
|
|
Park photo gallery
