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The Palouse
The Palouse represents idyllic America - a land of amber waves and warm-hearted people. The long, peaceful roads are perfect for bike touring or scenic drives.
The Palouse is home to two major universities,
University of
Idaho and Washington State
University; as well
as the national headquarters for the Appaloosa Horse
Club.
Rolling fields, punctuated with historic towns, 19th-century architecture and remnants of pioneer farms, create a photographer's dream. While the Palouse brings to mind images of rolling wheat fields, there is much more to experience. It is one of the richest wheat-growing regions in the world, but the Palouse is far more than just picturesque farm country.
Recreational opportunities abound in North Idaho. National forests, wilderness areas, clear lakes, whitewater rivers and rugged canyons can be found. Raft down the Snake River one day and hike up to Kamiak Butte the next. If you like blue skies, warm sunshine and beautiful scenery, you'll love the recreational opportunities that can be found anywhere from ten minutes to an hour's drive from Pullman and Moscow.
In addition to the mountains, gorges and sprawling agricultural beauty, the Palouse is a place rich in history, dating back more than 10,000 years. Native Americans were here first, then Lewis and Clark passed through nearly two centuries ago on their journey to the mouth of the Columbia. They were likely the first non-indigenous people to set foot in Idaho and Washington. In the fall of 1805, when westward bound, the Lewis & Clark Expedition arrived at the junction of two great rivers. One was the mighty Snake and it seems they established a camp on the bank of the other, the Clearwater.
The Palouse is the area where settlers first stepped foot in Washington. Native peoples had been fishing for salmon and eel in the rivers and cultivating the soil, rich with volcanic ash, for millennia. This is the wheat belt, but it's also the lentil capital of the world. The city of Pullman hosts the annual Lentil
Festival every August. From this quaint corner of Americana, literally millions of pounds of lentils are shipped to Europe, South America and the Middle East. Visit the National Lentil Festival in August. But whenever you come, explore the varied beauty and pioneer history of the Palouse. Climb to the top of Steptoe Butte and peer south, toward the steep Blue Mountains, over thousands of square miles of undulating terrain.
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