Local Attractions
The stunning region surrounding Soap Lake boasts an impressive variety of natural wonders and exciting activities. Whether you’re eager to immerse yourself in the great outdoors or delve into the local attractions, there’s an adventure waiting for everyone.
Grand Coulee Dam
Often referred to as the eighth wonder of the world, the Grand Coulee Dam stands at an impressive height equivalent to that of a 46-story skyscraper. Built during the Great Depression, this remarkable structure boasts an outstanding visitor center that showcases authentic film footage captured during its construction in the 1930s. In addition, visitors can embark on a self-guided tour of the dam. Engage with the D3 Geocache Challenge, enjoy the captivating Laser Light Show, and visit the Visitor Center to explore its interactive exhibits.
Sun Lake State Park
Sun Lakes-Dry Falls State Park covers 4,027 acres and has 73,640 feet of freshwater shoreline at Dry Falls. This site is one of North America’s great geological wonders. It was once a huge waterfall created by ice-age floods, but now it is a tall cliff that rises 400 feet and stretches 3.5 miles. At its height, this waterfall was ten times bigger than Niagara Falls. Today, visitors can see a desert oasis filled with lakes and many kinds of wildlife.
Lake Lenore Caves
The Lake Lenore Caves are located on the eastern side of the lower coulee above Alkali Lake, near Highway 17. To see the best caves, visitors must climb moderately and follow a marked trail. It’s best to wear sturdy shoes since some path sections have crushed basalt that can be tricky to walk on. From late spring to early fall, watch out for rattlesnakes that may sunbathe on the hot basalt rocks.
Blue Lake, Rhinoceros Cave
One basalt flow in the Grand Coulee provided important evidence about life on the Columbia Plateau when it was younger. This flow not only covered logs and plants but also trapped and killed a rhinoceros, creating a cast of its body. The rhino was likely buried under fast-moving basalt before it could escape. As the fluids inside the animal cooled and hardened, they formed a rock cast of its shape. Today, near Blue Lake, you can see four cylindrical holes in the basalt where the legs were, and the rounded shape of the body arches over these leg cavities. One side of the cave is open, showing the outline of the rhino.
Steamboat Rock
As you drive to Grand Coulee Dam along Banks Lake, you’ll see Steamboat Rock on your left. This rock is 800 feet high and 2.5 miles long, sitting in the old channel of the Columbia River. Its basalt layers resemble the decks of a large steamboat. Geologists believe that thousands of years ago, when the river flowed through what is now the Grand Coulee, Steamboat Rock was located between two massive waterfalls, each 800 feet tall and 2 miles wide. There is a State Park at Steamboat Rock with complete facilities.