Pullman is the Pulse of the Palouse
Palouse Scenic Byway
Traveling to Pullman is just as memorable as the destination itself. Tucked away in the spectacular rolling hills of Eastern Washington’s Palouse region, the most optimal way to access Pullman in the winter and spring months is by driving the Palouse Scenic Byway.
A Washington State-designated “scenic and recreational highway,” starting just south of Spokane and stretching across the better half of Eastern Washington, the Palouse Scenic Byway is a 208-mile network of highways that wind through some of the state’s most distinctive terrain, including the Channeled Scablands and the region’s hallmark, the undulating hills of the Palouse. At the geographic center of the byway is Pullman, a spirited college town home to 33,000 residents.
Palouse Scenic Byway
A winter or spring visit to Pullman via the Palouse Scenic Byway showcases the region’s natural landscape at the peak of its seasonal beauty. During the winter months, snowfall is common, blanketing and softening the contours of the Palouse’s rippling hills. The aesthetic result is a soft, endless sea of white, stretching against the horizon in every direction, best taken in from one of the region’s iconic vistas, Kamiak or Steptoe Butte, located along the byway.
Spring is one of the most popular seasons to drive the byway, when the previously blanketed winter wheat sprouts, turning an intense shade of green. As the season evolves, the green landscape becomes interrupted by a striking shade of yellow as canola crops bloom. The vibrancy of the springtime hues, contrasting against the blue sky, are a landscape photographer’s dream–the formula for the perfect shot.
Barboursville, West Virginia
The unofficial gateway to the whole of the byway, Pullman offers year-round accommodations for byway voyagers. With a variety of hotels, short-term rentals, boutique shops and world-class eateries, Pullman has all the amenities to serve as the perfect base camp for those looking to explore the byway in its entirety. See what makes Pullman the pulse of the Palouse, and plan your visit today at www.visit-pullman.com.
