Name of Waterfall

Spray Falls

Description

Spray Falls is found south of the town of Nespelem, north of the Grand Coulee Dam, within the Colville Indian Reservation. From the Highway 155 bridge over the Columbia River below the Grand Coulee Dam in the town of Coulee Dam, follow Highway 155 north for 14 miles to the Colville Indian Agency. At the north end of the Colville Indian Agency, turn left on an initially unmarked paved road - you will see a sign along said road about 100 feet from the highway announcing it as BIA Route 10. Following BIA 10 for about 1 1/2 miles to a pullout and shortly after a rough dirt road dropping off to the left. Park in either spot and follow the left fork of the dirt road for about 300 feet towards the canyon where you will hear the falls. There wasn't an obvious trail leading to a viewpoint, but the land is easily traversed.Spray Falls is the first of three major waterfalls along the Nespelem River as it makes a precipitous descent to its confluence with the Columbia River. The falls drop 24 feet in a powerful spreading plunge, sending a curtain of spray into the air as its name suggests. Being that the falls are located on Colville Tribal land, I am not sure whether public access to the falls is openly allowed, but I saw no signage that suggested otherwise. If you see any indication that approaching the falls on foot is discouraged, please respect tribal rights and stay on the public corridor if you are told to do so so we may enjoy the land in the future.

Other Names

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Magnitude

40.01

IWC Rating (International Waterfall Classification)

1.73

Total Height (ft)

24

Tallest Drop

24

Number of Drops

1

Average Width

20

Average High Volume (Cubic ft per second)

150 cfs

Average Low Volume (Cubic ft per second)

0 cfs

Pitch

90 degrees

Run (ft)

10

Watershed or Feeder Stream

Columbia River (Above Snake River) Nespelem River