Barren Lands

Dry, canyon-riddled terrain covered with sagebrush exists extensively in eastern Washington.

Beacon Rock

A high, rocky monolith located on the Columbia River.

Dry Falls

Located near Soap Lake in eastern Washington. It was once a 417 ft. waterfall, 3 miles wide, 40-50 times larger than Niagara. Today, it is a dry, barren landscape with high basalt cliffs.

Potholes and Channeled Scablands

Located near Moses Lake. The "Potholes" are hundreds of water-filled, small reservoirs or water pockets. The "Channeled Scablands" are carved, barren land. These formations look similar to the surface of Mars.

Mima Mounds

Located near Littlerock, between Olympia and Centralia. There are 445 acres of these "earthen pimples," bumps in the earth that average 7 ft. high and 30 ft. across. Its origin is unknown.

Lava beds

These can be found along the plateaus of the Columbia River.

Mount St. Helens

Once pristine and beautiful, a 1980 eruption devastated the upper elevations of the mountain and the surrounding terrain. It now has a moon-like appearance with knee-high gray ash and volcanic rock from pebble to boulder size at the upper elevations. New growth has re-established in the lower elevations.