Name of area: Wallula
Where: Wallula Gap, Washington
How do I get there from Walla Walla?: Drive west on HWY. 12 to intersection with HWY. 730. Head south on HWY. 730 for about two miles. Pulloff on west side of road between Two Sisters and Walla Walla Yacht Club (Port Kelly). See photo! It's an easier hike to the lower cliff if you drive past the first small pullout and park in the next (farther south) pullout which is much bigger. The hike in from the 2nd pullout, which diagonals across the slope rather than going straight up, is slightly longer but causes much less erosion.
How long of a drive is it? 40 minutes
What's there?: Lower cliff of columnar basalt has a dozen decent trad routes and 15 or so sport routes that are 20-30 ft in length ranging from 5.6 to 5.11. The upper cliff presently has 8 sport routes (5.4-5.8) and potential for many more on highly fractured basalt entablature.
Pros: It's close. It's real rock. Great views.
Cons: It's short. It's chossy. Rattlesnakes! It's often very windy. Too hot from late spring to late summer.
Comments: Good place to take a gym climber to give them their first taste of real rock without having to drive too far.