There’s no denying that Washington is a beautiful state full of diverse scenery. And if you’re really lucky, you’ll get to spend some time in one of our quiet small towns that are surrounded by nature. Pend Oreille County’s Metaline Falls is one of these towns… in fact, this tiny community may be one of the most visually stunning spots in our state. Let's take a look at a few things to do in Metaline Falls, Washington.
When you’re in Metaline Falls, you’ll see breathtaking beauty in every direction.
The Pend Oreille River runs past one part of town, with the beautiful Colville National Forest surrounding the rest of the area.
Enjoy a trip to Colville National Forest in this video from Old Buzzard Video as they show off one of the most loved activities in the area driving along the forest's many scenic off-roading trails:
When we say tiny, we mean tiny.
The population of Metaline Falls is 238, and the town has a total area of 0.21 square miles.
Metaline Falls was settled in 1900, and most of its early residents were in the logging industry or employed by the Mammoth and Morning lead-zinc mines.
For much of the twentieth century, the Lehigh Portland Cement Company was the economic core of the town. It hasn’t been in operation since 1989, but the building remains and is now a historical landmark. You'll also find well-preserved old buildings like the one pictured here from the town's earlier days.
Despite its small size, this town has some pretty impressive bragging rights.
The train sequences of the 1993 movie "Benny & Joon" were filmed in the area, and scenes from the 1997 film "The Postman" were filmed here.
The Metaline Falls community embraces the arts, and several festivals are held there every year.
Affair on Main Street, an arts and crafts festival, takes place every Labor Day weekend.
Being surrounded by nature means there are some gorgeous hiking trails in the area.
This is part of the beautiful 8-mile Sullivan Lake trail.
If you visit between Memorial Day and Labor Day, exploring Gardner Cave is a must.
The cave is about 10 miles north of Metaline Falls and less than a mile from the Canadian border. When you walk through it, you’ll come to a sign that says "I walked to Canada."
Watch some footage of the delightful town of Metaline Falls, WA, and its neighbor Ione, both historic mining towns in Washington:
Whether you come to Metaline Falls for the beautiful natural areas or the interesting history, there is plenty of enjoyable things to do in Metaline Falls, Washington. Metaline Falls is a beautiful day trip or weekend getaway destination, especially during one of its craft fairs or festivals. Here are some other wonderful Washington towns everyone should visit.
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