James Shimizu is a whitewater kayaker who does some pretty extreme things, like going over a huge waterfall on purpose. Back in 2019, Shimizu completed one of his most famous stunts by going over Palouse Falls—a nearly 200-foot drop. The resulting footage is jaw dropping.
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“On April 2nd 2019, Myself, Knox Hammock and a crew of friends set out to Eastern Washington to run Palouse Falls,” Shimizu wrote in his YouTube video caption. “It was an absolutely surreal day that I still can’t believe happened.”
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The YouTube video shows the run from several angles, including terrifying first-person footage. After he goes over the falls and circles back with his team, you can hear Shimizu say, “Dude, I’m totally fine.” Meanwhile, you see his bloodied hand from his helmet cam. Thankfully, he was fine, despite a bit of blood.
Watch a kayaker plummet off a huge waterfall (on purpose) and live to tell the tale (warning: explicit language):
Here’s a gnarly-looking still shot from the epic run:
NOTE: As of June 2025, Palouse Falls is not accessible by foot, but you can see the waterfall at viewpoints. A notice on the Washington Trails Association’s website says: “All trails into the canyon and base of Palouse Falls are permanently closed.”
Header stock image by Gfed/Getty Images
