Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
A geographical extension of British Columbia's Okanagan region, the Okanogan (note
the subtle change of spelling) forms Washington's biggest yet most sparsely populated
county and remains one of the lesser-known parts of the state. With much of the land giv-
en over to the Colville Indian Reservation, there are not a lot of obvious attractions here,
though if you wander under the radar you'll uncover eerie ghost towns and lonely moun-
tain ranges.
Okanogan - which derives from the native Salish word for 'rendezvous' - is also the
name of the diminutive county capital (population 2568) that lies 29 miles to the east of
Twisp at the nexus of US 20 and US 97. In recent decades Okanogan has effectively
merged with the nearby town of Omak (population 4881), though neither settlement is a
budding tourist center.
Omak is famous for its August Omak Stampede , a well-known local spectacle that
includes the notorious 'Suicide Race,' a 210ft plunge down a 60-degree slope on horse-
back followed by the fording of the 50yd-wide Okanogan River. Not surprisingly, the
event has raised the ire of numerous animal-rights groups.
If you pass through here, it's worth stopping at Fort Okanogan State Park (junction of
US 97 & Hwy 17; 9am-5pm Wed-Sun May-Sep) , 4 miles northeast of the town of
Brewster. It tells the story of the valley's original Native American inhabitants and
relates how three different fur-trading companies successively occupied the site of the
old fort in the early 19th century.
The varied landscape around Okanogan and Omak offers plenty of outdoor possibilit-
ies, including a small ski center at the Loup Loup Ski Bowl ( www.skitheloup.com ; day pass
adult/child $38/24; Dec-Mar; ) , just off US 20, 18 miles west of Okanogan. Hiking
and biking are also popular here in the summer.
TOP OF CHAPTER
Colville National Forest
Wedged into Washington's northeastern corner abutting the borders of Idaho and Canada
lies the 1.1-million-acre Colville National Forest, a vast and relatively remote corner of
the state that spans the Kettle River and Selkirk Mountains ranges and is bisected in the
west by the Columbia River and Lake Roosevelt. Lying in the foothills of the Rocky
Mountains, this wild region is home to grizzly bears, cougars and the last herd of caribou
in the lower 48 states. Some of the loveliest scenery can be found in the isolated Salmo-
Priest Wilderness Area, which is crisscrossed by hiking trails. Colville makes a good
base for exploring the Selkirks and the Pend Oreille River area.
 
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