Central & Eastern Washington - Washington, Oregon and the Pacific Northwest - page 414

SCENIC DRIVE - SHERMAN PASS
The 35 miles of Hwy 20 between Kettle Falls and the town of Republic has been
designated the Sherman Pass Scenic Byway , and interpretive sites along the
route have been beefed up in recent years. Eleven miles west of Kettle Falls on Hwy
20 (at Canyon Creek, mile 335) you'll find the Log Flume Heritage Site in the
middle of a ponderosa pine forest. The site provides a snapshot of logging history,
with several interpretive displays along a mile-long, winding, wheelchair-accessible
trail. Further on is the Growden Heritage Site , which relates stories of the Civilian
Conservation Corps in the 1930s and '40s; while closer to Republic, near the crest
of the 5575ft pass, is the White Mountain Interpretive Center , with stunning views
toward British Columbia, Canada.
A new mock train depot in Kettle Falls acts as an excellent information portal for
the drive. It's situated on the corner of US 395 and Juniper St and is open daily
year-round.
Colville
The area's main settlement is a small town embellished with parks and some gracious
older buildings. It acts as a good base camp for exploring Lake Roosevelt and the sur-
rounding national forest.
Sights & Activities
Fort Colville Museum HISTORIC SITE
( www.stevenscountyhistoricalsociety.org ; 700 N Wynne St; adult/child $5/2; 10am-4pm Mon-
Sat, 1-4pm Sun May-Sep) Colville town's most notable attraction has as its centerpiece
Keller House, a large bungalow with attractive Craftsman details, built in 1910. Dis-
persed around the house are reconstructed versions of a pioneer blacksmith's shop,
schoolhouse, trapper's cabin, sawmill and a fire lookout tower. The 7-acre park grounds
are great for a picnic.
Little Pend Oreille National Wildlife Refuge WILDLIFE RESERVE
( www.fsw.gov/littlependoreille ) Bird-watchers should swing down to this 41,573-acre refuge
where McDowell Lake attracts waterfowl. To reach the refuge headquarters (1310 Bear
Creek Rd; 7:30am-4pm) , take US 20 for about 8 miles east of Colville, then turn south
on Narcisse Creek Rd. The Mill Butte Trail starts from the refuge headquarters, gaining