VACATIONLAND VISIT OKANOGAN COUNTRY
Your FREE premier visitors guide to Okanogan & Ferry counties
A supplement OmakOkanogan OkanoganCounty County Chronicle Chronicle LLC A supplement toto Omak LLC~~ www.omakchronicle.com www.omakchronicle.com
Welcome to Vacationland 4.9 /
Okanogan Country in north central Washington offers big, beautiful, scenic vistas, friendly people and plenty of wide-open spaces for you and your family to explore. Okanogan Country stretches from the craggy, snow-capped peaks of the North Cascades to the golden, rolling wheat fields of the northern Columbia Basin and from the lower Okanogan's apple country to the high desert of south-central British Columbia and tree-covered peaks of Ferry County. Come rendezvous with our friendly, hard-working people. Shop at a leisurely pace in our wellstocked stores. Revel in our beautiful scenery and diverse recreational opportunities. Sample our fine fruit, wines and beef. We welcome visitors to Okanogan Country and know you'll enjoy the area as much as we do.
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TACOMA - TONASKET - TWISP 2632A S 38TH ST TACOMA, WA 98409 (253) 212-3711 8AM-11:55PM EVERY DAY
305 W 4TH ST TONASKET, WA 98855 (509) 486-0919 9AM-9PM M-SAT 11AM-7PM SUN
1017 E METHOW VALLEY HWY TWISP, WA 98856 (509) 997-4200 9AM-9PM M-SAT 11AM-5PM SUN
Warning: This product has intoxicating effects and may be habit forming. Smoking is hazardous to your health. There may be health risks associated with consumption of this product. Should not be used by woman that are breast feeding. For use by adults twenty one or older. Keep out of reach of children. Marijuana can impair concentration, coordination and judgement. Do not operate a vehicle or machinery under the influence of this drug. This product may be unlawful outside of Washington State.
Quick References
Hospitals
Okanogan County okanogancounty.org (county government)
• Coulee Medical Center: 411 Fortuyn Road, Grand Coulee, WA 99133 • Ferry County Memorial Hospital: 36 N. Klondike Road, Republic, WA 99166 • Lake Chelan Community Hospital: 503 E. Highland Ave., Chelan, WA 98816 • Mid-Valley Hospital: 810 Jasmine St., Omak, WA 98841 • North Valley Hospital: 126 N. Whitcomb Ave., Tonasket, WA 98855 • Three Rivers Hospital: 507 Hospital Way, Brewster, WA 98812
Ferry County www.ferrycounty.com (county government) Border crossings U.S. Customs Service: 509-476-2955 www.cbp.gov or www.travel.state.gov Colville Confederated Tribes www.colvilletribes.com News and information www.omakchronicle.com Mountain passes www.wsdot.wa.gov/traffic/passes
Emergencies: 911 This Chronicle staff strives to be accurate, however, all information in this publication is subject to change without notice. Because of the ongoing coronavirus pandemic (COVID-19), some events, sights and recreation opportunities may not be open. Be sure to call before planning your destination.
Welcome to Okanogan Country, a big,
beautiful expanse of north central Washington.
Okanogan Country stretches from the craggy peaks of the North Cascades to the rolling wheat fields of the northern Columbia Basin and from apple and wine country to high desert. Come rendezvous with our friendly, hard-working people. Shop at a leisurely pace in our wellstocked stores. Revel in our beautiful scenery and diverse recreational opportunities. Sample our fine fruit, wines and beef. We welcome visitors to our region and know you’ll enjoy the area as much as we do. INSIDE: Arts................................................. 52 Bicycling..........................................18 Camping..........................................58 Coulee Corridor...............................38 Coulee Dam’s ‘forgotten era’...........43 Dam loop.........................................39 Douglas County loop.......................41 Dry Falls...........................................41 Ferry County.....................................8 Ferry County history.......................10 Ferry County loop...........................37 Forest land......................................60 Hart’s Pass......................................32 Hiking..............................................14 Hunting and fishing........................20 Lake Roosevelt................................42 Make a splash..................................44 Maps................................................33 North Cascades................................31 Okanogan County history.................6 Okanogan County museums...........54 Reservation......................................12 Rodeos.............................................48 Scenic byways.................................30 Wildlife............................................22 Wineries, golf courses.....................50 Winter outdoors..............................24
© 2021 Omak-Okanogan County Chronicle LLC Owned and Operated by J. Louis Mullen • Teresa Myers, publisher and advertising manager • Brock Hires, managing editor • Julie Bock, layout and design Staff writers/photographers: Dee Camp, Julie Bock and Brock Hires. Printed at Northwest Offset Printing, Spokane Valley, Wash. P.O. Box 553, Omak, WA 98841 • 509-826-1110 • 800-572-3446 www.omakchronicle.com Cover photo: Dee Camp
History of Okanogan County TIM DAVIS | SUBMITTED
Okanogan County’s natives were called the Okanogans, Methows, Nespelems and San Poils. They have since been joined on the Colville Indian Reservation by bands of Nez Perce, Wenatchi, Lakes, Colville, Chelan, Palus, Moses-Columbia and Entiat Indians. Early non-Indians came to the county seeking furs and, eventually gold and silver. Some highlights: July 3, 1811: David Thompson and other fur traders from British-owned Northwest Company drift into the area. They are said to be the first white men to arrive in the Okanogan. Late summer, 1811: John Jacob Astor’s Pacific Fur Company builds its first inland post on the south bank of the Okanogan River near confluence with the Columbia. Fort Okanogan was the first establishment to fly the American flag in what is now Washington state. 1821: Fort Okanogan becomes property of the Hudson’s Bay Company. 1821-1846: Furs gathered from all over sprawling New Caledonia — most of northwestern Canada — come down the Okanogan River to the fort and are transferred to boats for passage to Vancouver. 1838: Hudson’s Bay Company relocates Fort Okanogan about a mile away on the shores of the Columbia. 1853: Area that’s now Okanogan County becomes part of Clark County under original formation of Washington Territory. 1854: Area that’s now Okanogan County becomes part of Walla Walla County. 1857-58: Prospectors turn into a wildeyed stampede headed for the Cariboo gold fields of British Columbia. 1858: Hiram F. “Okanogan” Smith settles near the foot of Lake Osoyoos as Okanogan County’s first permanent white 6
resident and plants the county’s first fruit orchards. Some of his apple and pear trees still bear fruit. 1860: The fur trade dwindles; Fort Okanogan is abandoned. 1860s: Ben Snipes and others push great herds of cattle nearly 800 miles from the Yakima country to Cariboo mining camps. Prospectors dip gold pans in the Similkameen River. 1863: Okanogan County area becomes part of Stevens County. April 2, 1872: Presidential executive order creates the Colville Indian Reservation. Four months later the northern boundary is moved south to its present location. 1886: Reservation land west of the Okanogan River opens to entry. Cascade foothills explode with activity as miners and homesteaders pour in. 1888: Okanogan becomes a county, with the county seat temporarily in Ruby. 1889: County seat moves to Conconul-
ly.
1892: North half of Colville Indian Reservation becomes public domain. 1893: Price of silver collapses; boom towns fade. 1890s: Sternwheel riverboats ply the Columbia River to Brewster and, in high water, the Okanogan River as far as Riverside. 1900s: Fledgling irrigation districts form, expanding orcharding into the county’s largest economic force by the 1970s. Lumber and cattle raising grow in importance. 1915: County seat moves to Okanogan. 1916: South half of the Colville Indian Reservation opens to settlement. Feb. 26, 1938: U.S. government approves Colville Confederated Tribes’ constitution and by-laws; Colville Business Council established. 1988: County celebrates its centennial. 1989: State celebrates its centennial.
1992, post-election: Okanogan County gains national prominence as the nation’s “bellwether” county — the one with the longest string of correctly going for the presidential winner. Streak extends back to 1904 and Theodore Roosevelt’s victory. 1996: Okanogan County loses national “bellwether” distinction by going for Republican Bob Dole instead of presidential winner Bill Clinton, a Democrat. 1997: Colville Indian Reservation celebrates 125th anniversary. 2001: Four firefighters are killed in the Thirtymile Fire in the Methow Valley – Tom L. Craven, 30; Karen L. Fitz Patrick, 18; Devin A. Weaver, 21, and Jessica L. Johnson, 19. 2014: Carlton Complex fire burns across 256,108 acres to become the largest wildfire in state history. Homes, barns, outbuildings and fences destroyed; electrical, fiber optics and telephone lines damaged or destroyed; livestock and wildlife killed; rangeland, orchards, timber, crops destroyed or damaged; two deaths attributed to the fire, one a heart attack and the other from injuries suffered in a fall. Subsequent flooding and mudslides damage roads, property and homes. 2015: Okanogan Complex, Tunk Block and North Star fires burn across a combined 522,920 acres. Damage is similar to that of the Carlton Complex fire a year earlier, though mudslide damage is less. Three U.S. Forest Service firefighters Tom Zbyszewski, 20, Andrew Zajac, 26, and Richard Wheeler, 31 - die while fighting the fires near Twisp on Aug. 19. Four other firefighters are injured. 2020: The Cold Springs, Pearl Hill and Inchelium Complex fires, all of which start Labor Day weekend, account for 433,000 acres of land charred — 189,923 of them in Cold Springs, 223,730 in Pearl Hill and the rest in the Inchelium Complex. A 22-month-old toddler dies in the blaze.
JULIE BOCK | THE CHRONICLE
DEE CAMP | THE CHRONICLE
Old Molson Museum allows visitors to walk among pioneer buildings.
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DEE CAMP | THE CHRONICLE
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Molson School Museum, in the Okanogan Highlands, offers a glimpse of yesteryear. Okanogan Country
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Catering Services Available
Visit our Award-Winning
Okanogan County Historical Museum
Take a walk back in time Open 7 days a week Memorial Day to Labor Day 10 a.m.-4 p.m. • Air Conditioning 509-422-4247 • 1410 2nd Ave. • Okanogan • ochs@ncidata.com
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Ferry County offers rugged scenery and varied activities Downtown Republic Filled with beautiful, rugged scenery, Ferry County features a wide array of activities for visitors. Nestled in the Kettle Range between Lake Roosevelt and the Canadian border, the county offers opportunities ranging from historic sites and museums to non-motorized and motorized recreation, fossil hunting, fishing, musical events and shopping. For those interested in driving through Mother Nature’s splendor, the Sherman Pass Scenic Byway on Highway 20 between Republic and Kettle Falls offers beautiful vistas with little traffic. For those pedaling their way across the county, the route through Curlew, between state highways 21 and 395 across Boulder Pass, offers views of nature with a less drastic climb than state Highway 20. Republic, the county seat and the county’s only incorporated city, has an early 1900s look and a heritage based in the mining and logging industries. Originally named Eureka Gulch, Republic has a population of about 1,000. Noted for its fossils, natural beauty and recreational possibilities, it is nestled in a valley between Wauconda and Sherman passes at the intersection of highways 20 and 21. Republic is surrounded by national forest lands and within short driving distance of numerous lakes and campgrounds. Hunting, fishing, bird watching, bicycling, hiking, snowshoeing, cross country skiing, boating, motorized recreational sports and fossil digging bring people to the area. The Stonerose Interpretive Center and Eocene Fossil Site in Republic offers a view of the area during the Eocene Era and a Boot Hill fossil site where visitors 8
DEE CAMP | The Chronicle can dig for their own fossils. Resorts and a state park offer recreational opportunities on Curlew Lake. The Ferry County Fairgrounds features a restored antique carousel and a good, old-fashioned county fair each year during Labor Day weekend. For motorized recreation enthusiasts, there are roads set aside for off-road vehicles in the Colville National Forest and an off-road recreation park south of Republic near Eagle Track Raceway. The raceway offers dirt track car races on alternating weekends through the summer and a snowmobile race in the winter. The history of Republic and the surrounding area can be explored at the Ferry County Historical Society, which features a collection of historical photos and exhibits that depict area history and
also the Kaufman Cabin - the oldest surviving structure in Republic. Murals at various places around town and buildings with historical signs make a walking tour of the city a history lesson in itself. Curlew offers an antique car and truck museum. The historic Ansorge Hotel and the restored, one-lane Curlew bridge are on the National Register of Historic Places There are many opportunities for hiking in the area. The most popular advanced trail is Kettle Crest Trail No. 13 North, which runs from the top of Sherman Pass on Highway 20 to the Boulder-Deer Creek Summit. The 30-mile route features grassy meadows, wildflowers and breathtaking views of the Curlew, Kettle and Columbia
drainages. Hiking and bicycling can be enjoyable in and around the county, too. The Ferry County Rail Trail, a non-motorized trail that runs 25 miles from Republic to Danville, was built on an abandoned railway bed. Camping spots can be found along the trail. For those who wish to stay closer to town, the 3.5-mile-long Golden Tiger Trail, also set up on an old railway bed, features both an ATV and bike path. Camping areas abound and the area’s lakes, streams and rivers lure anglers searching for rainbow, cutthroat and brook trout, largemouth bass, tiger muskies and kokanee. Winter provides a vast array of recreational possibilities with 65 miles of groomed trails in the Empire Lake-Kelly Mountain area, 27 miles of trails in the Hall Creek area and 71 miles in the Swan Action at Eagle Track Raceway in Republic. Lake area plus many miles of ungroomed forest roads. For those wanting to bring home a little piece of Ferry County, numerous shops and galleries offer the work of local artisans.
BROCK HIRES | The Chronicle
The Curlew Car Museum.
BROCK HIRES | The Chronicle
JEANNIE PARKER | Submitted
Summer on the San Poil.
Omak Inn Full service deli Daily deli specials Quality meat and produce Anderson’s Grocery Sherman Mountain overlooks the Kettle Valley. Okanogan Country
J. FOSTER FANNING | Submitted
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Ferry County holds a rich history
Ferry County is rich in a history inextricably connected to its present. Highlights of the journey include: 1807: First trading post is established on the Columbia River. 1811: David Thompson, a fur trader, explorer and surveyor, writes about the area now included in Ferry County during his trip down the Columbia River to the sea. 1840s: Canada and the United States establish the international boundary at its present location. The Army establishes a military post at Pinkney City, which became the county seat of Stevens County and included present-day Stevens, Ferry and Spokane counties. 1853: President Millard Filmore signs a bill creating the Washington Territory, which includes today’s state of Washington, northern Idaho and western Montana. 1857: A large tract of land, mostly mountainous and including all of modern Ferry County, is set aside and called the Colville Indian Reservation. 1865: First fur traders come to the Colville Indian Reservation from the Hudson’s Bay Company. 1872: Colville Indian Reservation is created by executive order of President U.S. Grant. Less than a month later, another executive order reduces the size of the reservation and moves it to the west side of the Columbia River. 1883: Gen. William T. Sherman makes an inspection tour — probably over Deer Creek Boulder Pass instead of Sherman Pass, which is named for him. 1885: Chief Joseph and his people are moved to the Colville Indian Reservation. 1890s: The gold rush brings many prospectors and settlers into the area. 1892: North half of the Colville Indian 10
Reservation is purchased by the United States for $1.5 million. 1893-94: First government surveyors establish range and township boundaries. 1894: Ranald MacDonald, the first man to teach English language in Japan, dies and is buried in northern Ferry County. 1896: The north half of the Colville Indian Reservation opens for mining claims. First claim is staked on Eureka Creek just
north of present Republic. 1897: The town of Nelson is designated the first post office on the Colville Reservation. Its name is later changed to Danville. Also that year, Patrick H. Walsh erects the first sawmill in Ferry County, 1898: Republic’s first streets and lots are platted and in two months the population increases by 2,000. A franchise is granted for building the area’s first
BROCK HIRES | THE CHRONICLE
Ferry County's historic carousel is housed at the fairgrounds. Okanogan Country
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railroad. 1899: Ferry County separates from Stevens County and is named for Elisha P. Ferry, Washington’s first governor. Later that year half the Eureka’s businesses are destroyed by fire. 1900: The Gold Rush peaks and Eureka changes its name to Republic for of one of its largest mines. The North Half of the Colville Indian Reservation, now Ferry County, is opened to homesteaders by presidential proclamation. Restrictions on logging are lifted and many small sawmills appear. Two rival railroad companies construct lines in a race to reach the Republic’s gold fields. The local line was known as the “Hot Air Line” because of its shaky financing and premature, exaggerated publicity. 1903: The Ansorge Hotel is built SUBMITTED PHOTO next to the Great Northern Railway in Ferry County Rail Trail, a 24-mile trail that runs from Republic to Danville on the Curlew. 1904: Chief Joseph dies in Nespelem, Canadian border. Okanogan County. 1907: Colville National Forest is established by President Theodore Roosevelt. 1908: The Curlew bridge, built by William Oliver, opens. Two prior bridges were destroyed by floods. 1919: The “Hot Air Line” railroad goes bankrupt and closes. Small towns along the route sink into obscurity. 1933: Construction of Grand Coulee Dam begins. While constructing the dam and filling Lake Roosevelt reservoir provides jobs, electricity and irrigation projects, it also floods hundreds of archaeological sites and forces Keller and Inchelium to move to higher ground. 1964: Curlew Job Corps Civilian Conservation Center is built on the site of an old Air Force radar base. 1997: Colville Confederated Tribes celebrate the 125th anniversary of the reservation’s creation. 1998: Flood waters wash out state and county roads in late May. Later that year, Knob Hill Mine at the head of Eureka Gulch closes after operating continuously since 1902. 2003: One of the area’s largest employers, Vaagen Brothers Lumber, closes in the spring then catches fire in November. 2004: Kinross Gold Corp. announces plans to purchase and operate the Crown Jewel gold mining project at Buckhorn Mountain in Okanogan County. Gold is to be milled in Ferry County. 2007: The Kettle Falls International Railroad removes train tracks between Torboy and Danville, ending rail service BROCK HIRES | THE CHRONICLE in the county. The beautiful Kettle River. Vacationland
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Confederated Tribes. There are no visitor facilities. Those wishing to pay their respects are asked by members of the Nez Perce band to visit the roadside historic marker in Nespelem, and seek permission from the band to visit any other site in the area. Visitors are asked not to visit the gravesite. Information: www.nps.gov/nepe. People interested in the cultural history of the 12 bands of the Colville Confederated Tribes can find out more at the tribal museum in Coulee Dam. The tribe also offers the Fort Okanogan Interpretive Center off Highway 17 between Brewster and Bridgeport. Information: www.colvilletribes.com.
Reservation offers fun cultural experiences
Activities for the entire family on the Colville Indian Reservation include boating, fishing, hunting, camping, hiking, photo opportunities and cultural/historic information. Entry to the reservation has been restricted because of COVID-19. It’s best to check with tribal officials before venturing off state highways when traveling through the reservation or making plans to visit specific sites or events. People interested in outdoor activities on the reservation may contact the Colville Confederated Tribes’ natural resources or fish and wildlife departments. Employees have lots of information on campsites, hunting and fishing permits, and restrictions. The Colville Confederated Tribes is a sovereign nation and a recognized American Indian tribe. Descendants of 12 aboriginal bands of Indians are enrolled in the tribe, though not all live on the reservation. The reservation was established by presidential executive order in 1872 and originally was twice its present size. Its land base covers 1.4 million acres or 2,100 square miles. The reservation straddles Okanogan and Ferry counties. The reservation is made up of tribally owned lands held in federal trust status for the tribes, land owned by individual Colville tribal members - most of those lands are held in federal trust status - and land owned by others and described as “fee” property. Fee property is taxable by counties and the state. The tribe and the reservation are governed by the Colville Business Council, a group of 14 tribal members who are elected to two-year terms. Half of the council is up for election each year. Officers and committee chairs are elected from within the council by council 12
members during the annual reorganization in July. Newly elected council members are seated during the reorganization meeting. The reservation is divided into four districts: Inchelium, Keller, Nespelem and Omak, each with representation on the council. Council members oversee a diverse, multi-million dollar administration. A business arm oversees several divisions, including a gaming arm overseeing three casinos, recreational enterprise, stores, wood products companies and other businesses. Lake Roosevelt, the portion of the Columbia River held back by Grand Coulee Dam, boasts miles and miles of water sport opportunities, beautiful marinas, houseboat rentals, ferry service and concessions for visitors. Two free ferries, Inchelium-Gifford
Ferry and Keller Ferry, run daily across the lake and provides free passenger and automobile rides across the lake. The former is operated by the tribe; the latter is part of Washington State Ferries. Nespelem, headquarters location for the tribe, is a part of Nez Perce National Historical Park, a multi-site park’s final site, and is the resting place of Chief Joseph. The historical park consists of 38 geographically separate sites located on the Nez Perce (Nimiipuu) National Historic Trail. The Nez Perce Cemetery is an active, traditional Nez Perce cemetery and contains the remains of many participants of the Nez Perce War of 1877, including the younger Chief Joseph and Yellow Wolf. It has an association with the return of the Joseph Band from exile in Oklahoma. The site is administered by the Colville
Lake Rufus Woods behind Chief Joseph Dam.
JULIE BOCK | The Chronicle
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Balancing Rock overlooks Omak Lake. Okanogan Country
TIM DAVIS | Submitted
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DEE CAMP | The Chronicle
A young native dancer at the Nespelem Powwow. Vacationland
Phone 509-826-4752 • Fax 509-826-2160
P.O. Box 2027, Omak, WA 98841 • www.catesanderb.com Bonded and licensed CATESE1066MQ
Okanogan Country
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Hiking trails abound in Okanogan Country
Okanogan Country offers a wealth of hiking opportunities, from easy, paved trails that are accessible to wheelchairs and families to exhaustingly steep and narrow paths that lead to soaring summits. The Pacific Crest Trail winds along Okanogan Country’s western border and can be reached from a variety of points, as can the east-west Pacific Northwest Trail, which runs through northern Okanogan County. The U.S. Forest Service and other federal and state agencies maintain a variety of trails. A good place to start is with any office of the Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest or the Colville National Forest. Both offer websites, www.fs.fed.us/r6/ oka or www.fs.fed.us/r6/colville/, with trail locations, conditions, restrictions, maps and more. Forest Service offices offer a variety of maps, pamphlets and books detailing oneday and longer hikes. Some mate-rials are free. Because of COVID-19 concerns, it’s wise to check ahead of time to make sure the offices are open. Easy one-day hikes • Rowley's Chasm (Okanogan County). Short, mostly level hike to an impressive, 200-foot cleft in a rocky hillside. The trail features old-growth timber and views of the V-shaped Canyon Creek drainage. A 10-foot bridge crosses the chasm, named for prospector Jack Rowley. The bridge has no railings, so small children should be watched carefully. One way: 1.8 miles Location: Travel about 55.1 miles west of Winthrop on state Highway 20 (North Cascades Highway) to Canyon Creek. Follow a path from the parking lot about 14
one-quarter mile upstream to a bridge across Granite Creek. After crossing the bridge, veer left and continue downstream on the other side to the start of the trail, marked by a sign reading Chancellor Trail No. 754. The chasm, which can be dangerous to photograph, can be reached hiking up the trail (Jackita Ridge Trail is to your left) about two miles to a spur that drops to the left to the chasm. • Rainy Lake (Okanogan County). Paved, level path is suitable for wheelchairs. Trail winds through trees, over small streams to end at an observation deck at the water’s edge. There are interpretive signs. One way: 0.9 mile Location: Off state Highway 20 just west of Rainy Pass. • Blue Lake (Okanogan County). The trail climbs easily through dense forest to this turquoise pool, and skirts just below the massive granite faces of Liberty Bell Mountain and Early Winters Spires. One way: 2.2 miles Location: Off state Highway 20 west of Liberty Bell Mountain. • Foggy Dew Falls (Okanogan County). The moderately level trail follows the shady north side of Foggy Dew Creek through heavy forest. Views are limited, but the forest is cool and pleasant. One way: Three miles to falls, five miles to Martin Creek Trail. Location: Gold Creek Road south of Carlton to Forest Service Road No. 200. • Big Tree Trail (Okanogan County). The trail starts across the road from the Lost Lake guardhouse at the campground entrance. Look for the sign to the Big Tree Botanical Area. The hike is suitable for all ages and Okanogan Country
connects with a loop trail that highlights two 600-year-old western larch trees. Loop length: 0.7 mile Location: State Highway 20 east from Tonasket for 34 miles to Bonaparte Recreation Area turnoff on County Road No. 4953, which turns into Forest Service Road No. 32. Continue to Forest Service Road No. 33, then to a four-corner junction. Take Forest Service Road No. 33050 for one mile to Lost Lake Campground. • Mutton Creek Trail (Okanogan County). Trail goes along Mutton Creek and is a good hike for all ages. One way: 1 mile Location: North of Conconully on County Road No. 2361, which turns into Forest Service Road No. 38. Travel nine miles to Salmon Meadows campground. • Swan Lake Trail No. 14 (Ferry County). An easy hike at the north end of Swan Lake Campgrounds off Scatter Creek Road. The trail circles the lake and has plenty of huckleberries and thimbleberries. Water fowl, chipmunks, rabbits, squirrels and numerous birds are likely to enliven the journey, and you may even hear the haunting call of a loon, if you're lucky. Length: 1.5 miles Location: North end of Swan Lake Campground, then three miles farther along Scatter Creek Road. • Three easy trails (Ferry County). For a choice of three easy trails close together at about 3,650 feet elevation, drive 7.5 miles south on Highway 21 and turn west onto Scatter Creek Road No. 53. Continue about five miles to the Fish/ Long Lake (Forest Service Road No. 400) turnoff and turn left. Fish Lake Trail No. 2 trailhead is one-half mile in, at the north end of Fish Lake. Vacationland
The lake has a boat ramp. This is an easy 0.4-mile walk, with fishing available off the banks and camping at Long Lake Campground, located 0.3 mile farther from the trail. • Long Lake Trail No. 5 (Ferry County) offers a nice, 1.23-mile walk around Long Lake. Many fishing spots can be found along the banks. There is no elevation gain on the trail; Long Lake Campground is convenient for camping. The trailhead is located at the north end of Long Lake Campground, a short distance beyond Fish Lake Trail No. 2. • Ninemile Falls Trail (Ferry County). An easy, short hike of 0.3 mile can be found on the Ninemile Falls Trail. From Republic drive east on Highway 20, then turn onto Hall Creek Road. Drive 5.2 miles to Forest Service Road No. 2053 and follow it for 2.7 miles to the intersection of road Nos. 2053 and 2054. The trailhead is just beyond the junction. The trail provides a nice stroll on a forested ridge to a viewpoint where you can enjoy the falls on Ninemile Creek. • The Hoodoo Canyon/Emerald Lake hike (Ferry County) takes the traveler on a six- to eight-mile day adventure that starts in the lush, forested bottoms of Deadman Creek in Ferry County.
The trail climbs slowly nearly three miles to a spectacular view of the wild Hoodoo Canyon country and the mountain-blue surface of Emerald Lake below. You can relax and enjoy the view, surrounded by scattered wildflowers and
bountiful granite crags, or continue on down the trail another mile to the lake for a cool dip. The area can be accessed from Trout Lake Road off state Highway 20 in the Colville National Forest east of Republic.
JAN SIELER | Submitted
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Challenging Hikes The trail to Lake Ann.
Moderately difficult trails
• Deer Creek Summit South Loop Trail (Ferry County) is a 7.1-mile loop consisting of four miles of the Kettle Crest No. 13 trail and three miles of Forest Service Road No. 455. From its elevation of 4,600 feet it provides splendid views of the Kettle Crest and Kettle River Valley. From Republic, take Highway 21 to Curlew and travel east on Road No. 602 to the Boulder-Deer Creek Summit. While it’s a moderately difficult trail for hikers and an easy horseback ride, it offers a challenge for skiers, snowshoers and mountain bikers. • Tenmile Trail No. 25 (Ferry County) begins 10 miles south of Republic on Highway 21 at Tenmile Campground, adjacent to the San Poil River. While it begins well, the trail becomes challenging as loose rock makes it difficult to walk. Being bear country with an occasional rattlesnake, the 2.5-mile trail beginning at 2,133 feet and ending at 2,350 feet on Tenmile Road is best suited for adventurous hikers.
Advanced trails
• Timber Ridge Trail No. 17 (Ferry County) begins at 4,800 feet and ends its 3.23-mile journey at 6,200 feet. From Republic, drive north on Highway 21 and turn onto Fish Hatchery Road. When the road turns into Forest Service Road No. 2152, continue to the junction with Road No. 200, which goes to the trailhead. It’s a gradual ascent on an old road until the last mile, when there's a steep climb through thick woods to Kettle Crest Trail No. 13. • Kettle Crest Trail No. 13 North (Ferry County) is another popular advanced hike. The scenic 30.24-mile trail begins at an elevation of 5,600 feet at the trailhead, just off state Highway 20 at Sherman Pass, and ends at an elevation of 4,600 feet on County Road No. 602 at 16
DOUG CAMP | Special to The Chronicle
Boulder-Deer Creek Summit. From Republic drive about 17 miles east along state Highway 20 to Sherman Pass and turn left onto the trailhead access road. The trail is open to hiking, backpacking, mountain biking and horse riding. In the winter it’s an exciting challenge for cross country skiers and snowshoers.
Extra-challenging
• Thirteen Mile Trail No. 23 and Bear Pot Trail is 16.5 miles long (Ferry Coun-
ty), beginning at 2,020 feet and ending at 4,350 feet. From Republic drive 13 miles on state Highway 21 south to the trailhead. The trail begins down in the San Poil drainage at the Thirteen Mile Campground and ends off Hall Creek Road No. 2050600. Climb along steep, rocky canyons, cross creeks and ascend to view a majestic panorama, perhaps graced by the sight of an eagle flying over as you enjoy the view over the rocky cliffs.
From checkups to advanced surgical procedures,
BREWSTER, WASHINGTON
Anna Marie Dalbey CRS, SFR, CHS, CDPE, CNE
509.733.9434 ◆ Roads/Driveways ◆ Septic Systems ◆ Grading ◆ Orchard Removal and Preparation ◆ H2A Housing Excavation and Site Prep ◆ Home Site Prep
DEE CAMP | The Chronicle
The Blackpine Lake Trail ends with a view into the North Cascades.
Resort & Second Home Property Specialist Managing Broker Keller Williams NCW
We’re here for your family’s healthcare needs.
BUYING, SELLING
and
JUST FRIENDLY ADVICE
DEE CAMP | The Chronicle
A waterfall tumbles through the trees along the North Cascades Highway.
Healthcare services for the entire family. We are dedicated to providing high quality, safe, efficient, and cost effective care for our patients.
Brewster Clinic
Methow Valley Clinic
509.689.8900
509.996.8180
418 W. Main St., Brewster, WA
1116 Hwy. 20, Winthrop, WA
Oroville Clinic
Omak Clinic
509.476.3631
SERVING Okanogan, Chelan, & Douglas Counties LOCATED Brewster, WA 98812
1617 Main St., Oroville, WA
509.449.6881
509.826.1800 916 Koala Dr., Omak, WA
Tonasket Clinic
annamariedalbey@kw.com
509.486.2174 17 S. Western Ave., Tonasket, WA
www.livingwhereyouplay.com confluencehealth.org
KSEXCSE816MA
Licensed and Bonded
Okanogan Country
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Okanogan Country
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Bicyclists can find pedaling heaven
roll on in The Methow Valley’s one-stop bike shop for all things cycling and supping.
Bicyclists of all ages will find pedaling heaven on Okanogan Country’s miles upon miles of scenic country roads, quiet forest routes and exciting. single-track trails. You can pedal along hillsides covered in beautiful spring flowers, enjoy the warm summer sun, thrill to the brilliance of fall colors or take your fat-tire bike along groomed tracks in winter Drink in snow-covered peaks, enjoy a quiet tour along cool, forested roads or trek along paved roads under wide, blue skies. Take a break from driving and spend an afternoon pedaling on paved or gravel county roads or take an entire day exploring the region’s vast beauty. Mountain biking is allowed on most national forest trails and roads. Okanogan and Ferry counties are part of U.S. Bicycle Route 10, which travels along Highway 20 between Anacortes in western Washington and the Idaho border in Pend Oreille County. The 400-mile-long route is AASHTO-recognized. Some popular local routes include: • Twisp River Trail. Full of variety, fun and interesting scenery, this single-track trail parallels the Twisp River. • Lightning Creek. The 16-mile ride around Lightning Creek Ridge offers a mix of forest road and little-used trail. • Goat Wall. The 28-mile, Mazama-area route has nearly 3,500 feet of altitude gain, Cascade views and a wild downhill run back to the valley floor. • Sun Mountain. Extensive cross country ski trails also serve as perfect routes for mountain biking. 18
• Mid-valley loop. For folks who enjoy road riding, the loop runs north from Okanogan to the flats west of town and into Riverside for a nice pedal to Omak and back to Okanogan. • Oroville-Nighthawk. Start in Oroville and head west along the Similkameen River to the community of Nighthawk. From there, pedal along expansive Palmer Lake to Loomis, then take a speedy downhill ride back to the Okanogan Valley before heading up the east side of the Okanogan River and back to Oroville. • Sherman Trail No. 12. The 1.14mile, beginner-level trail takes a steady but not difficult climb to the Kettle Crest in Ferry County, traveling through a forested area broken up by two meadows. • From Sherman Pass take Road 2040
for 2.5 miles. Cross the south fork of the San Poil River and turn right on Road 65, then drive two miles to the trailhead. The trail is open to hikers, bikers and horse riders. • Deer Creek Summit South Loop Trail. Bikers will see views of the Kettle Crest and Kettle River Valley from this 5.5-mile ride along Kettle Crest No. 13 trail and Forest Service Road No. 455. From Republic, take Highway 21 to Curlew and Road 602 east to Boulder Deer Creek Summit. The trail is open for hikers, bikers, horse riders and cross country skiers. • Ferry County Rail Trail. The former railroad bed runs north-south from just north of Republic almost to the Canadian border.
SALES • SERVICE • RENTALS OPEN EVERY DAY
SOPHIE DANISON | Submitted
Okanogan Country offers bicycling opportunities.
Visit our 2021 Special Exhibit:
est1986 SURVEYING
PLANNING
Notable and Notorious Women of the North County
ENGINEERING
Offices in: Brewster East Wenatchee Chelan
Professional Land Surveying Land Use Planning Civil Engineering Construction Management Mobile Scanning
Unknown lady of the night
UAV LiDAR Mapping Fat biking in the Methow Valley. Okanogan Country
KRISTEN SMITH | Submitted Vacationland
MethowCycleSport.com 29 Hwy 20 Winthrop 509-996-3645
Extraordinary women who forged a legacy and place in history • Gateway Visitor’s Center to and from Canada • Bike Repair Stand • Gift Shop • New Permanent Outdoor Exhibit of a Native Pithouse • Visitor Information Center
Virginia Grainger Okanogan school teacher and county school superintendent
Open May 7-September 30 Six days a week 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Phone 509-476-2739 509-476-2476
•
1210 Ironwood • Oroville
erlandsen.com Vacationland
800.732.7442 Okanogan Country
Partially funded by Okanogan County LTAC Created by Omak-Okanogan County Chronicle
19
Hunting & Fishing Anglers try their luck on Sidley Lake.
DEE CAMP | THE CHRONICLE
SUBMITTED
Trophy deer await during hunting season.
Okanogan Country sports more than 100 lowland lakes maintained for fishing, boating, swimming and water skiing, and thousands of acres available for hunting deer and birds. Fishing opportunities range from trout and bass to channel catfish and perch, and from whitefish to steelhead and lahontan cutthroat. You can fish from shore, docks, boats and float tubes or drop a hook through the ice in winter. Several wheelchair-accessible sites are available. The variety continues on the Colville Indian Reservation; a special license is needed to fish specific waters available to non-tribal members. Because of COVID-19 restrictions, it’s a good idea to check first to make sure the reservation has reopened. Hunting opportunities include upland birds, waterfowl, turkeys, mule deer, bear, cougars and more. More information is available from the state Department of Fish and Wildlife and the Colville Confederated Tribes, or in The Chronicle’s annual Fishrapper publication.
Bonaparte Lake Resort
Making Family Memories 509-486-2828 615 Bonaparte Lake Road • Tonasket, WA 98855 www.bonapartelakeresort.com 20
Okanogan Country
BROCK HIRES | THE CHRONICLE
Stampede Motel
Family Operated, Family Oriented
Lakeside Dining Restaurant, Store, Gas, RV Sites, Cabins, Tent Sites, Hunting, Fishing, Camping, Swimming, Boating, Kayaking, Snowmobiling, Hiking, Cross-Country Skiing, Snowshoeing
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SUBMITTED
Spectacle Lake Resort Great fishing!
We serve the freshest lunch in town! • Organic food and produce • Bulk foods • Supplements • Organic coffee and teas • Fresh baked cookies • Beer • Wine • WiFi • Local honey, meat and produce Since 1977 • 21 W. 4th, Tonasket 509-486-4188
www.tonasketcoop.com • Open 7 days
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215 Fourth Ave. West • 509-826-1161 Direct TV • Free Wi-Fi Refrigerators, Microwaves • Coffee Pots, A/C, In-Room Phones, Non-Smoking Rooms Only, Dogs Allowed with Deposit.
Vacationland
509-223-3433
Rainbow, bass, blue gill, and perch. Store • Fishing tackle Licenses • Boat rentals Cozy rooms with kitchens Within Many Lakes Recreation Area
www.spectaclelakeresort.com • 10 McCammon Road, Tonasket
Okanogan Country
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Wildlife is abundant for the patient
JAN SIELER | SUBMITTED
Wildlife is abundant for the patient Visitors to Okanogan Country can find a variety of wildlife to observe if they pull off the beaten trail and watch quietly. North Okanogan One good area is Grandview Mountain and Chopaka Mountain on the west side of Palmer Lake. Mountain goats often can be seen from the road. Another good site is the Sinlahekin Valley south of Loomis. People can view waterfowl, white-tail deer, mule deer and butterflies. Bighorn sheep often can be seen on the cliffs on the east side of the valley and along the west face of Mount Hull of Highway 97 north of Tonasket. Loons congregate on Blue Lake in the Sinlahekin. Another good location for loons is east of Tonasket at Lost and Bonaparte lakes.
eagles and an occasional wolverine. Hart’s Pass Road is not suitable for trailers. Other species that call Okanogan Country home include cougars, wolves lynx, hares, moose, elk and a variety of small, furred animals. Grand Coulee Eagles like to congregate in the Grand Coulee area during winter months. The area also features a variety of
Methow Valley People can see a variety of critters such as white-tail and mule deer along Highway 20 northwest of Winthrop. There also is a tremendous diversity of songbirds at that location, one of the few places in the state with nesting redstarts. People who get close to the Methow River can see mink and otter, an occasional black bear and eagles. The location has a community trail that runs through and is open to bikers and hikers. It is somewhat wheelchair accessible. Trail pass information is available from Methow Trails, www. methowtrails.org. The Hart’s Pass area is good for observing many kinds of wildlife including deer, black bear, hairy marmots, pikas and a variety of birds, including golden 22
SHELBY READ | SUBMITTED
BROCK HIRES | The Chronicle
birds, deer and other animals. Ferry County Ferry County is home to numerous birds including Lewis’ woodpeckers, eagles and great gray owls. Several rare migrant eastern songbirds such as the bobolink, veery and American redstarts, along with the red-eyed vireo, can be seen in the area. Another bird attraction is the nesting loons on Swan and Ferry lakes.
BEN CARROL | SUBMITTED
Sunrise RV’s behind your next RV adventure!
LINDA PETERSON | SUBMITTED
LIAR’S COVE RESORT Stay on the Lake at Conconully
Waterfront Accommodations RVs, Cabins, Tent Sites Special Events Book Now!
509-826-1288 • Conconully reservations@liarscoveresort.com
JAN SIELER | SUBMITTED Okanogan Country
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Okanogan Country
23
Winter Outdoors Snowmobilers glide along a road near Conconully
Cross country skiing Several areas are groomed for cross country skiing and other human-powered winter sports such as snowshoeing, including the Methow Valley and Sun Mountain trail systems, Loup Loup area and Ferry County Rail Trail.
favorite pastime. An ice fishing tournament is offered each January in Molson.
are posted by state and federal officials. The state Sno-Park system offers parking areas for snowmobilers.
Fat biking A latecomer on the winter scene, fat-tire biking is gaining in popularity, particularly in the Methow Valley. Pearrygin Lake State Park is a favorite riding spot, along with the community and Sun Mountain trail systems.
Sno-parks Many Sno-Parks are available in Okanogan Country for snowmobilers, cross country skiers and others wanting to park in plowed-out areas. Sno-Park permits are required to park in the areas. Motorized and non-motorize parking area permits may be purchased from a variety of private vendors, and from the Washington Parks and Recreation Commission and some U.S. Forest Service offices. Information: https://parks.state. wa.us/206/Permits. Snowmobile Sno-Parks • Antilon Lake — End of plowed section on Antilon Lake Road.
Snowmobiling Snowmobiling is allowed on some county roads. Dual-use roads, approved each year by Okanogan County commissioners, join a variety of U.S. Forest Service roads that are available for snowmobiling. Snowmobiles are prohibited on county roads during log hauling operations; signs
• Silver Star – West of Mazama at Silver Star on the North Cascades Highway. • South Fork Gold Creek - 15 miles north of Pateros on Highway 153, then one mile west on County Road No. 1029, two miles south on Forest Road 4330. • Swan Lake - Seven miles south of Republic on Highway 21, then to Scatter Creek Road. • Twisp River - 10 miles west of Twisp on Twisp River Road, then two miles on Buttermilk Creek Road. • Yellowjacket - 6.9 miles west of Mazama via County Road No. 9140, then .5 mile north on Yellowjacket Road. Non-motorized sports Sno-Parks • Boulder Deer Creek - From Curlew take County Road No. 602 to summit. Parking is on the north side of the road. • Highlands - 15 miles northeast of Tonasket via Havillah Road, then two miles south on Forest Road 3230. • South Summit - 12 miles east of Twisp on Highway 20, then .3 mile south on Forest Road 41. • Sherman Pass - From Spokane take Highway 395 north to Colville. Head west on Highway 20 to Barney's Junction. Take Highway 20 west 16 miles to Sherman Pass. Parking for 25 vehicles is on the highway's north side.
AL CAMP | The Chronicle
Loup Loup Ski Bowl offers a quad lift.
Your Four Season Playground for Year-Round Recreational Events • Conconully State Park • Resorts & RV Parks • Hunting • Bird Watching • Hiking Trails • Fishing • Camping • Restaurants & Bars • ATV & Snowmobile Trails
Downhill skiing Loup Loup Ski Bowl, between Okanogan and Twisp off Highway 20, and Sitzmark Ski Area, Havillah, both offer downhill skiing and snowboarding. Both offer snowboard areas, in addition to allowing them on the regular runs. Lifts are offered at both hills. The Loup has a tubing area and a luge run. Ice fishing Several area lakes are open through the winter, so fishing through the ice is a 24
JAN SIELER | submitted Okanogan Country
Vacationland
Webpage: www.conconully.com Facebook: Conconully Chamber of Commerce Ad partially sponsored by Okanogan County Hotel/Motel Tax Fund
Vacationland
Okanogan Country
Created by The Chronicle
Winter’s a great time to be outdoors Folks who live in and visit Okanogan Country know that winter is a great time to be outside enjoying the area’s snow and ice. In the winter, Okanogan Country’s thousands of square miles turn into a wonderland of snowmobiling, cross country and downhill skiing, snowboarding, tubing, snowshoeing, hiking and fat biking opportunities. Throw in luging, skating, ice fishing, dog sledding and skijoring, ice sculpting, sledding, sleigh riding, outhouse racing in Conconully and Republic, snowshoe softball in Winthrop, bird watching and sometimes-frigid fun runs, and you’ve got a winter paradise for all. Several businesses offer equipment rentals.
AL CAMP | The Chronicle
• Black Canyon - 6.5 miles north of Pateros on Highway 153, one mile west on Forest Road 4010. • Bonaparte - 20 miles from Tonasket on Highway 20, then six miles on Bonaparte Lake Road. • Crawfish - 16 miles east of Riverside on County Road No. 9320. • Eightmile Ranch - Six miles north of Winthrop on County Road No. 1213 to junction with County Road No. 9137, then 2.5 miles north to Forest Road 51. • Empire Lake - 12 miles from Republic on County Road No. 270, then left on County Road No. 201 and then to Coun-ty Road No. 517. • Goat Creek - 16 miles northwest of Winthrop, right after crossing Mazama bridge, two miles south on Goat Creek Road and one-quarter mile up Forest Road 52. • Kerr Campground - Four miles north of Conconully on County Road 2361 and Forest Road 38. • North Summit - 12.5 miles east of Twisp on Highway 20, then .5 mile north on Forest Road 42. • Peacock Meadows - Three miles south of Conconully on County Road No. 2017, then one mile south on Forest Road 42.
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Farmers markets offer produce, friendly folks
Agri-Tourism OPPORTUNITIES ABOUND
Saddle up and take a tour of a working cattle ranch from horseback or ride through forests and rangelands where the deer run free and eagles glides across the sky. From guest ranches to wineries, fruit stands, farmers markets and on-farm bed and breakfast inns, Okanogan Country abounds in agri-tourism sites. Agri-tourism is one of the fastest growing new industries in north central Washington, spearheaded by orchardists, ranchers and other small farm owners launching a variety of enterprises to attract visitors and explain the rural way of life. Enterprises sell produce, crafts, fresh juices, hay rides, tours, value-added products and a wide variety of other items. Visit a historic working farm that still uses equipment from the 1930s or book a room at a quiet country inn overlooking the beautiful Methow River and surrounded by acres of gardens filled with herbs, vegetables and flowers. Take a winery tour and see how hand-harvested grapes are made into wine, available for purchase or sampling at the winery gift shop. Visit one of the many farmers markets or fruit stands where Okanogan Country orchardists and farmers sell freshly picked fruits and vegetables, along with homemade baked goods, jams and sauces, spices and other items made with tender loving care by the local people and family businesses whose names Peaches ripen in a Malott orchard. are on the label.
Ripe produce, fresh-baked pastries and other tasty treats abound at farmers markets throughout Okanogan Country. Farmers markets open in the spring with bedding plants, early crops, baked goods and other items, and continue through October when harvest season ends in Okanogan Country. Popular with residents and visitors alike, the markets provide a refreshing way to spend a morning or an afternoon in direct pursuit of apples, cherries, peaches, pears and nectarines grown in local orchards, and garden-fresh greens, tomatoes, mushrooms, zucchini, sweet corn and myriad other fresh produce. They offer potted and cut flowers and other items. Often there will be master gardener plant advice, kids’ crafts, live music and fresh-baked goodies thrown into the bargain. Visiting a farmers market provides a leisurely way to meet friendly local residents and enjoy the unique flavor of one the area’s many rural communities. Many farmers markets also offer gourmet, local coffee, honey and other snacks, along with crafts and art items. Farmers markets are conducted in Bridgeport, Grand Coulee, Okanogan, Omak, Oroville, Tonasket, Twisp and Winthrop.
Hwy. 97 located at milepost 275 Malott • 509-422-3145 26
AL CAMP | The Chronicle
Two stores: 306 N. Main, Omak • 509-322-8090 33607 Hwy. 97N, Tonasket • 509-476-2878 This product has intoxicating effects and may be habit forming. Marijuana can impair concentration, coordination and judgement. Do not operate a vehicle or machinery under the influence of this drug. There may be health risks associated with consumption of this product, and for use only by adults twenty-one and older. Keep out of the reach of children.
• Agriplex with 24,000 sq. ft. of indoor space • 50+ acres of useable space with courtyards and buildings • Commercial kitchen available
Agriplex
Stay in our RV Park Join us for the We offer full hookups for only $25 a day. Okanogan County Fair, Sept. 9-12 Traveling with horses? We have stalls. Our updated facilities offer the best ground around for your equestrian needs.
CBD Products • Flower • Edibles Glass and Accessories Best Prices • Selection • Service
Vacationland
Commercial Kitchen
RV Park
Contact us TODAY to book your event for 2021 and 2022.
Okanogan County Fairgrounds
Monday-Thursday 8 a.m.-11 p.m. • Friday and Saturday 8 a.m.-11:30 p.m. Sunday 8 a.m.-10 p.m. This product has intoxicating effects and may be habit forming. Marijuana can impair concentration, coordination and judgement. Do not operate a vehicle or machinery under the influence of this drug. There may be health risks associated with consumption of this product, and for use only by adults twenty-one and older. Keep out of the reach of children.
Okanogan Country
• Flower • Tinctures • Edibles • Medical Grade Oils Everyday low prices Local products when available All products must be purchased in person with valid ID.
Small family functions to large corporate gatherings.
Come taste the fruits of our labors!
Monday-Saturday 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Sunday noon-5 p.m.
DEE CAMP | THE CHRONICLE
Book Your Event!
DeLap Orchards & Fruit Stand • Pluots • Cherries • Apples • Peaches • Blueberries • Nectarines
Methow Valley Farmers Market
175 Rodeo Trail Road • Okanogan • 509-422-1621
www.okanogancounty.org/fair npeasley@co.okanogan.wa.us Vacationland
Okanogan Country
27
Accessible sites
Are we there yet?
Tonasket swimming pool.
We have the answer to ‘Are we there yet?’ You’ve been driving for hours. It’s hot, the kids are screaming and everyone’s cranky. Don’t despair. There are plenty of diversions for children in Okanogan Country. Most communities have parks with plenty of running-around room for youngsters; a few have adjacent swimming pools that are open during the summer months. Kid-friendly stops include: • Conconully State Park. Playground equipment, nature trail, running room, lake, picnic/barbecue areas, restrooms. • East Side Park, Omak. Swimming pool, playground equipment, tennis courts, basketball hoops, skate park, ball fields, paved walking/fitness trail. There’s a dog park, too, in case Fido needs a break. Omak Visitor Information Center and Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest visitor center are located in the park, as is the Omak Stampede office. The Stampede Museum is near the information center (by appointment). • Alma Park, Okanogan. Swimming pool, picnic area, playground equipment, horseshoe pits, small baseball diamond, basketball hoops. A river overlook and boat launch are nearby. • The Plex, Okanogan. Baseball/
BROCK HIRES | THE CHRONICLE
softball fields, soccer fields, fitness trail, playground equipment. • Brewster park complex. Pool, beach on Columbia River, climbing toys, basketball hoops and tennis courts nearby. • Tonasket parks. Pool, splash park, ball fields, skate park, running room. • Okanogan County Historical Museum. Historical exhibits including pioneer main street, gift shop, apple history, fire hall museum. Adjacent to Legion Park with Saturday morning farmers market, river views. • Old West Winthrop. Board sidewalks, appealing stores, putt-putt golf, gold panning, museums, park with play equipment. • Washington Pass Overlook. An easy hike west of Mazama on North Cascades Highway (state Highway 20); paved trail is accessible to wheelchairs and strollers. Restrooms and picnic tables. • Grand Coulee Dam. Tours, hiking trails, visitors’ center, Laser Light Show on the dam's face (Memorial Day through September). Skate park, playgrounds and riverside walking trail nearby. • Stonerose Interpretive Center and Eocene Fossil Site, Republic. Dig for fossils (fee charged). Republic has a nice downtown park with play equipment. Rail trails and day hiking trails nearby. • Chief Joseph Dam. Interpretive areas
and tours, paved interpretive trail, playground equipment, soccer field, restrooms, picnic areas. Bridgeport State Park nearby. • Lone Fir Trail. About five miles from Washington Pass; woodsy, winding, 0.8mile round trip includes four old-fashioned log bridges and a mix of forest and streamside settings. • Okanogan Country's innkeepers, guide services, resorts and parks offer a variety of kid-friendly amenities and activities, including fishing, horseback riding, bicycle rentals, hiking and water sports. (Because of ongoing COVID-19 closures, it’s best to check first before planning stops at pools, museums, dams and so on.)
Breakfast served all day! 24 N. Main • Omak, Wash. • 509-826-2325
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Okanogan Country
Vacationland
A number of campgrounds and trails in Okanogan Country are designed especially to accommodate individuals with disabilities. Among them: Trails • Rainy Lake, located near Rainy Pass, is a 1.7-mile round trip trail that’s paved and mostly level. It's said to be one of the best trails in the state for individuals with disabilities. A small observation deck at the lake gives a great view of the lake and its glacial cirque, and the waterfall that feeds it. Along the trail through well-shaded forest are benches, bridges across two mountain stream and a handful of simple interpretive signs about the surrounding mountains and forest. The trail starts at a popular picnic area with restrooms. • Washington Pass Overlook, located about six miles from Rainy Pass, is the summit of the scenic highway. The paved, level trail is 800 feet round trip. The trail leads to a granite bluff 700 feet above the highway. Past the overlook, the trail continues around a short loop, but has steps and steep ramps to get through rough terrain. Restrooms and picnic tables can be found in the parking lot area. • Lone Fir, about five miles from Washington Pass, was built in 1993. The woodsy, winding, 0.8-mile round trip includes four old-fashioned, non-accessible log bridges and a mix of forest and streamside settings. The trail is paved and mostly level with gentle hills and dips, ending at the longest bridge across Early Winters Creek. The path continues, but is designed to be a little more challenging. The trail takes off from a U.S. Forest Service campground. Accessible trails outside the North Cascades Scenic Highway area include: • Blackpine Lake, about 15 miles southwest of Twisp at Blackpine Lake Vacationland
Wheelchair user heads to Falls Creek Falls. Campground. The paved, mostly level trail is a half-mile round trip along the lake. Built in 1992, it offers views of a quiet pocket of water surrounded by pines. The parking area features restrooms and picnic areas. Two docks and a boat ramp serve the lake, and there’s a Forest Service campground. • Falls Creek, about 12 miles north of Winthrop. The paved, 500-foot trail leads to the base of lower Falls Creek Falls. The trail continues up non-accessible stone steps and a switchback trail for views of the upper falls. A campground is across the road. • Happy Creek, in the Ross Lake National Recreation Area (outside of the Okanogan National Forest on the western side of the North Cascades Highway). It's a 0.3-mile, multi-level boardwalk circling through quiet, oldgrowth forest. • Big Tree, east of Tonasket near Bonaparte Lake. The compacted gravel and dirt trail, generally flat, has two sections with a 25 percent grade. • Ferry County Rail Trail, north of Republic. Much of the former railroad bed is accessible, and volunteers work continually to improve the trail and make more of it accessible. Okanogan Country
DOUG CAMP | Special to The Chronicle
Camping State camping areas with facilities to accommodate individuals with disabilities include Alta Lake, Bridgeport, Conconully, Pearrygin Lake and Steamboat Rock state parks. Conconully Lake (upper lake) has a state-operated, wheelchair-accessible fishing dock. Okanogan National Forest camping areas with accessible accommodations include Beth Lake, Tiffany Springs, Long Swamp, Crawfish Lake, Sugarloaf, War Creek, Mystery, Poplar Flat, South Creek, Road's End, Meadows, Hart’s Pass, Flat, Nice, Ruffed Grouse, Honeymoon, Falls Creek, Chewuch, Camp 4, Loup Loup, Foggy Dew, Early Winters, Klipchuck, Lone Fir, Ballard and River Bend. Bonaparte Campground and fishing dock, and Bridge Creek trailhead also are accessible. North Cascades National Park campgrounds with accessible facilities include Colonial Creek, Goodell Creek and Newhalem Creek. Cities and counties Many cities’ park and camping areas have wheelchair accessible facilities, as does the Okanogan County Fairgrounds. 29
Okanogan Country's scenery stretches on and on Liberty Bell Mountain.
Washington celebrates its scenic diversity with the Washington State Scenic Byways program, just one way you can enjoy Okanogan Country and its many beautiful highways and country roads. Twenty-five highway corridors statewide carry the scenic byways moniker, and Okanogan Country sports five of those scenic drives. • North Cascades Scenic Highway - Highway 20 begins in the Skagit River Valley and rises through the snowcapped peaks of the North Cascades. It skirts emerald waters of Ross Lake, over two mountain passes and then descends into the rugged Methow Valley. Indians used the corridor as a trading route from the eastern plateau country to the Pacific Coast for thousands of years before white settlers arrived in search of gold, fur-bearing animals and land to settle. Length: 140 miles. • Cascade Loop - The loop stretches from the islands of Puget Sound across
the North Cascades Highway (Highway 20) to the Methow Valley, south to Wenatchee (Highway 97 or 97A) and back across the Cascades via Stevens Pass (Highway 2). It takes in diverse scenery from ocean views, America's Alps - the North Cascades - and high desert Columbia River fruit country. Length: 400 miles. • Okanogan Scenic Byway - The route begins in Pateros at the confluence of the Columbia and Methow rivers and travels north to the international border near Oroville. The byway along U.S. Highway 97 traces the fertile valleys of the Columbia and Okanogan rivers. Native Americans were the earliest settlers; now they share the Okanogan Valley with farming communities that turn out fruit, cattle and other products. Length: 83 miles. • Coulee Corridor - The corridor takes in spectacular cliffs carved by ice age flooding and high desert that pro-
duces a variety of agricultural products thanks to irrigation waters from the Grand Coulee Dam project. The coulee is a magnet for resident and migratory wildlife, and a paradise for the recreational traveler. The corridor includes the portion of state Highway 155 that travels through the Colville Indian Reservation, making the designated corridor run from Othello to Omak. Length: 160 miles. • Sherman Pass Scenic Byway The route travels along state Highway 20 from Republic to Kettle Falls through the heart of the Colville National Forest. It crosses the highest year-round pass in Washington (Sherman Pass) and includes interpretive signs for the White Mountain Fire of 1988. Length: 35 miles. More about the National Scenic Byways program is at www.byways. org. More on the state program: www. experiencewa.com/things-to-do/scenic-byways.
More than 1,500 species of plants have been identified in the park. Hunting and trapping are prohibited in the park. Trapping also is prohibited in Ross Lake National Recreation Area and in the Lake Chelan National Recreation Area. When driving across the highway, travelers should start with a full tank of gas because there are no services other than restrooms and campgrounds for 75 miles between Mazama and Newhalem. Heading over Washington Pass from
Diablo Lake in the North Cascades.
Our team is ready to help with all your real estate needs. Town, country, lakeside commercial, land sales.
614 Okoma Drive, Omak 509-826-4060
Okanogan Country
Vacationland
DOUG CAMP | Special to The Chronicle
Come Hungry, Leave Happy!
Admission is by donation. Open to the public (COVID dependent) April-Oct. Located on the Twisp Works campus, corner of Glover Street and Fifth Avenue, Twisp, WA
email: rdevon@remax.net www.orovillelakeandcountry.net 1510 Main Street, Oroville, WA 98844
the eastern side is the steepest - people should make sure their vehicles are in good condition with good fluid levels. A park visitor center is located in Newhalem. Information: www.nps.gov/noca/, 360854-7200. Besides being a federally designated scenic highway, the North Cascades Highway also is part of the state’s North Cascades and Cascades Loop scenic byways. Information: www.experiencewa. com/things-to-do/scenic-byways.
Stockyard Cafe
At the Methow Valley Interpretive Center visitors are invited to use all their senses to learn about the past by interacting with the clues and artifacts left behind by the people and events that came before us. Visit the NW Plateau Pithouse, the Native Gardens, the exhibits and more!
Lake and Country
509-476-4444 • Cell 509-429-0150
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North Cascades Scenic Highway – state Highway 20 - which connects the Skagit and Methow valleys, takes travelers through a wild country of crystal clear lakes, abundant wildlife and stunning peaks. It travels through North Cascades National Park, Ross Lake National Recreation Area and plenty of national forest land. The Pasayten and Lake Chelan-Sawtooth wilderness areas are nearby. It was the first road proposed and the last one built through the Cascades, and is the highest and northernmost of Washington's Cascade crossings. It crosses Washington Pass at 5,477 feet and Rainy Pass at 4,860 feet. Alexander Ross was one of the earliest explorers of the region in 1814. Miners prospected for gold, lead, zinc and platinum from 1880 to 1910, but transportation costs cut heavily into profits and most mining efforts were abandoned by 1910. The highway opened in 1972, but usually is closed by snow during the winter - typically from late November or early December until mid- to late April. Information: https://wsdot.wa.gov/travel/ highways-bridges/passes/north-cascades-highway/home or www.wsdot. wa.gov. North Cascades National Park, established in 1968, consists of more than 684,000 acres and contains more than half (318) of the glaciers in the contiguous U.S. Its eastern edge borders Okanogan Country. Along and near the highway are more than 360 miles of maintained trails available for hiking.
Interact with Natural and Cultural History!
Welcome to the Sunny Okanogan and for all your auto and RV needs, see us at
509-557-6555 607 Okoma Drive, Bldg. #1, Omak
North Cascades: Clear lakes, wildlife and stunning peaks
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American Style Cafe Breakfast All Day Find us on Facebook, YouTube and www.methowvalleyinterpretivecenter.com
7 a.m.-2 p.m. Monday-Saturday
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65 Rodeo Trail Road • Okanogan • 509-826-8001 31
White-knuckle driving, but spectacular views If you enjoy spectacular mountain views and don’t mind a little white-knuckle driving, a trip to Hart’s Pass and Slate Peak should be on your itinerary. The 26-mile trek from Mazama, located in the upper Methow Valley, takes you along the rushing Methow River, then up a narrow, switchback-filled road that sometimes barely clings to the mountainsides. Once you’ve made the trip, you’ll be rewarded with a panoramic view of the North Cascades. Wildflowers are impressive during the brief blooming season (June-July), and bird watchers frequent the area to look for boreal bird species and migrating raptors. Deer and other larger animals also live in the area. The lure of gold first brought travelers to the area, and some thought the route might serve a railroad across the mountains. Surveys quickly discouraged that idea. In 1893, persistent prospectors found rich ore in a valley just west of the pass and the rush was on. Mines needed supplies, and gold had to be carried out. By 1900 crews had carved out the first rocky wagon track, engineered by Col. W. Thomas Hart. In 1903 the precarious road was widened to 36 inches. Truck axels were shortened to fit the roadbed. For the next three decades, mining operations came and went. Freight of all sorts moved on horses, mules, wagons, tractors, Model A trucks, snowshoes and dogsleds. The present-day road, widened in 1935 by the Forest Service, follows most of the original route to the mines. In 1941, the fear of a Japanese invasion of the Northwest brought the military to remote Hart’s Pass. A guard station at the pass was used as an outpost of the Air Warning Service. Later, during the Cold War, Ground Observer Corps volunteers kept an eye on the sky from the site. Every plane was reported to the U.S. Air Force in Spokane. State’s highest road To reach Hart’s Pass, the highest drivable road in Washington state (6,197 feet), travel along the Methow River on Lost River Road out of Mazama. The road narrows after the Lost River bridge and winds through heavy forest for a time. 32
The view from Hart's Pass Road.
DEE CAMP | THE CHRONICLE
Sections of the one-lane, gravel road cling to the mountainside. Trailers are not allowed. Defensive driving is a must. The Forest Service cautions drivers to proceed slowly and be careful on corners. If you meet a larger truck, let it pass on the inside if you can to keep the heavier vehicle off the outside edge of the road. There are few turnouts.
Columbia Basin to high mountain pastures. • Tilted strata. Near Hart’s Pass, look south to see tilted layers of rock exposed in the steep mountainsides. It was laid down at the bottom of an ancient sea. • Beetle kill. In the valley, just before Hart’s Pass, many evergreen trees are dead. Years ago, spruce beetles killed about half the forest in a natural thinning process. Snags now are home to a great variety of Points of interest: wildlife. • Robinson. The frontier town of Rob• Guard station. A lookout point during inson, near the mouth of Robinson Creek, World War II and the Cold War. began its life in 1887 as “Camp Trouble- Road to Barron and Chancellor. The some.” No trace of the town is left, but there road splits at Hart’s Pass, with one fork (to is a Forest Service campground nearby. the left) diving into Slate Creek and the rem• Viewpoint. The upper Methow Valley nants of two old mining towns. Barron is on is a classic glacier-carved valley with steep private land behind a locked gate. The road sides and a flat bottom. The bottom is filled ends shortly beyond Barron at a washed-out bridge three or four miles before the ghost with glacial rubble hundreds of feet thick. Ice receded from the area some 14,000 years town of Chancellor. • Slate Peak. A small parking lot ago, leaving a few small glaciers on high perches on the divide just below Slate Peak, peaks. elevation 7,488. It’s a short, somewhat steep • Last Chance Point. Gateway to the Robinson Creek drainage. A huge rockslide hike on a graveled road to the summit, which boasts a fire lookout and panoramic can be seen stretching from the craggy view of the North Cascades. summit to the valley bottom. Interpretive signs identify the major • Deadhorse Point. Local legend says the place was named when horses in a pack peaks, including Mount Baker to the west, and various other mountains in the United string panicked and ran down the narrow trail. More trail-wise mules tried to stop, but States and Canada. There are no restroom facilities at the the horses proved stronger and pulled the summit or parking lot, but there are farther whole string over the edge to its death. down the road. Snow stays on the road well • Salt lick. Animals often can be seen into late spring and begins falling again in below the road above Deadhorse Point. It’s not a good idea to stop on the narrow road. early fall. Hart’s Pass provides access to a number • Pasayten Driveway. A livestock trail of trails, including the Pacific Crest Trail. along which sheep were herded from the Okanogan Country
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www.OkanoganCountry.com • 1(888)431–3080
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Public Lands United States Forest Service Colville Indian Reservation State Dept of Natural Resources State Dept of Wildlife Land Bureau of Land Management Colville National Forest
Lookout Mountain Trail
(888) 431-3080 ~ www.okanogancountr y.com/Summer
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Okanogan Country in north central Washington State offers everything from snow-capped mountains to high deserts, verdant agricultural areas to wide-open range. You’ll find friendly towns and quiet corners to explore here, the largest county in Washington State. With 1,000 miles of scenic trails, 200 water and wildlife access areas, three million acres of public land, and over 300 days of sunshine, you can experience almost any outdoor adventure imaginable.
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Ferry County, nestled in the rugged Kettle Range just south of the Canadian border, provides scenic drives, wildlife, history and outdoor activities. The fun includes fishing, hiking, boating, snowmobiling and cross country skiing. Spend a day driving the scenic Ferry County loop. Enjoy a free ride on the Keller Ferry as it crosses the Columbia River and follow the San Poil River north on Highway 21 to Republic. Ferry County is home to numerous birds including Lewis’ woodpeckers, eagles and great gray owls. Several rare migrant eastern songbirds flourish in the area, including the bobolink, veery, American redstart and red-eyed vireo. Nesting loons provide another bird attraction on Swan and Ferry lakes, located a few miles southwest of Republic. Just south of town, off Highway 21, is the Eagle Track raceway. Oval dirt track racing is offered some weekends during the summer. Once you reach Republic, travel east on state Highway 20 across Sherman Pass, the highest year-round, maintained mountain crossing in Washington at 5,575 feet. On the ascent, stop at the White Mountain Interpretive Site (milepost 316), which captures details of the White Mountain Fire of 1988. The site offers a restroom. Descending from the summit, visit the Log Flume Interpretive Trail, a half-mile flat walk among the ruins of a 1920s logging operation. Before turning north on Highway 395, visit the Kettle Falls Interpretive Center, just across the Columbia River. It uses dioramas to offer insights about the daily lives of the People of the Falls who once lived in the area. St. Paul’s Mission is located just a mile beyond the center, at what was once Fort Colville of the Hudson’s Bay Company. Returning to the loop, it’s 29 miles north to Laurier, at the Canadian border. Follow Highway 395 north along the Kettle River, where tubing is a popular pleasure in the summer. While a lot of river frontage is private property, the bridges at Boyds and Barstow offer public access. For more tubing
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options continue northward to the beach four miles south of Orient. Rock Cut Campground, four miles north of Orient, offers inner tubing access. There’s also public access in Laurier. When you’re refreshed, return to the loop at the Boulder Pass/Deer Creek cut-off (Highway 61/602) and drive west over beautiful 4,600-foot Boulder Pass to Curlew. The unincorporated town includes limited shopping, a post office, food and other amenities. The Ansorge Hotel Museum, furnished just as it was in the early 1900s, is open from June 1 through Labor Day, or by appointment. Henry Food once stayed there. Just across the historic old bridge and up the hill, the outdoor Stotts stage features a pair of large, carved curlew birds. Heading south toward Republic, drive west on Kettle River Road for nine miles to view an artistic rendering of the life of Ranald MacDonald at a state pull-out Okanogan Country
J. FOSTER FANNING | Submitted along the road. MacDonald was one of the first westerners to live in Japan. Cross the river just ahead to visit his gravesite beyond the bridge. Return to state Highway 21 and stop by the Husky Antique Car and Truck Museum, three miles south of Curlew. Continue south for a break at Curlew Lake State Park. Ferry County Rail Trail parallels Highway 21 north of Republic and links to the Golden Tiger Pathway in Republic. Both offer hiking, bicycling and cross country skiing. Back in Republic, stops include the Morris Merry-go-Round Pavilion at the Ferry County Fairgrounds and the Stonerose Interpretive Center and Eocene Fossil Site downtown. Republic also offers shopping, gas, food, parks and other amenities. Watch for the deer that make Republic their home throughout the year. Information: www.ferrycounty.com. 37
Byway includes ice age cliffs Coulee Corridor Scenic Byway takes in spectacular cliffs carved by ice age flooding and high desert that produces a variety of agricultural products, thanks to irrigation waters from the Grand Coulee Dam project. The coulee is a magnet for resident and migratory wildlife, and a paradise for the recreational traveler. The corridor includes the portion of state Highway 155 that travels through the Colville Indian Reservation, making the designated corridor run from Othello
A boat on Banks Lake
to Omak. Coulee Corridor Scenic Byway is known as “The Great Washington State Birding Trail” because of the numbers and diversity of birds found along the way. The byway, which runs along state highways 17 and 155 with spurs along the sides, features more than half of Washington’s 365 bird species. Thousands of sandhill cranes come through on the Pacific Flyway in spring and fall, while black-crowned night herons and
great egrets stay to rest in summer. The area’s bald eagle and waterfowl populations offer great winter birding. There are plenty of lakes - both small potholes and miles-long Lake Roosevelt plus extensive wetlands. A Sandhill Crane Festival celebrates those birds. Dry Falls, site of a prehistoric waterfall larger than Niagara Falls, lies along the route. More information: https://coulee corridor.com/.
DEE CAMP | The Chronicle
TIM DAVIS | SUBMITTED
Highway 155 runs through the Grand Coulee.
DEE CAMP | THE CHRONICLE
Tires for all your vehicles • Trucks • Pickups • Cars • ATVs/UTVs • Tractors • Alignments
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631 Okoma Drive • Omak • 509-826-0586
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Kory Heindselman Manager/Broker
Okanogan Country
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This dam tour will take you for a loop Some of the most diverse scenery and engineering wonders in eastern Washington unfold on a loop from Omak to Coulee Dam and back again. Starting in Omak, head southeast on Highway 155 over Disautel Pass. You'll climb steadily through rolling sagebrush and grasslands of the Colville Indian Reservation. Just a few miles out of town is a historic marker for St. Mary's Mission, established in 1886 by Father Etienne deRouge. The church, still an active place of worship, can be seen in the distance. On the same grounds are the Colville Confederated Tribes’ Paschal Sherman Indian School, a boarding and day school, and the Omak Longhouse meeting hall. Motorists should watch for the occasional deer or bear, as well as cattle that sometimes cross the road. Much of the area is open range, so cattle have the right of way. A statue of Bigfoot can be seen on a hill above the highway near the summit. Once past the summit (elevation 3,252), the road meanders through more pine forests and past tranquil lakes before popping out at Nespelem, headquarters for the Colville Confederated Tribes. The Town of Nespelem and the Colville Indian Agency, two miles beyond, offer food, gas and limited shopping. Information about camping, fishing, hunting and other activities on the reservation is available at tribal headquarters on the agency campus. Travelers continue through sagebrush and rock-strewn landscape past Elmer City to Coulee Dam and the Grand Coulee Dam, which holds back the mighty Columbia River. Watch for sculptures of native root diggers along the highway between Nespelem and Elmer City. The Town of Coulee Dam - which lies in three counties (the Okanogan County portion is within the reservation) - offers full tourist services, including lodging, gas, food, tribal museum and gift shop, RV facilities and parks. Be sure to stop at Grand Coulee Visitor Arrival Center on the Grant and Douglas counties side of the river. The center will have the latest details on visiting the dam;
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access to the dam may vary according to security and COVID-19 concerns. During summer months (Memorial Day through September), the Laser Light Show plays on the dam’s face just after dusk. The free, narrated show tells the story of Grand Coulee Dam’s construction. It also can be viewed from the Crown Point overlook, off state Highway 174. Construction on Grand Coulee Dam began July 16, 1933, and the first water spilled over the dam June 1, 1942. Nathaniel Washington Power Plant (formerly the Third Powerhouse) was completed in 1980. Highway 155 then takes the traveler through the City of Grand Coulee, also with many tourist amenities, to the junction of Highway 174. Gehrke Windmill Garden, in North Dam Park, displays fanciful whirlygigs. A side trip well worth the drive continues south through Electric City and past Banks Lake, which offers a state park, golf course and plenty of boating opportunities. Keep going through the Grand Coulee to the Dry Falls Overlook just southwest of Coulee City. Dry Falls is the site of a massive prehistoric waterfall created during ice age flooding. What remains now is a giant canyon headed by a sheer drop-off. An interpretive center and restrooms aid the traveler. For the return portion of the loop, return to Grand Coulee and turn west onto state Highway 174. The road climbs rapidly through a narrow canyon, emerging on a rolling prairie that takes the traveler through basalt rock formations and farmland to Leahy Junction, where you turn onto state Highway 17 to head toward Bridgeport and Chief Joseph Dam. Bridgeport offers full services, plus several community parks. Conklin Park offers a boat ramp. More boating opportunities can be found a Willow Flats Recreation Area off Pearl Hill Road next to the dam. Two handicapped-accessible fishing platforms and a boat dock are available. Chief Joseph Dam offers a scenic overlook just before Bridgeport (on the Douglas County side of the river) with
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children’s playground, picnic area and rest rooms, and a roadside orientation center (on the Okanogan County side) off Highway 17, along with a riverside trail, restrooms, soccer field and play equipment. Salmon and mourning dove exhibits at the orientation area describe the importance of salmon to Native Americans, and barriers to salmon survival. Three additional viewpoints around the dam provide more exhibits and great vantage points. If you want to travel to the dam itself, check with the visitors’ center or dam project office about visiting. Access may be restricted, depending on security and COVID-19 concerns. Chief Joseph Dam, operated by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, is the second-largest hydropower-producing dam in the United States and contains the longest straight-line powerhouse in North America. Nearby is Bridgeport State Park, which offers a sandy swimming beach, boat launch, picnic area and campground with RV facilities. From Chief Joseph Dam, travelers continue northwest on state Highway 17 to its junction with U.S. Highway 97. Tribal hatcheries, fishing opportunities and a golf course lie along Highway 17. Just before the junction is the Fort Okanogan Interpretive Center, operated by the Colville Confederated Tribes. It overlooks the Columbia River and the site of the long-gone fur trading fort, one of the first non-Indian settlements in Washington. Once on U.S. Highway 97, travel north past orchards and cattle ranches along the Okanogan River within the Colville Indian Reservation. Okanogan, the Okanogan County seat, offers lodging, gas, shopping, historical and fire hall museums in Legion Park and a Saturday morning farmers market. You can return to Omak through Okanogan via Highway 215 (through town) or via Highway 97. (Because of ongoing COVID-19 concerns, it’s best to check with dams, parks and other sites ahead of time to make sure they’re open.)
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Douglas County Loop
DEE CAMP | The Chronicle
Grand Coulee Dam holds back the Columbia River.
JULIE BOCK | The Chronicle
Banks Lake is a fishing and boating paradise. 40
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Loop through Douglas County for water sports and more Fishing, swimming and water sports await you in Douglas County, southeast of Okanogan County. Fishing, especially for bass, is available at Banks Lake, where several bass tournaments are held each year. There's plenty of room to water ski, too, especially near scenic Steamboat Rock. Golf is available near Electric City. A fun loop starts at Grand Coulee, where you can view the dam and take tours. At night during the summer months is the Laser Light Show, projected on the dam’s face. It’s best to check to make sure the dam is open and the light show is happening; both have been closed down because of COVID-19. Several overlooks are available for tremendous viewing. Head south on Highway 155 to find Banks Lake and Banks Lake Golf Course south of Electric City. You’ll travel along massive basalt walls of the Grand Coulee, formed by prehistoric flooding. Turn west at Coulee City, where you can return north on Highway 17 and then back east to Grand Coulee on Highway 174, or make a larger loop by heading west on Highway 2 to the Columbia River. You’ll travel through miles and miles of wheat fields. A side trip goes south a couple miles on Highway 17 to Dry Falls, where at an overlook you can view the dry remnant of a prehistoric waterfall many times larger than Niagara Falls. Farther south, slightly into Grant County, are the Lake Lenore Caves. In between is Sun Lakes State Park, with a resort and golfing nearby. If you head west from Coulee City on the large loop, you eventually will come to the old wheat town of Waterville, county seat of Douglas County. Along the way a short jaunt to the north near Mansfield takes you to Jameson and Grimes lakes, where fishing opportunities are some of the best in eastern Washington. After going down the grade out of Waterville, you will arrive at the Columbia River. Heading north you will cross the Columbia at Chelan Falls, which features a treacherous, narrow gorge best viewed from a distance. On the way back to Okanogan County you can visit Wells Dam south of Vacationland
Pateros before taking Highway 173 out of Pateros to Bridgeport and hooking up with Highway 17 (eventually 174) back to Grand Coulee. Or you could take the short loop from Coulee City, heading north on Highway 17 to Leahy Junction. There you turn
east and return to Grand Coulee on Highway 174. A short trip off this loop could include another town based on wheat, Mansfield. A wildlife area is located on Bridgeport Hill on the county road running between Bridgeport and Mansfield.
DEE CAMP | The Chronicle
Dry Falls is the site of a prehistoric waterfall much larger than Niagara Falls.
Dry Falls was formed thousands of years ago Dry Falls was formed thousands of years ago Spectacular Dry Falls is located two miles north of Sun Lakes State Park on Highway 17 between Coulee City and Soap Lake. Geologists believe that thousands of years ago Dry Falls was a great waterfall on the course of the Columbia River. Surrounded by towering walls of rimrock, Dry Falls is amazing to behold - a dry cliff 400 feet high and 3.5 miles wide. When active, it was 10 times larger than Niagara Falls. Dry Falls offers a visitor center and is part of Sun Lakes State Park, which offers the closest camping area to Dry Falls. The park features picnicking, day use, golfing, water recreation and boat launching facilities. Okanogan Country
Boats can be rented to explore the park’s nine lakes; the park features other amenities. The Columbia River now flows north of Dry Falls/Sun Lakes at the head of the Grand Coulee. Sun Lakes State Park has tent sites, utility spaces, a dump station, restrooms and showers. Maximum site length is 50 feet (limited availability). Reservations are advised for the summer months. The park also offers a group camp for tents only that accommodates up to 40 people. Park reservations: 888-CAMPOUT (226-7688), https://parks.state.wa.us/223/ Reservations. State parks information: https://www. parks.wa.gov. 41
Lake Roosevelt: It's one big, long stretch of water
Learn about Coulee Dam's 'forgotten era'
If you enjoy water sports, wildlife watching or geological history, you can find them in the Lake Roosevelt National Recreation Area. The recreation area stretches 130 miles along the length of Lake Roosevelt, the Columbia River backed up by Grand Coulee Dam. The lake boasts 600 miles of shoreline and 81,000 acres of lake surface. The dark, layered rock walls were built up from lava that gushed out of enormous cracks in the earth. During the last ice age, catastrophic floods with 10 times the flow of all the rivers on earth raged through the area, carving the spectacular canyon of the Grand Coulee and other deep channels. The lake, created in 1941 with construction of Grand Coulee Dam, is named after President Franklin D. Roosevelt. It offers sand and gravel beaches, swimming areas and opportunities for fishing, boating, camping, water skiing and wildlife watching. Creation of the sprawling recreation area began with 24 million tons of concrete and steel to make Grand Coulee Dam. The dam turned the power of the Columbia River into electricity and vast deserts into productive farmlands. Just below the dam is a visitors' center with murals, artifacts and photographs documenting the site before, during and after construction. Western forts and missions located in the area are reminders of the past when missionaries and explorers for the Hudson’s Bay Company and the Northwest Trading Company mapped the area, built settlements and developed relationships with the tribes. Surrounding the lake are a natural conifer forest, scrublands and grasslands that are home to bald eagles, black bear, elk, bobcat and other wildlife. Osprey, hawks and smaller birds are year-round residents. Portions of the recreation area are open seasonally for hunting. Game includes whitetail and mule deer, black bear, pheasant, quail, chukar and migratory birds such as mourning doves, ducks and Canada geese. More than 30 species of game fish swim the lake’s waters.
If you’d like to learn about the “forgotten era” of Coulee Dam’s history, the Grand Coulee Dam Area Chamber of Commerce has compiled a walking tour of the city to help. Sites on the tour include: 1. Grand Coulee Dam Visitor Arrival Center, starting point for tours of the dam. 2. Seaton’s Ferry. Sam Seaton operated a ferry on the site from 1920 until it was sacrificed in 1934 to build the dam. 3. Post office. The 1934 building was a post office until it was sold to the City of Coulee Dam in 1957. Its design resembles President Franklin D. Roosevelt’s summer White House in Warm Springs, Ga. 4. Dormitories. In 1935 the dorms were constructed to house single men working on the dam as engineers, inspectors and clerks. 5. Federal administration. Now Coulee Dam Town Hall, the building once housed dam engineering and construction supervision offices. 6. Train tunnel. Part of a 32-mile railroad built to haul materials and equipment to the dam site. A faulty trestle kept this portion of the railroad from being used. 7. Government Camp or Engineer’s Town. The town was built almost overnight to house engineers and foremen for the project. Much of it is unchanged. 8. Columbia School. Constructed in 1934 by the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation, it housed school functions until 1979. Now it houses administrative offices of the Coulee Dam Federal Credit Union. 9. Cole Park. Named for Coulee Dam's first mayor, Cole Park was the center of recreation for federal employees. It still offers swimming, tennis, horseshoes and picnicking. 10. Candy Point Trail. The Civilian Conservation Corps constructed the trail in 1937. It features stone stairs and retaining walls. People attempting the difficult hike should follow the signs. 11. Crown Point. The overlook, off Highway 174, offers a panoramic view of Grand Coulee Dam and the Town of Coulee Dam. 12. Douglas Park. The park is located at the base of Douglas Boulevard in west
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DEE CAMP | The Chronicle
Lake Roosevelt National Recreation Area offers 600 miles of shoreline and 81,000 acres of pristine lake surface.
Lake Roosevelt from the Swawilla Basin. All Lake Roosevelt campgrounds can be reached by boat. They have picnic tables and restrooms, and most have water and fire grills. Tribal camping permits are required at campgrounds on the Spokane and Colville Indian reservations, both of which border the lake. There are bridges across the Columbia at Coulee Dam and Kettle Falls. Two free ferries also cross the lake at Keller and Inchelium-Gifford. Okanogan Country
JULIE BOCK | The Chronicle Information: Water levels: U.S. Bureau of Reclamation, 800-824-4916, or https://www.usbr. gov/pn/grandcoulee/lakelevel/index.html Recreation area: www.nps.gov/laro/ index.htm. (Because of ongoing COVID-19 concerns, some areas may be closed. It’s wise to check with the National Park Service, tribes and U.S. Bureau of Reclamation to make sure your intended destination is open.) Vacationland
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The Grand Coulee Dam Visitor Arrival Center offers historical information. Coulee Dam. It was built in 1936 and offers a great view of the dam. 13. Original bridge. Hard-as-rock clay posed many problems for construction of the bridge, which shifted and leaned before its completion. A train trestle downstream didn’t survive the same difficulties. 14. Downriver Trail. A 6.2-mile walking, biking and equestrian trail follows the river’s right bank from the bridge to a boat launch downstream. 15. Park and seating area. The area, built in 1994, is an extension of Mason City Park. An amphitheater offers views of the Grand Coulee Dam Laser Light Show, and entertainment on stage. 16. Historic mural. The first in a set of murals to be painted. It’s located on the Okanogan Country
end of Coulee House Motel. 17. Colville Tribal Museum. The museum offers historical exhibits in diorama displays. The museum includes a gift shop. 18. Mason City Park. The park, on the site of the original Mead Park and Mason City High School gym, now houses a visitor information center. 19. Mason City. The town was built by the first major contractor for the dam, then part of it was removed for construction of the Third Powerhouse. Some of the "temporary" housing remains in use. 20. Sand pile. Some 12 million cubic yards of sand make it the world's largest sandbox. It consists of “leftover” sand from the production of concrete from the dam’s construction. 43
Make a Splash Hydroplanes ply the waters of Lake Osoyoos. Careen through a narrow river canyon with spray in your face. Dip your canoe, kayak or paddleboard into a clear mountain lake. Prop up your feet on the railing of a houseboat. Cover your ears as roaring hydroplanes or personal watercrafts whiz by. You can do all this and more in Okanogan Country, which boasts hundreds of freshwater lakes for fishing, huge lakes for boating or water skiing, the Northwest’s major river - the Columbia - and serene pools for quiet reflection. Several guide services offer whitewater rafting trips, and there are dozens of locations to rent watercraft, from dinghies to houseboats. Canoeing, kayaking and rowing are popular on any number of Okanogan Country lakes. Some resorts offer rentals. For those who like a bit more of an adrenaline rush, several businesses offer guided whitewater rafting or kayaking trips, mostly on the Methow River. Tubing also is popular, whether it’s a lazy float on a hot summer day or a guided trip on a more active stretch of river. Water skiing and personal watercraft riding also are popular on some of the larger lakes and rivers. Spectators can take in hydroplane races in Pateros and Oroville, and watercross races in Pateros. Some lakes have restrictions on water skiing for safety and noise reasons, and motor types to protect fish - they are restricted to electric motors at some lakes. Fish-related motor restrictions are detailed in the state fishing pamphlet, available online through the state Department of Fish and Wildlife, http://wdfw.wa.gov/. Sheriff’s offices can provide information about county lake restrictions, and the Colville tribal Department of Fish and Wildlife can help visitors with boating 44
AL CAMP | The Chronicle
Cooling off at Bonaparte Lake. questions on the reservation. Officials ask that people check their boats, propellers and trailers for water-borne weeds and snails. A few of the more popular destinations: • Lake Osoyoos, straddling the border between the United States and Canada, provides ample boating, swimming and fishing opportunities. Of the lake’s 5,723 acres, 2,036 are in the United States. The U.S. portion of the lake is open to fishing all year, and produces smallmouth bass, rainbow, kokanee, perch and largemouth bass. Good launch points on the U.S. side include Osoyoos Lake Veterans Memorial Park and Deep Bay Park, both in Oroville. Boaters crossing the international Okanogan Country
houseboat rentals, boat dump stations, fuel and fresh water in the summer. Several are operated by the Colville Confederated Tribes and others are park service concessionaires. Boat launch fees are charged in several locations. National Park Service campgrounds have picnic tables and restrooms, plus various camping facilities. Tribal camping permits are required at campgrounds on the Spokane and Colville Indian reservations, both of which border the lake. Inchelium-Gifford Ferry and Keller Ferry both run daily and provides free passenger and automobile rides across the lake. • Curlew Lake, in Ferry County, offers boating, the Ferry County Rail Trail for non-motorized use, fishing and a state park. The 5.5-mile-long lake is popular for trout, bass and tiger muskie fishing. Active bald eagle, heron and osprey nesting areas are viewable from the park, making wildlife watching a popular park activity. A sea plane dock is located in the south campground. • Fishing, swimming and water sports await in northern Douglas County, at the southeast corner of Okanogan Country. Fishing, especially for bass, is available at Banks Lake, where several bass tournaments are held each year. There’s plenty of room to water ski, too, especially near scenic Steamboat Rock. (Because of ongoing COVID-19 concerns, it’s wise to check ahead of time to make sure your desired destination is open.)
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KATHLEEN CHRISTENSEN | Submitted
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border are reminded to check in with the appropriate customs authorities upon arrival in either country. • Franklin D. Roosevelt Lake, the pool behind Grand Coulee Dam on the Columbia River, is 151 miles long with more than five million acre-feet of active storage. Lake Roosevelt National Recreation Area offers fishing, camping, hunting and boating. There are 28 park service campgrounds – some accessible only by water – and 22 public boat launch facilities. In addition, there are beautiful marinas, houseboat rentals, free ferry service in two locations – Keller and Inchelium and concessions for visitors. Most of the marinas offer groceries, ice, fishing licenses, public telephones, Vacationland
Watercross racers set out on the Columbia River in Pateros.
Full service on ALL makes and models • Tune ups • Parts • Brakes • Detailing
STILL high and dry? Rentals or truck and auto sales
Chicken Fajitas
Vegetable Fajitas
Voted Best Mexican Restaurant THE CHRONICLE Vacationland
726 Okoma Drive • Omak 509-826-1000 www.sunrisechevy.net
Okanogan Country
Join us for lunch and dinner
Sunday through Thursday 11 a.m.-10 p.m. Friday and Saturday 11 a.m.-10:30 p.m.
509-689-2183 • 301 E. Main • Brewster 45
OUR TOWNS
Curlew
Location: On Highway 21, 21 miles north of Republic. Elevation: 1,801 feet
Havillah
Republic
Brewster
Location: On Highway 97 near the confluence of the Okanogan and Columbia rivers, about seven miles north of Pateros and 26 Miles south of Okanogan. Elevation: 860 feet • Population: 2,367
Elmer City
Location: Two miles north of Grand Coulee Dam on Highway 155. Elevation: 1,100 • Population: 298
Okanogan
Location: At junction of highways 20 and 97, straddling the Okanogan River. Elevation: 835 feet • Population: 2,587
Location: In Ferry County at the junction of highways 20 and 21. Elevation: 2,300 • Population: 1,182
Twisp
Location: On Highway 20, nine miles south of Winthrop, 29 miles west of Okanogan and 31 miles north of Pateros via Highway 153. Elevation: 1,500 feet • Population: 982
Location: On Havillah Road east of Tonasket. Elevation: 3,447 feet
Inchelium
Location: Southwest of Republic off Highway 21 Elevation: 1,568 feet
Keller
Location: Southwest Ferry County on Highway 21. Elevation:1,499 feet
Loomis
Location: On Loomis-Oroville Road northwest of Tonasket. Elevation: 1,378 feet
Riverside
Grand Coulee
Bridgeport
Location: Highway 17, 13 miles southeast of Brewster. Elevation: 835 feet • Population: 2,570
Location: On the Columbia River at the junction of highways 155 and 174, about 54 miles southeast of Omak. Elevation: 1702 • Population: 1,067
Omak
Location: On highways 155 and 97, about 50 miles south of Canada. Elevation: 850 feet • Population: 4,774
Location: Adjacent to Highway 97 about seven miles north of Omak. Elevation: 859 feet • Population: 287
Winthrop
Location: On Old Highway 97 between Okanogan and Brewster. Elevation: 814 feet
UNINCORPORATED COMMUNITIES
Location: on Highway 20 northwest of Winthrop. Elevation: 2,106 feet
Carlton
Conconully
Location: On Conconully Highway about 15 miles west of Highway 97 and 18 miles northwest of Omak. Elevation: 2,300 feet • Population: 174
Mansfield
Location: On Highway 172 about 18 miles south of Bridgeport. Elevation: 2,270 feet • Population: 343
Tonasket
Oroville
Location: On Highway 97 at the confluence of the Similkameen and Okanogan rivers and just south of the Canadian border. Elevation: 918 feet • Population: 2,036
Location: On Highway 97 about 25 miles north of Omak, halfway between Omak and the Canadian border. Elevation: 900 • Population: 1,214
Location: On Highway 153 between Pateros and Twisp. Elevation: 1,414 feet
Chesaw
Location: On Chesaw Road in the Okanogan Highlands east of Oroville. Elevation: 2,910 feet
Your Full Service Pharmacy Coulee Dam
Location: On the Columbia River and the junction of highways 155 and 174, about 54 miles southeast of Omak. Elevation: 1,100 feet Population: 1,209
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Nespelem
Location: On Highway 155, 17 miles northwest of Grand Coulee area and 50 miles east of Omak. Elevation: 1,900 feet.• Population: 196
Okanogan Country
Location: In southern Okanogan County at the confluence of the Columbia and Methow rivers on Highway 97 at the junction of Highway 153. The town is 20 miles north of Chelan and 31 miles southeast of Twisp. Elevation: 812 feet • Population: 653
Vacationland
Mazama
Methow
Location: On Highway 153 north of Pateros. Elevation: 1,154 feet
Molson
Location: At the intersection of Ninemile and Molson roads east of Oroville Elevation: 3,707 feet.
509-486-9088 415 S. Whitcomb Tonasket
•Gifts • Clothing • Kitchen • Toys
Pateros
Malott
Location: In the Methow Valley at the foot of the Cascade Mountains on Highway 20. Elevation: 1,765 feet • Population: 386
Monday – Friday, 7 am. to 4 p.m.
Come in, relax awhile!
• Great Sitka coffee and espresso • Killer sandwiches • Wonderful homemade baked goods
Ulrich Pharmacy 509-997-2191 • 423 E. Methow Hwy., Twisp Vacationland
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This is Rodeo Country
The World-Famous Suicide Race.
If your vacation plans include rodeos and other equestrian endeavors, Okanogan Country is the place to be. We’ve got professional rodeos featuring the nation’s top cowboys and cowgirls, along with amateur, high school and junior rodeo events showcasing up-and-coming talent. If you want to try your hand at riding, several events allow open entries. Leisurely trail rides, pack trips, cow cutting, barrel racing, reining, racing and English style events also are offered. You can even find one-of-a-kind activities such as the World-Famous Suicide Race in conjunction with the Omak Stampede rodeo. Along with rodeos, you can take in accompanying activities that include Western dances, powwows, carnivals, chicken chasing, mutton busting, parades, fun runs and more. (Because of ongoing COVID-19 concerns, it’s best to check ahead of time to make sure your chosen event is happening.)
Okanogan County Fair racing.
BROCK HIRES | The Chronicle
ELI SMITH | SUBMITTED
Methow Valley Rodeo.
BROCK HIRES | The Chronicle Omak Stampede.
AL CAMP | The Chronicle
“Quality care for large and small animals since 1977.” • Air conditioned boarding • In-house diagnostic lab • Monday-Friday 8-5:30 Denise S. Krytenberg, D.V.M. Charlie McCraigie, D.V.M. (Equine)
OMAK STAMPEDE & World Famous Suicide Race 87th Annual
August 12-15 2021
Bronc riding (left) and bull riding at the Omak Stampede. 48
Okanogan Country
AL CAMP PHOTOS | The Chronicle
Vacationland
Alpine Veterinary Clinic 741 Riverside Drive • Omak • 509-826-5882 Vacationland
Okanogan Country
Call about facility rental www.omakstampede.org 800-933-6625 • 509-826-1002 Paid for by Hotel/Motel Tax Dollars
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Wineries, Golf Courses Abound If you’re looking for first-rate entertainment, fine wines and craft brews, or spending an afternoon on the green, Okanogan Country is home to a variety of golf courses, wineries and casinos. Award-winning wineries and breweries dot the map throughout the region, offering visitors and residents alike a light refreshment and taste of Washington state-grown grapes, hops and grains. Wine tourism is a popular event at some local wineries, where you will be amazed by the winery, its amount of bottles, barrels, the scents, the tempera-
tures and the vineyards that stretch as far as the eye can see. If you’re interested in golfing, plenty of opportunities await visitors. Most courses are open seasonally, usually late spring to late fall. Be sure to check with individual courses for hours and season. Courses offer nine to 18 holes, along with sprawling vistas of the valley, food, pro shops and cart rentals. For those looking to try their hand craps, blackjack or slot machines, 12 Tribes Resort casinos (owned and operated by the Colville Confederated
Tribes) are sure to impress. With locations in Coulee Dam, Omak and Manson, the casinos also offer plenty of entertainment and dining opportunities. The casino in Manson is home to Deep Water Amphitheater, which is the region’s only major outdoor concert venue with covered seating. The one-ofa-kind venue has hosted many legendary acts such as Blake Shelton, Kenny Rogers, Huey Lewis and The News and the Temptations, to name a few. Many local restaurants and bars offer live entertainment as well.
Oroville Golf Club
e m i t s ’ t I to visit ! n a g o n Oka
Explore Okanogan County Historical Museum and Fire Hall Museum Complex
On the scenic Similkameen River Gorge
• Warm summers • Mild winters • Rich heritage • Centrally located
Take a selfguided City Arts Walking Tour. Learn about the murals of Enjoy the bounty of the Okanogan Valley Farmers Market. renowned Every Saturday, May-October in Legion Park. 19th century photographer Frank Matsura.
9 holes ~ two sets of T’s Par 72 ~ Full service clubhouse Tee Times Recommended 509-476-2390 • www.orovillegolfclub.com
2 miles west of Oroville • 3468 Loomis-Oroville Rd.
Esther Bricques WINERY
Finely Crafted Okanogan Wines From Okanogan Vines
Enjoy the Wine, Food and View
Check website or FB for upcoming event dates
Open 1-5 daily by appointment
Our airport has a newly renovated 2,533x37 ft. runway, 24 hour fueling, complementary courtesy car. New 2019! Fly Washington Passport program encouraging pilots to explore Washington Public Use Airports.
Wine Tasting, Lunch and Dinner Outdoor Venue Catering and Event Planning Cottages Available Year Round
509-476-2861
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lonepointcellars.com • 509-689-1010
estherbricques@gmail.com
Cool off in the Okanogan City Pool and enjoy a picnic in Alma City Park.
Camping, RV dump and boat launch nearby to parks.
We Invite You to Eat • Shop • Stay Awhile! • Okanogan Days - 1st Weekend in June • Back to School - Friday before school starts
• Harvest Fest - 2nd weekend in October • Farm Lights Festival - December 1, 2021
City Hall: 509-422-3600 • www.okanogancity.com Museum: 509-422-4272 (Visitor Information Center) • okanoganhistory.org Central Valley Sports Complex: 509-422-3600 Okanogan Chamber of Commerce • https://okchamber.com
www.estherbricques.com
42 Swanson Mill Road, Oroville, WA
Central Valley Sports Complex Youth - Soccer, Softball, Baseball, and Flag Football
100% funded by the City of Okanogan Hotel/Motel Tax Fund
6 Lakeview Way • Brewster, WA
Okanogan Country
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this is the place for the arts AL CAMP | The Chronicle
Singing in the Omak Performing Arts Center
Creating experiences which connect our community with the diverse aspects of theater. Check our website for up-to-date reopening plans in 2021
www.mercplayhouse.org 101 S. Glover St. • Twisp • 509-997-7529 52
Check our website for upcoming events. www.omakpac.org
509-846-4773
BROCK HIRES | The Chronicle
At the Confluence of the Columbia and Methow Rivers Come Join Us! • Arbor Day • Hydro Classic • City Yard Sales • Apple Pie Jamboree • Jet Ski Races • Christmas in the City • Ives Landing RV Park
Orchestr lley aa Va
Presenting fine music with four orchestral and choral concerts and a community musical! New members and volunteers welcome!
THE CHRONICLE
City of PATEROS
orus Ch nd
The Merc Playhouse
Enjoy world-class talent in our amazing Omak Performing Arts Center
Okano ga n
ings or arts and crafts. Okanogan Country is a stage for the in Okanogan Country provide sculpThe area offers several galleries plus arts. tures, murals and paintings for the enWhether you prefer your arts experia variety of public art installations. Folks joyment of residents and visitors alike. ence in a lush meadow, in a cozy venue or on the walls of a building, Okanogan Country offers a multitude of opportunities. Imagine sitting in a lush meadow, a gentle breeze rustling your hair and the strains of Bach or Beethoven floating over all. How about relaxing in a giant, open-sided structure while watching Native American dancers turn and sway to the hypnotic beat of the drum. Or maybe you’d like being entertained by medieval fighters or homegrown thespians performing a Broadway show as you sink into the lush seats of a state-of-the-art theater. Okanogan Country residents sing, dance, play and act for their own enjoyment and the entertainment of others, and bring in top-notch performers for a variety of special events. Watering holes all around Okanogan Country feature local and out-of-area bands. AL CAMP| The Chronicle Perhaps you prefer sculpture, paintBroadway-style plays often are performed in the Omak Performing Arts Center.
New! Ives Landing RV Park with Full Hookups New! Free Showers and Restrooms New! Boat Launch and Dock Tent Sites Free for Peddlers and Paddlers
Pateros City Hall and Museum • 509-923-2571 • pateros.com
www.ovocmusic.org
20 S. Cedar Street, Omak Okanogan Country
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Okanogan Country Museums Okanogan County Historical Museum Conconully Museum
Fort Okanogan Interpretive Center
Brewster Fort Okanogan Interpretive Center Off state Highway 17, Brewster Overlooks Columbia River and site of the fur-trading fort. www.colvilletribes. com or Fort Okanogan Interpretive Center on Facebook.
Conconully Conconully Museum Lottie Avenue next to Conconully post office Historical artifacts. 509-826-9050.
Coulee Dam Colville Tribal Museum and Gift Shop 512 Mead Way, Coulee Dam Exhibits of tribal history and artifacts. 509-633-0751.
Curlew Ansorge Hotel Museum Ferry Street, Curlew Furnished as it was in its heyday in the early 20th century. 509-779-4840. Antique Car and Truck Museum Three miles south of Curlew on state Highway 21 Antique cars, machinery, blacksmith shop, sawmill. 509-779-4961, 509-7753521.
Molson Molson School Museum Molson Road, Molson Features early day school and household artifacts. 509-422-4272 54
Located on beautiful Lake Osoyoos
Old Molson
Antique Car & Truck Museum Old Molson “ghost town” Molson Road, Molson. Old Molson ghost town is one of the best-preserved authentic ghost towns in the Northwest; showcases an array of pioneer-era farm implements. 509-4224272.
Okanogan Bruce and Merilynn Wilson Research Center 1410 N. Second Ave., Okanogan Houses reference materials and historical documents of the Okanogan County Historical Society and Okanogan County Genealogical Society. 509-4224272. Okanogan County Historical Museum and 1410 N. Second Ave., Okanogan Includes old-fashioned main street display, apple industry history display, farm implements and a settler’s cabin. 509-422-4272. Okanogan Fire Hall Museum 1410 N. Second Ave., Okanogan Replica of historic Okanogan Fire Hall. Located in Okanogan’s Legion Park, adjacent to Okanogan County Historical Museum and Wilson Research Center. 509-422-4272.
Omak Stampede Museum 410 E. Second Ave., Omak Memorabilia and historical information about the Omak Stampede, WorldFamous Suicide Race and Omak Stampede Indian Encampment. 509429-1659. Okanogan Country
City of Oroville
Stampede Museum
Oroville Old Customs House, Oroville Displays in 1896 Customs House. 509476-2739. Old Oroville Depot 1210 Ironwood St., Oroville
Historical displays. 509-476-2739. Pateros Pateros City Hall and Museum 113 Lakeshore Drive, Pateros 509.923.2571 • www.pateros.com The Pateros Museum is open year round Mon.-Fri. 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., same entrance as City Hall.
Republic
Fishing ~ Many lakes, rivers and streams
Ferry County Historical Center Kaufman Cabin 15-2 N. Kean St., Republic Features an extensive collection of Republic’s historic photographs. And the historic Kaufman Cabin, a log cabin built in 1886. 509-775-2605.
Watersports of all kinds Hiking and biking trails including Pacific NW Trail, Similkameen Trail, Whistler Canyon Historic towns, ghost towns, museums and places of interest
Stonerose Interpretive Center and Eocene Fossil Site 15-1 Kean St., Republic Dig for fossils of plants, insects and fish in a 50-million-year-old historic lake bed that filled with volcanic ash and sediment. 509-775-2295.
Golfing ~ Scenic Oroville Golf Course, close to town Wildlife and bird watching ~ huge variety of birds and wildlife Festivals throughout the year. Check out our website for dates.
Winthrop Shafer Museum 285 Castle Ave., Winthrop Early day cabin, outdoor exhibits. 509996-2712. Vacationland
1308 Ironwood, Oroville • 509-476-2926 • www.oroville-wa.com Vacationland
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HISTORICAL MARKERS BROCK HIRES | THE CHRONICLE
Okanogan County Historical Society helps folks enjoy history through a system of historical signs and museums throughout the county to mark unusual locations and historic sites. All are accessible by car, and many provide scenic views. Antoine Post Office — An early day post office near Havillah. Sign is alongside Havillah Road northeast of Tonasket. Beaver Creek School — Sign in Twisp describes the school, which was built in 1891 and graduated its last class of record in 1942. Caribou Trail — Sign describes travel in the Okanogan Valley in the 1860s. Located three miles south of Okanogan on Highway 97. Chiliwist Trail — Details early travel between the Okanogan and Methow valleys. Sign is at the intersection of Old Highway 97 and the Chiliwist Road. China Ditch — Remnants of a ditch built by Chinese miners between 1860 and 1880. Settlers later used it for irrigation until the 1948 flood destroyed part of the ditch and flume. Located on Highway 97 about a mile south of Pateros. Circle City — Town site developed as a place for the trains to cool their brakes after the downhill run from Molson. Sign is north of the junction of Nine Mile and Oroville-Toroda Creek roads. Conconully — Details town's roughand-tumble history as first county seat through a mining boom, fire of 1892 and the flood of 1894. Located on Main Street. Curtis Sheep Slaughter — A range conflict between cattle and sheep ranchers climaxed with the late-night slaughter of sheep at the site, on Highway 20 south 56
of Okanogan. Hee-Hee Stone — The stone, reported to be an Indian princess by legend, was destroyed by miners and dynamite in 1905. Sign is on Oroville-Toroda Creek Road between Molson and Chesaw. Knob Hill School — The site of a school operating between 1903 and 1927. Sign is on the Molson Summit Road between Molson and Chesaw. Loomis — Life in an early day mining town at the turn of the century. Located on the main drive of Loomis, northwest of Tonasket in the Sinlahekin Valley. Lower Kipling — Hathorn's Store and signs of homesteading in the Okanogan
Highlands. Sign is on the Oroville-Toroda Creek Road just west of Chesaw. Lt. Goethals Slept Here — George Washington Goethals, a builder of the Panama Canal, visited Okanogan's site in 1883. Sign is in Alma Park, Okanogan. McLoughlin Canyon — A shoot-out between Indians and a mining party in 1858. Sign overlooks the canyon south of Tonasket and just north of the Janis bridge on Highway 97. Methow — Turn-of-the-century pioneer life and a log schoolhouse. Sign located along Highway 153 north of Pateros on the Methow River. Methow Rapids U-Bolt — An iron
U-bolt that was used to pull paddle wheel steamships through the Methow Rapids remains imbedded in rock at the confluence of the Methow and Columbia rivers. Molson Railroad Route — An early railroad line between Marcus and Molson is remembered near Sidley Lake just north of Molson. Okanogan Smith — Considered the "Johnny Appleseed" of Washington state, Hiram F. "Okanogan" Smith settled the county in the late 1850s and planted 1,200 apple trees. Sign is on Highway 97 north of Oroville. Old Molson — Old buildings recreate a turn-of-the-century mining town near present-day Molson. Sign is among Old Molson Museum buildings south of Molson. Old Okanogan Mission — The sign, in Ellisforde on Highway 97, discusses pioneer churches and their organizers. Ruby — During a silver boom in 1886, Ruby was a rough and tumble boom town. It died a few years later when the bottom fell out of the silver market. Foundations can be seen at the sign on Salmon Creek Road south of Conconully and east of Okanogan. Sidley, B.C. — Sidley straddled the border. Sign is on Nine Mile Road at the Canadian border. Silver — Site of the Methow Valley's first town, destroyed by the flood of 1894. The site is along Highway 153 between Carlton and Twisp. St. Mary's Mission — A Catholic mission founded in 1886, St. Mary's remains an active Catholic church and site of Paschal Sherman Indian School. Sign is on Highway 155 east of Omak. U Bar U Ranch — The story of Wellington French's family and pioneer cattle ranch. Sign is on the Conconully Highway about five miles east of Conconully and northwest of Omak. Winthrop — Early day Winthrop is discussed on a sign located in town.
DEE CAMP | The Chronicle
Sidley, B.C., which actually straddled the international border, is remembered in an Okanogan County Historical Society sign near Molson.
Animal Hospital of Omak
MOTION
All creatures great and small, we welcome all.
Dr. G. Jai Tuttle 509-826-5070 132 Columbia St., Omak, WA
Call for appointment www.animalhospitalofomak.com
AUTO SUPPLY Wholesale and Retail
Complete Line of • Domestic and import auto and truck parts • Performance and heavy truck parts • Drums and rotors turned Full line of new and remanufactured parts and accessories. Catering to the do-it-yourselfer and professional mechanic.
• Steak • Seafood • Burgers and More
• Spokane • Spokane Valley • Airway Heights • Post Falls • Coeur d’Alene • Lewiston • Omak
• Full Bar
All that's left of Ruby is a historical marker. Okanogan Country
509-486-2968 302 S. Whitcomb Tonasket
DEE CAMP | The Chronicle Vacationland
Vacationland
218 Omak Ave. • Omak Monday-Friday 7:30-5:30 Saturday 8-4
Okanogan Country
509-826-2424 Employee Owned
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Let's go Camping Imagine setting up your tent near a burbling stream or parking your RV in a sun-drenched spot within walking distance of a golf course. Okanogan Country’s many camping areas offer those experiences and more. We’ve got full-service RV parks, state parks, national forest campgrounds, secluded boat-in areas, primitive spots for hikers and horseback riders, tribal campgrounds and friendly city parks within walking distance of full-service shopping. Hiking, rock climbing, boating and swimming and more are just a few steps from your campsite. And in the evening, stretch out and watch Okanogan Country’s brilliant light show as the stars come out. Camping opportunities are available for people interested in outdoor activities on the Colville Indian Reservation. More information is available from the tribe’s natural resources department, www.colvilletribes.com. The office has lots of information on campsites, hunting and fishing permits, and use restrictions. Some sites are open to tribal members only; others are open to the general public. RV sites with water and sewer hookups, rustic cabins and tent camping spaces are available at different locations throughout the reservation. More camping information is available at:
509-996-4000. Colville National Forest 509-684-7000; www.fs.usda.gov/ colville - Republic Ranger District, 650 E. Delaware Ave., Republic, WA 99166; 509775-7400. - Tonasket Ranger District, 1 Winesap St., Tonasket, WA 98855; 509-486-2186
Lake Roosevelt National Recreation Area Water levels: U.S. Bureau of Reclamation, 800-824-4916. Recreation area: 509-633-9441 or www. nps.gov/laro/index.htm; 509-754-7800
Colville Confederated Tribes Recreation and tourism: www.colvilletribes.com
Washington State Sno-Parks, park reservations and information: www.parks.wa.gov
North Cascades National Park General information: www.nps.gov/ noca/; 360-854-7200
JULIE BOCK | The Chronicle
Visit Tonasket Unique shops, great restaurants, pools, splash park, skate park, RV park, hunting, fishing, hiking, boating, ATVing
• Founders Day Rodeo, May 29-30 • Fathers Day Fly-In in June • Truck and Tractor Pulls, July 17-18 • Summer Festival/Garlic Festival, Aug. 21-23 • Lavendar Festival • Okanogan Family Faire in October • Farmers Market Every Thursday May-Oct.
U.S. Forest Service Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest DEE CAMP | The Chronicle 509-664-9200; www.fs.usda.gov/okawen Blackpine Lake Campground is one of many popular Okanogan-Wenatchee - Methow Valley Ranger District, 24 W. Chewuch Road, Winthrop, WA 98862; National Forest campgrounds in Okanogan Country. 58
STACY ALLEN |Submitted
Okanogan Country
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Tonasket Chamber of Commerce 509-486-7155 • PO Box 523, Tonasket info@tonasketchamber.com • tonasketchamber.com
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Okanogan Country Boasts Plenty of Forest Land DEE CAMP | The Chronicle
Okanogan Country encompasses the Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest and the Colville National Forest, plus two national recreation areas and federal Bureau of Land Management sites. All those add up to a wealth of recreational opportunities, including camping, swimming, boating, hiking, bicy-cling, horseback riding, snowshoeing, cross country skiing, snowmobiling, photography, bird and animal watching, mushrooming, woodcutting and more. Concessionaires and permittees widen those opportunities with heli-skiing, hut-to-hut skiing and hiking, boating and downhill skiing. In addition, the Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest is administrative home to the Pasayten Wilderness Area and the Lake Chelan-Sawtooth Wilderness Area. For more information: • Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest, www.fs.fed.us/r6/oka. • Colville National Forest, http://www. fs.fed.us/r6/colville/ Birthplace of smokejumping The Methow Valley is considered the birthplace of smokejumping. North Cascades Smokejumper Base, 23 Intercity Airport Road, Winthrop, hosted its initial experimental jumps during the fall of 1939 using the first Forest Service aircraft, an SR-10 Stinson. Parachuters from the Eagle Parachute Co. of Lancaster, Penn., and Forest Service fire guards Francis Lufkin and George Honey from the Okanogan (then Chelan) National Forest, made 58 experimental parachute jumps to determine under what conditions firefighters or “smokechasers,” trained as parachute jumpers, could safely land in inaccessible, mountainous areas. These successful experiments led to establishment of two operational bases in 1940, one near Missoula, Mont., and the 60
other in the Methow Valley near Winthrop. The first actual jump on a fire was made in Idaho in 1940. Shortly after, Lufkin and Glen Smith made the first wildfire jumps in the Pacific Northwest region to Little Bridge Creek, 10 miles west of the North Cascade Smokejumper Base. In the 1940s and '50s additional bases were established in Idaho, Oregon, California and Alaska More information is available from the smokejumper base, 509-997-2031, or on the Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest website. BLM offers recreational sites The U.S. Bureau of Land Management offers a trio of recreational sites in northern Okanogan County.
They include Palmer Mountain/Washburn Lake, Chopaka Lake and Split Rock. More information is available from the BLM at 1103 N. Fancher Road, Spokane, WA 99212; 509-536-1200; or www.blm. gov/or/. Trio of recreation areas Okanogan Country offers three national recreation areas, Lake Roosevelt, Ross Lake and Lake Chelan. Lake Roosevelt National Recreation Area • Water levels: U.S. Bureau of Reclamation, www.usbr.gov/pn/grandcoulee/ lakelevel/index.html. • Recreation area: (509) 633-9441 or www.nps.gov/laro/index.htm. The recreation area, along the shores of the Columbia River above Grand Cou-
lee Dam, offers fishing, camping, hunting and boating. There are 28 park service campgrounds and 22 public boat launch facilities. Ross Lake National Recreation Area • General information: www.nps.gov/ rola. The 118,000-acre Ross Lake National Recreation Area is the corridor for the North Cascades Highway, Highway 20. The area includes three reservoirs, Ross Lake, Diablo Lake and Gorge Lake. They serve as water gateways to more re-mote areas. Outdoor recreation opportunities abound along the Skagit River. Lake Chelan National Recreation Area • www.nps.gov/lach/index.htm The 62,000-acre Lake Chelan National Recreation Area rests in a glacially carved trough in the Cascade Range. Lake Chelan is one of the nation’s deepest, reaching a depth of 1,500 feet. Recreation activities include boating, fishing and camping. The lake’s northernmost four miles (6.4 kilometers) are in the national recreation area. Stehekin Valley adjoins North Cascades National Park. The area can be reached by trail, small plane or passenger boat out of Chelan.
Loomis State Forest The Loomis State Forest, located in Okanogan County, is nestled between the Pasayten Wilderness and the Okanogan National Forest, and is bounded on the north by British Columbia park and forest lands. It’s the largest contiguous block of state-owned forest land in Washington, and offers hiking, campgrounds, winter recreation and plenty of gorgeous scenery The forest, home to a variety of wildlife including the protected lynx, contains
trust land that generates income for the common school trust and conservation lands set aside from logging. Information: https://www.dnr.wa.gov/ LoomisLoupLoup. Loup Loup State Forest The Loup Loup State Forest, in the Okanogan Range between the Okanogan and Methow Valleys, offers fishing, camping hiking and winter recreation opportunities. Information: https://www.dnr.wa.gov/ LoomisLoupLoup.
DOUG CAMP | Special to The Chronicle Spectacular scenery abounds on the trail to Lake Ann in the North Cascades.
Only burn
WOOD
in your
campfire Protect your health from arsenic, dioxins, lead & mercury.
Leave no trace in your smoke.
An inviting bridge spans Falls Creek. Okanogan Country
AL CAMP | Special to The Chronicle
Vacationland
Falls Creek waterfall. Vacationland
DEE CAMP | The Chronicle
Contact your local fire district to see if campfires are allowed in your area.
Okanogan Country
ecology.wa.gov/smokeandfire 61
Plug In and Connect
Okanogan Country is home to a robust network of electric vehicle charging stations, which allows electric vehicle users to explore the region carbon free. Local charging stations include: Okanogan County Brewster — Columbia Cove Park, South Seventh Street; six NEMA 14-50s Brewster — Lone Point Cellars, 6 Lakeview Way; 509-449-0765; four EV Plugs (J1772)s Mazama — Mazama Country Inn, 15 Country Road; 509-784-1747; EV Plug (J1772) Omak — 12 Tribes Resort Casino, 28968 Highway 97; two wall outlets (120V)s Omak — Omak Inn, 912 Koala Drive; 509-784-1747; EV Plug (J1772) Oroville — Veranda Beach Resort, 299 Eastlake Road; 509-476-4000; two EV Plugs (J1772)s, two Tesla Model S/ Model X Oroville — Camaray Motel, 1320 Main St.; 509-476-3684; EV Plug (J1772) Pateros — Pateros Lakeshore Inn, 233 Lakeshore Drive; 877-923-9555; EV Plug (J1772) Tonasket — City Hall, 209 N. Whitcomb Ave.; 509-486-2132; EV Plug (J1772) Twisp — Idle-a-while Motel, 505 Methow Valley Highway; 509-997-3222; wall outlet (120V) Twisp — Riverbend RV Park, 9961 Highway 20; wall outlet (120V), NEMA 14-50 Twisp — Twisp River Suites, 140 Twisp Ave.; 509-997-0100; EV Plug (J1772) Twisp — TwispWorks, 502 S. Glover
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St.; 509-997-3300; two EV Plugs (J1772)s Winthrop — Chewuch Inn, 223 White Ave.; EV Plug (J1772) Winthrop — North Cascades National Park KOA, 1114 Highway 20; NEMA 14-50 Winthrop — Pine Near RV Park, 316 Castle Ave.; 509-341-4062; EV Plug (J1772) Winthrop — Sun Mountain Lodge, 604 Patterson Lake Road; 509-996-2211 or 877-798-3752; two Tesla destination chargers; EV Plug (J1772) Ferry County Republic — Ferry County PUD, 686 S. Clark Ave.; 509-775-3325; EV Plug (J1772) Kettle Falls — North Lake RV Park and Campground, 20 Roosevelt Road; NEMA 14-50 Republic — Black Beach Resort, 3963 Ruberts Road; NEMA 14-50 Grant County Electric City — Coulee Playground, 401 Coulee Blvd.; 509-633-2671; wall outlet (120V), NEMA 14-50 Grand Coulee — Grand Coulee RV Park, Highway 174; 509-633-0750; wall outlet (120V), NEMA 14-50 North Cascades Highway western side Newhalem — Parking lot on north side of Highway 20; 4 EV Plug (J1772)s Rockport — Grace Haven Retreat, 9303 Dandy Place, 509-873-4106; wall outlet (120V); Howard Miller Steelhead Park, 5110 Railroad Ave.; 360-853-8808; 20 wall outlet (120V)s, 20 NEMA 14-50s
Okanogan Country
Douglas County Bridgeport — Bridgeport City Park, 1300 Columbia Ave.; EV Plug (J1772) Libraries The North Central Washington Libraries is a tax-supported, multi-county library district serving the North Central Washington area. The libraries offer both print and digital materials as well as Internet connectivity. Libraries include: Brewster Public Library, 509-6894046; Bridgeport Public Library, 509686-7281; Curlew Public Library, 509779-0321; Grand Coulee Public Library, 509-633-0972; Okanogan Public Library, 509-422-2609; Omak Public Library, 509-826-1820; Oroville Public Library, 509-476-2662; Pateros Public Library 509-923-2298; Republic Public Library, 509-775-3328; Tonasket Public Library, 509-486-2366; Twisp Public Library, 509997-4681; and Winthrop Public Library, 509-996-2685. Wi-Fi Several community Wi-Fi hot spots are available in Okanogan Country. Active Okanogan County PUD “drive-fi,” library, school and community locations are: Brewster – Parking lot of Brewster Boys & Girls Club, 601 W. Cliff Ave. Brewster – Brewster School District, 503 S. Seventh St. Bridgeport – Bridgeport Public Library, 1206 Columbia St. Carlton – Old Carlton Road at 90-degree corner near Texas Creek Road. Conconully – Sit-n-Bull Pub parking
Vacationland
lot, 308 N. Main St. Coulee Dam – Grand Coulee Dam School District, 505 Crest Drive. Coulee Dam – Coulee Dam Town Hall, 225 Federal St. Curlew – Curlew Public Library, 11 River St. Electric City – Electric City Town Hall, 10 Western Ave. Loomis – Parking lot of Loomis Community Church, 13 Palmer Ave. Malott – Malott Improvement Club parking lot, 123 School St. Methow – End of the pavement, South Main Street. Nespelem – Nespelem School District, 229 School House Loop Road. Okanogan – Parking lot of Okanogan Armory, 71 Rodeo Trail. Okanogan - Washington State University Extension for Okanogan County parking lot, 1234 S. Second Ave. Okanogan – Okanogan Public Library, 228 W. Pine St. Okanogan – Legion Park on North Second Avenue. Omak – Parking lot of Wenatchee Valley College at Omak, 116 W. Apple Ave. Omak – St. Anne’s Episcopal Church A barn falls into disrepair in Nighthawk. parking lot, 639 S. Ridge Drive. Omak – Carl Precht RV Park in East Side Park. Omak – Omak School District, 619 W. Bartlett Ave. Oroville – Substation parking lot, near the soccer field on 12th Avenue. Pateros – Across the street from Pateros Garden Apartments, 249 W. Daw• Organic Local Produce son St. • Ripe Seasonal Fruit Pateros – Pateros Public Library, 174 • Our Own Fresh Baked Pateros Mall. Breads and Pastries Republic – Ferry County Sunrise, 147 • Artisan Cheese • Beer and Wine Clark Ave. • Pizza, Salads, GF, Keto Swanson Mill – Fire Hall, 474 Swan• Lunches to Go son Mill Road. Twisp – Twisp Fire Station parking Watch our Business Grow! lot, 234 W. Second Ave. Twisp – Twisp Public Library, 201 E. Methow Valley Highway. Twisp – TwispWorks, 502 S. Glover St. Tonasket – Parking lot of Tonasket PUD office, 17 W. Third St. Tonasket – Aeneas Church, 1083 Aeneas Valley Road. Tonasket - Crumbacher Road, between Ponderosa Drive and Oakes Drive. Winthrop – Winthrop Public Library, Open Wednesdays 10-6 49 Highway 20. Extended hours coming soon (Some Wi-Fi locations, especially 227 2nd Ave. S., Okanogan those at schools, may not operate year509-322-8044 round.)
Vacationland
Okanogan Country
BROCK HIRES| The Chronicle
Mexican Grill
Quesabirria
Tacos al Carbon
Authentic Mexican Food The Flavor of Michoacan Inside or patio dining Eat here or take out. Special order for your parties, small or large. 509-689-2211 Breakfast • Lunch • Dinner 8 a.m.-8 p.m. Summer 7 a.m. to 10 p.m.
623 W. Main Ave. • Brewster
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COMMUNITY CONNECTIONS BREWSTER ANTIQUES & COLLECTIBLES
Mi Pueblo - see ad on page 63
RESTAURANT/CLUB
American Legion Columbia Post 97 Rusty Relic • 509-423-8643 332 E. Main Ave., Brewster 98812 400 W. Indian Ave., Brewster, WA Public welcome for dining. Specials ThursA variety of antiques, collectibles, day & Saturday. Friday night dinner, Sunvintage, handcrafted and other treasures. day breakfast. Thursday 11 a.m. to 7 p.m., We carry quality hand-crafted 18 inch doll Friday 11 a.m. to 8 p.m., Saturday 11 a.m. to fashions! Wednesday-Saturday 10 a.m. to 7 p.m., Sunday 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. 5 p.m.
EXCAVATION K&S Excavation - see ad on page 16
FISHING TACKLE Mauk Fishing • 509-449-0605 1408 Sunset Drive, Brewster, WA Tackle covers, pole wraps multiple sizes for storage and transport. Small tackle store with bait, will deliver to local launch.
FURNITURE
VISITOR INFO
Brewster Chamber/City - back cover City of Brewster- back cover
WINERY/COTTAGES Lone Point Cellars- see ad on page 50
CONCONULLY CHURCH Conconully Community United Methodist Church (Little White Church) 121 N. Esther, Conconully Sunday Services 9 a.m.
Webster Furniture • 509-689-2131 102 E. Main St., Brewster 98812 e-mail dan@websterfurniture.com RESORT/LODGES website...www.websterfurniture.com Quality furniture and appliances, La-Z-Boy Liar’s Cove Resort - see ad on page 23 Maytag, Amana, Speed Queen Laundry, Englander mattresses. We deliver to Okanogan VISITOR INFO and Methow valleys. Sales and service. Conconully Chamber of Commerce see ad on page 25
HOSPITAL
Three Rivers Hospital see ad on page 61
LAND SURVEYING Erlandsen Surveying see ad on page 19
REAL ESTATE
GRAND COULEE MOTEL
MALOTT
Delap Orchares - see ad on page 26
Camperos - see ad on page 45 64
CAMPING/RV PARK
Okanogan Country
Stockyards Cafe - see ad on page 31
VISITOR INFO City of Okanogan - see ad on page 51
OMAK ARTS/ENTERTAINMENT OVOC/PAC - see ad on page 52
Okanogan County Fairgrounds - see ad on page 27
AUTOMOTIVE Motion Auto - see ad on page 57 Sunrise Chevrolet - see ad on page 45
CHURCHES Our Lady of the Valley Catholic Church 2511 Elmway Okanogan • 422-5049 Sunday Masses Saturday vigil 5p.m. Sunday 9a.m. 10:30a.m. (Spanish) Daily masses: Wednesday, Thursday, Friday 8a.m. Thursday Mass 7p.m. (Spanish). Confession: Saturday 4-4:45p.m. Pastor Father Luta Nsubuga. Our Savior Lutheran Church, LCMS 2262 Burton Ave. Okanogan 509-422-2652 Sunday Worship 9a.m., Wednesday Bible Study 9:30a.m. Reverend Brian Bowes.
FARMSTAND/GROCERY Okanogan Farmstand - see ad on page 63
FRUITSTAND/RESTAURANT Smallwoods - see ad on page 7
MUSEUM Okanogan County Historical Museum - see ad on page 7
RECREATION AND SALES
Grand Coulee Center Lodge - see ad on page 28
Anna Marie Keller Williams Realty - FRUIT STAND see ad on page 16
RESTAURANTS
OKANOGAN
RESTAURANT
Xtreme Power Sports • 509-826-5771 1930 2nd Ave. N. Okanogan 98840 Website....shopxtremepowersports.net Recreational vehicles and equipment sales and service. Authorized dealer of Husqvarna, Can Am, Ski-Doo. Clothing, high performance parts, clutching specialists and we service and upgrade what we sell. Vacationland
AUTOMOTIVE & RV SERVICE Mac’s Tire - see ad on page 38 Omak Auto & RV - see ad on page 30 Sunrise RV - see ad on page 23
CHURCH Omak United Methodist Church 130 N. Cedar, corner of Cedar & Bartlett. 509-826-1660. Adult and Youth Sunday School 10a.m. Worship 11a.m. Pastor Jack Schneider. St. Annes’s Episcopal Church639 W. Ridge Drive, Omak • 509-826-5815 Everyone is welcome. Worship services Sundays 10a.m. Sunday School 9:45a.m. Childcare during services.
EVENTS Omak Stampede - see ad on page 49
EXTENDED CARE Regency Omak - see ad on page 15
MARIJUANA Fire Cannabis Co. - see ad on page 26 Sage Shop - see ad on page 27
MOTELS/HOTELS Best Western Peppertree - see ad on page 15 Omak Inn - see ad on page Stampede Motel - see ad on page
MUSEUM Stampede Museum 410 E. 2nd St., Omak Next to the Omak Visitor Center. If the neon sign is on, we are open.
ORCHARD TOURS Grandpa’s Home Place • 509-826-1672 Homeplace Drive off Kermel Dr., Omak 98841 Website...www.granpashomeplace.com Orchard/Farm Tours: Guided walking tours in established Okanogan Orchard-Learn past/present methods of getting fruit to market. Hands on fun.
REAL ESTATE Remax Welcome Home - see ad on page 38
RESTAURANT Magoo’s Restaurant - see ad on page 28
SHOPPING Grandma’s Attic • 509-826-4765 Downtown Omak 98841 We offer home furnishings, gifts, toys, jewelry, clothing and shoes. Serving Blue Star espresso. Something unique for the entire family. Needleyn Time • 509-826-1198 9 N. Main St. Omak 98841 Website…www.needlyntime.com Email…..ntime@communitynet.org Authorized PFAFF sewing machine dealer. Sales, service and repair. Okanogan Valley’s best source for top quality quilting supplies. www.needleyntime. com
VETERINARY CLINIC Alpine Vet Clinic - see ad on page 49 Animal Hospital of Omak - see ad on page 57
St. Mary’s Mission 25 Mission Rd., Omak 509-826-6401 St. Joseph’s 530 Jackson St. Omak 509-826-6401 Spring, Summer, and Fall services. 1stand 2nd Sundays at St. Mary’s at 11a.m. 3rd, 4th, and 5th Sundays at St. Joseph’s at 11a.m. Winter services- all services at St. Joseph’s at 11a.m. Father Jake Morton.
CLINIC Confluence Health - see page on 17
CONSTRUCTION CONTRACTOR Cates & Erb - see ad on page 13 THE CHRONICLE Vacationland
Okanogan Country
65
OROVILLE CHURCH
STORE/FISH MARKET
RESORT
PAWS Produce & Fish Market 102 O'Neil Rd., Oroville, WA Alaskan seafood, condiments, specialty foods, lavendar products, gourmet pasta, infused olive oils. Something for everyone! Come in and browse.
Bonaparte Lake Resort - see ad on page 20 Spectacle Lake - see ad on page 21
Immaculate Conception Catholic Church 1715 Main St. Oroville. Sunday Mass 12:30 (English) Mass 2p.m. (Spanish). Monday: Youth group, VISITOR INFO 6p.m., Tuesday: Mass 5p.m. (English), Tues. Holy Hour 4p.m., Confession Mass City of Oroville - see ad on page 55 5 p.m.
GOLF Oroville Golf - see ad on page 50
WINERY Esther Briques - see ad on page 50
PATEROS
MOTEL Camaray Motel 1320 Main St., Oroville, WA 98844 509-476-3684 frontdesk@camaraymotel.com Outdoor pool, airconditioning, cable HDTV, DVD players in every room, wireless internet, in-room coffee, non-smoking rooms, pets welcome.
MARIJUANA Sage Shop - see ad on page 27
MUSEUM Borderlands Historical - see ad on page 19
PHARMACY
VISITOR INFO
Remax Lake & Country - see ad on page 30
RV PARK Stateside 97 RV Park Off Hwy 97, North of the Country Store Oroville • 360-818-4403 30 spaces, full hookup capabilities, dump station, close to shopping and Veterans Memorial Park. www.statesideRVpark. com
Iron Grill - see ad on page 57
SHOPPING Tonasket Natural Foods Co-Op - see ad on page 20
Tonasket House of Cannabis - inside front cover
VISITOR INFO Tonasket Chamber - see ad on page 59
REPUBLIC GROCERY Anderson’s Grocery - see ad on page 9
REAL ESTATE Windermere • 509-775-3004 728 S. Clark Ave. Republic 99166 Work with a knowledgeable, reliable, and dependable realtor. Thorough knowledge of commercial and residential properties in Ferry County. Bill Baldwin GRI.
Holy Rosary Catholic Church 103 N., Whitcomb Ave. Mass Sunday 7:30a.m. English, Vigil Mass7p.m. Spanish, Mass-Wednesday 10a.m. Hope Lutheran Church, LCMS 632 S. Whitcomb Ave. Tonasket 509-486-2254. Sunday Worship 11a.m.
Jumping off point to adventure!
MARIJUANA
City of Pateros - see ad on page 53
VISITOR INFO Oroville Pharmacy • 509-476-3411 1416 Main St., Oroville 98844 City of Republic - see ad on inside Email...dlarson@nvinet.com back cover Facebook… Oroville Pharmacy Serving Oroville and area since 1976. Full-service pharmacy. Dick Larson, pharTONASKET macist/owner. Knowledgeable, friendly staff. Large selection of gifts. CHURCH REAL ESTATE
RESTAURANT
City of Republic
TWISP MARIJUANA Twisp House of Cannabis - inside front cover
PHARMACY Ulrich Pharmacy - see ad on page 47
THEATER 52
The Merc Playhouse - see ad on page
VISITOR INFO
• ATV, UTV and Snowmobile Trails • Stonerose Interpretive Center • Many Hiking Trails • Great Fishing and Hunting • Shopping for all needs from food to hardware to clothing • Excellent Restaurants • Motel Accommodations • County Fair • Horse Racing
Methow Interpretive Center - see ad on page 31
WINTHROP CYCLE/SPORTS Methow Cycle & Sport - see ad on page 19
VISITOR INFO Dept. of Ecology - see ad on page 61
City of Republic
COFFEE/SANDWICHES Beanadiction - see ad on page 47
987 S. Clark Ave • PO Box 331 • Republic, WA 99166 66
Okanogan Country
Vacationland
509-775-3216 • Republicwa.org
Fishing • Water Sports • RV Park • Dining • Lodging • Shopping • History The City of Brewster offers family friendly events, natural beauty and many different ways to have fun. We’re just off Hwy. 97, easy on, easy off. We invite you to join us! 4th of July Celebration
Downtown Vendors, 3 on 3 Basket Ball, 48 hour softball tournament, Car Show and our Popular Parade this year with trophies and prizes Live Music with WaterDog, Brock Hires and others Ending with the City of Brewster fantastic Fireworks show over the River at the City Park
September…Mexican Independence Day Celebration With traditional venders and events, dancing horses and Live music Downtown October Halloween Costume contest And trick or treating on Main Street
November - City and Tree Lighting Ceremony coinciding with Small Business Saturday, Nov 27, featuring our Best of the Best Brewster Awards to the Person and Large and Small Business of the year
December Holiday Lights tour around our community.
15th annual Brewster King Salmon Derby
August 6th, 7th & 8th at Columbia Cove Park, a fun, family-friendly fishing event Cash awarded to the top 10 in the Adult Division, and in the Youth Division and top 5 in the Child. Mandatory Skippers meeting Thursday, Aug 5, 6:00 pm downtown Brewster at the Brewster Bear Basket. Food and Drink available. Plenty of room for RVs and Boats and trucks. Sponsored by
Brewster Chamber of Commerce and
brewstersalmonderby.com brewsterwachamber.com
Columbia Cove RV Park Conveniently located across from the boat launch.
Minutes from great fishing! 29 Full Hookups, 5 Power Only Bathhouse and laundry
Reservations 509-733-0540 Phone Payments 509-689-3464
cityofbrewsterwashington.org brewsterrvpark@brewsterwa.us
604 W. Bruce Ave. Brewster, WA