North Central

North Central

OKANOGAN TRAILS SCENIC BYWAY

Length: 80 miles, US-97

Driving Time: 2 hours

Local Planning Resources: okanogancountry.com

COULEE CORRIDOR SCENIC BYWAY

Length: 150 miles, SR-17 & SR-155

Driving Time: 3.5 hours

Local Planning Resources: tourgrantcounty.com

At A Glance

1 Loup Loup Ski Bowl

Located near Twisp on Hwy-20, great for skiers of all skill levels. Groomed runs in the powdery Okanogan snow.

2 Dark Skies at Night

One of a few remaining 'dark sky' locations in Washington, perfect for stargazing at night.

3 Sasquatch Sighting

Standing atop Disautel Pass near Omak, this multidimensional 18-foot tall metal sculpture weighs about 1,500 lbs and has a rotating arm that swings with the wind.

4 Okanogan Ghost Towns

Several abandoned gold-mining towns can be located in this region, including Nighthawk which is one of the the oldest mining districts with claims dating to the 1860s.

5 Grand Coulee Dam

Grand Coulee Dam is the largest electric power producing facility in the U.S. and one of the largest concrete structures in the world!

6 Sun Lakes & Dry Falls State Park

This desert oasis is full of dramatic scenery and remnants of ice-age floods that carved the landscape ages ago.

7 Moses Lake

One of the largest ORV areas in the state is located just four miles outside of Moses Lake. Set up camp and head to the dunes located on the southern tip of the lake, then cool off with some water sports after a day in the sand!

8 Ginkgo Petrified Forest

One of the most unusual fossil sites in the world. Petrified wood, stained by mineral deposits and hardened into rock, is on display at the Interpretive Center.

Wilderness embraces much of north central Washington. To the north in Okanogan Country, you’ll find sparkling lakes, soaring mountains, high plateaus, and winding river valleys. To the south in the Coulee Corridor you’ll discover a much different landscape of desert lakes, deep canyons, coulees, and fields of sunflowers in full bloom. Find fishing lakes, desert hikes, dusty museums, and the fields that grow your food. This region’s natural beauty and agricultural bounty create a feeling of journeying to an out-of-the-way, undiscovered natural oasis.

Okanogan Trails Scenic Byway

Spanning 80 miles from Oroville south to Pateros, the byway follows the Okanogan River with stunning valleys and rugged hillsides until it flows into the Columbia River.

BIRDER'S PARADISE

The Coulee Corridor

Scenic Byway features more than half of Washington's 346 annually recorded bird species.

Above clockwise: North Central Washington ©Justin Haug

Dry Falls ©Washington Department of Natural Resources

Ancient Lakes ©Beautiful Washington

Historical markers tell the story of a rich history of natives and early homesteaders along the route.

The byway accesses the Audubon Society’s Great Washington Birding Trail; Osoyoos Lake Memorial Park along with Alta Lake and Conconully State Parks as well as the Highland Historic Loop and the Many Lakes Historic Loop.

Visit the Dry Falls Visitor Center and learn about the world’s largest prehistoric waterfall—four times the size of Niagara Falls- that used to flow over the surrounding cliffs. Another compelling attraction that staggers the imagination is the Grand Coulee Dam. Take the free tour and stand on the mighty dam itself!

Camping In The Coulee Corridor

Take a boat to a lakeshore campsite, swim in the warm water, or stay the night in a cowboy town. Experience the magic of Coulee Corridor!

Along the way, stop for locally grown produce and fruit. Thirsty? Check out the local wineries, breweries, cideries or coffee roasters. In summer, the cool mornings and warm sunny afternoons are perfect for hiking, biking, and horseback riding. The fun doesn’t stop when the snow hits! Enjoy miles of groomed Nordic ski trails, downhill skiing and snowmobiling.

Coulee Corridor Scenic Byway

One of the greatest ice age floods on earth left in its wake a fusion of geological, historical and cultural awe, which we now call the Coulee Corridor. This 150-mile scenic byway, connecting Othello and the Grand Coulee, is famous for its beautiful and uncommon landscape of coulees, basalt cliffs and canyons.

Explore wind and solar technology at the Wild Horse Wind Facility

Open 9 a.m. - 5 p.m., April through October Daily wind turbine tours at 10 a.m. and 2 p.m.

For info on tours and recreation permits, go to pse.com/wildhorse 25905 Vantage Highway, Ellensburg, WA wildhorse@pse.com | 509-964-7815

Above:

Grandfather Cuts

Loose the Ponies

©Craig Goodwin Photography

Birding & Columbia National Wildlife Refuge

Grab your binoculars and Audubon Coulee

Grandfather Cuts

Loose the Ponies by David Govedare is a sculpture of 15 wild horses that crowns a prominent central Washington hillside and is an inspiring sight for travelers along Interstate 90 as they enter Grant County from the west. It captures a mystical spirit from a time when real wild horses roamed these steppes.

Corridor Trail Map for some exciting birdwatching here. You can expect to find black-crowned night herons and great egrets (both of which nest here in the summer), bald eagles (in the winter) and 35,000 sandhill cranes (during spring and fall migration) to name a few striking species. Explore the Columbia National Wildlife Refuge, which protects more than 230 species of birds. Enjoy the birdsong by day and coyote chorus at night.

Wildhorse Wind Facility

Take a tour or explore the educational displays to learn more about wind and solar technology, as well as the area's unique natural history. Outdoor trails lead to a solar array, blade, turbine generator, gearbox and additional displays. Enjoy wildflowers in bloom and 360 degree views of Mount Rainier, Mount Adams, Mount Hood and the Columbia River Basin.

Moses Lake Museum and Arts Center

Don’t miss a visit to the Moses Lake Museum & Arts Center to explore the human and natural history of the Columbia Basin and celebrate the works of regional artists.

Outdoor Fun

With more than 140 lakes and reservoirs, Grant County offers world-class fishing, hunting, bird watching, hiking trails and camping. In the summer lakefront resorts, state parks and recreational areas are packed with people fishing, waterskiing and soaking up sun.

Don't miss Waterville, WA— the gateway to the Waterville Plateau, and home of the famous Big Bend Round-Up for over 100 years. MOLSON north-central Washington.

Steamboat Rock State Park, with 50,000 feet of shoreline, is popular for swimming, boating and waterfront camping. Whether you come with a fishing pole, a wakeboard or a pair of binoculars, you’ll find paradise here.

November www.molsonmuseums.org Funded

509-485-4002 | www.edenvalleyranch.net Enjoy

509-240-9281 | www.bestwesternomak.com