Basics
- Surface:
- Paved
- Length:
- 150 miles (241 km)
- Time:
- 3.5 hours to drive this Byway.
- Season:
- Year round, best seen June-September
Description
Located in one of the West's most geologically and historically intriguing landscapes, The Coulee Corridor Scenic Byway travels along diverse and varying habitats going from expansive desert scenes to a conglomeration of steep walled canyons, lakes, and pre-historic lava flows. Shaped millions of years ago by receding glaciers, this scenic trip is sure to invoke a sense of awe at the surrounding beauty carved by massive ice age water falls and inhabited today by thousands of species of water foul.
The Coulee Corridor Scenic Byway runs north-south in middle of northern Washington. The drive starts at the north in Omak which is 95 miles north of Wenatchee. The route travels on SR 155 for 76 miles until it junctions with US 2. The byway then turns west onto US 2 for 6 miles through the town of Coulee City and then joins with SR 17 for 66 miles south until it's end in Othello.
Travel from lake to lake enjoying their cool and clean water in any number of ways to suit your interest: the Coulee corridor is famous amongst fisherman and supports a wide range of fish including healthy rainbow trout, swimming in the summer is always fun, and of course for birdwatchers this drive is a must-see since it travels through The Columbia National Wildlife Refuge. There are always scenic lookouts and short hikes to bring you in and make you part of the scenery itself; try hiking to the Lake Lenore caves which were once used by Native Americans as temporary shelter. Indeed, Native American culture is still present and strong in this area as the byway travels over the Colville Indian Reservation which is home to twelve different tribes from this region. Tours at the Colville Tribal Museum are a great way to learn about the rich human history that has and still exists here today.
