WA US 97 South to Mary Hill

Thanks for the alternates and closure updates, I'll give them a close look.

Cheers, Gord

Closures of US97 have been intermittent this summer, and never involved 'much of it'. The main one has been around Omak. There's still smoke, but it is WA20 and WA155 (toward Grand Coulee) that has closures now. That most of the fire activity is to the east of US97.

This stormy week is bound to change fire conditions, with both wind and rain. They are talking about reopening WA20 over the Cascades today.

My impression is that grades on US97 are no worse than on I90. Passes are lower. At the south end there's the gradual drop from Satus to Goldendale, and then this final drop to the Columbia. Then you have climb back up the Oregon side.

An alternative is to stay on I82 through Washington. When you hit I84 you can either take US395 over the low mountains of NCentral Oregon, or jog west to catch US97.

Hi All:

Thanks to each of you for taking the time to help us out with this. We are planning to be through around Oct 23/24, so thinking the wildfires will be spent.

I had heard of the big one in WA, what a hard thing for the area's residents. I'm a lieutenant in our FD and have spent some time on the lines this summer, the driest on the coast since the 50's, so I understand how devastating this summer has been for many western communities.

Grades of 5 to 6% are easy for us to navigate, so we are looking forward to seeing this part of your beautiful country.

Safe travels to all!

Cheers, Gord

I drive that stretch at least once a week. It will not be a problem -- steady stream of RVs heading that way this time of year. Speed limit on the first section is 55 and on the final segment drops to 50. The slow corner mentioned is posted at 40 going downhill (south) and 45 uphill (north). The final turn, at the bottom, traverses a railroad overpass and is posted at 40. Due to work going on at the bridge the speed limit drops to 35 and is heavily monitored by the State Patrol (profit center).

As an aside if you're looking for a break Maryhill Museum is a short jaunt (3 miles) west on SR14. Amazing museum in the middle of nowhere.

Since the OP specifically asked about the grade down Mary Hill.. It is about 5-6% for about five miles. Has one slow corner to the left about halfway down, seems as it is posted at 35 mph. Then a left turn down to the Hy 14 junction where there is a stop sign.

You should be fine. Safe travels to you.

I didn't read through all these posts... but if you are thinking about coming from Canada through the Okanogan/Omak area on hwy 97 anytime soon... please get a good update on road closures, wind conditions and fire reports.

It's nasty up there ... today they had 50 mph wind gusts that kicked ash and grit and sand into the air... and did not help the firefighters one bit fighting the 300,000 acre fire.

That's not a typo... this is the largest fire in the state of Washington since it's statehood.

Fires extend here and there across the eastern half of both Washington and Oregon. They started in July and exploded in the past two weeks on the drier eastern sides of both states.

You won't see much scenery in the smoke and haze east of the Cascades.
(Fires are also around Mt. Adams... fires also near Walla-walla and Orofino, ID.)

There was a fall type weather system that brought rain to the west side of the Cascades just in the past 24 hours. Cleared our dusty air very well.
If for nothing else than air quality... consider taking I-5 this week instead of hwy 97.

How about catching 395 and heading south on it, I don't recall any grades in WA, some in Oregon but only one that I recall was worth mentioning and that was just south of the WA border.

sh410 wrote:
Donn, the drop from Goldendale WA to Biggs Junction, OR is 1200ft in 13 miles.

lot of the drop is in the last few miles as you drop off SR-14 onto 97 to the columbia.

HI All:

Thanks so much for the feedback. Our planned route is 2 north of Everett, to Monroe, then the 203 to North Bend, then the I90 to Ellensburg catch I82/US97 through to Weed. From there undecided as to stick with the secondaries to Barstow and points south. Ultimate destination is San Diego.

Cheers, Gord

Donn, the drop from Goldendale WA to Biggs Junction, OR is 1200ft in 13 miles.