U.S. Route 97
Encyclopedia
U.S. Route 97 is a major north–south United States highway in the western United States
. It begins at a junction with Interstate 5
at Weed, California
, and travels north, ending in Okanogan County, Washington, at the Canadian Border, across from Osoyoos, British Columbia
, becoming British Columbia Highway 97 upon entering Canada
. Major cities that lie on U.S. Highway 97 include Klamath Falls, Oregon
; Bend, Oregon
; Yakima, Washington
; Ellensburg, Washington
; and Wenatchee, Washington
. For a time, the Alaska
portion of the Alaska Highway
was planned to be signed as U.S. 97, with signs even being produced.
A portion of the highway in California and Oregon is part of the Volcanic Legacy Scenic Byway
.
. From Weed, the highway continues in a northeasterly direction toward Klamath Falls, Oregon. The California portion of U.S. Route 97 is approximately 55 miles (88.5 km) in length, with its southern end at the junction with Interstate 5
and California State Route 265
in Weed, and reaching Oregon after the junction with California State Route 161 (Stateline Rd) just north of the community of Dorris, California
.
While the town of Weed has an elevation of 3467 feet (1,056.7 m), a section of U.S. Route 97 in California is above 5000 feet (1,524 m) in elevation with two significant summits. At mile 19 the Grass Lake Summit has an elevation of 5101 feet (1,554.8 m). There is a rest area with restrooms at Grass Lake about a half-mile south of the summit.
At mile 30 the Mount Hebron Summit has an elevation of 5202 feet (1,585.6 m). The small community of Mount Hebron
follows the descent from the summit, but is located a couple miles east of the highway. The next community located directly on the highway is unincorporated town of Macdoel
.
The entire length of the California portion of U.S. Route 97 is part of the Volcanic Legacy Scenic Byway
.
Southbound travelers entering California must be prepared to stop at the California Department of Food and Agriculture
(CDFA) Inspection Station south of Dorris. After a five year hiatus, during which only commercial vehicles were stopped, all motorists are once again subject to inspection.
, Interstate 90
, and U.S. 2
, is defined at Washington Revised Code § 47.17.155.
The route of Alternate U.S. 97 is defined at Washington Revised Code § 47.17.157.
Between Goldendale and Yakama
the highway passes over Satus Pass
.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. It begins at a junction with Interstate 5
Interstate 5
Interstate 5 is the main Interstate Highway on the West Coast of the United States, running largely parallel to the Pacific Ocean coastline from Canada to Mexico . It serves some of the largest cities on the U.S...
at Weed, California
Weed, California
Weed is a city located in Siskiyou County, California. As of the 2010 Census, the town had a total population of 2,967, down from 2,979 at the 2000 census. There are several unincorporated communities adjacent to, or just outside Weed proper. These include Edgewood, Carrick, Lake Shastina, Rancho...
, and travels north, ending in Okanogan County, Washington, at the Canadian Border, across from Osoyoos, British Columbia
Osoyoos, British Columbia
Osoyoos is a town in the southern part of the Okanagan Valley in British Columbia near the border with Washington state. The town is also adjacent to the Indian Reserve of the Osoyoos Indian Band. The origin of the name Osoyoos was the word suius meaning "narrowing of the waters" in the local...
, becoming British Columbia Highway 97 upon entering Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
. Major cities that lie on U.S. Highway 97 include Klamath Falls, Oregon
Klamath Falls, Oregon
Klamath Falls is a city in Klamath County, Oregon, United States. Originally called Linkville when George Nurse founded the town in 1867, after the Link River on whose falls this city sat, although no falls currently exist; the name was changed to Klamath Falls in 1892...
; Bend, Oregon
Bend, Oregon
Bend is a city in and the county seat of Deschutes County, Oregon, United States, and the principal city of the Bend, Oregon Metropolitan Statistical Area. Bend is Central Oregon's largest city, and, despite its modest size, is the de facto metropolis of the region, owing to the low population...
; Yakima, Washington
Yakima, Washington
Yakima is an American city southeast of Mount Rainier National Park and the county seat of Yakima County, Washington, United States, and the eighth largest city by population in the state itself. As of the 2010 census, the city had a total population of 91,196 and a metropolitan population of...
; Ellensburg, Washington
Ellensburg, Washington
Ellensburg is a city in, and the county seat of, Kittitas County, Washington, United States. The population was 18,174 at the 2010 census. The population was 18,250 at 2011 Estimate from Office of Financial Management. Ellensburg is located just east of the Cascade Range on I-90 and is known as the...
; and Wenatchee, Washington
Wenatchee, Washington
Wenatchee is located in North Central Washington and is the largest city and county seat of Chelan County, Washington, United States. The population within the city limits in 2010 was 31,925...
. For a time, the Alaska
Alaska
Alaska is the largest state in the United States by area. It is situated in the northwest extremity of the North American continent, with Canada to the east, the Arctic Ocean to the north, and the Pacific Ocean to the west and south, with Russia further west across the Bering Strait...
portion of the Alaska Highway
Alaska Highway
The Alaska Highway was constructed during World War II for the purpose of connecting the contiguous U.S. to Alaska through Canada. It begins at the junction with several Canadian highways in Dawson Creek, British Columbia and runs to Delta Junction, Alaska, via Whitehorse, Yukon...
was planned to be signed as U.S. 97, with signs even being produced.
A portion of the highway in California and Oregon is part of the Volcanic Legacy Scenic Byway
Volcanic Legacy Scenic Byway
The Volcanic Legacy Scenic Byway is an All-American Road in the U.S. states of California and Oregon. It is roughly 500 miles long and travels through the Cascade Range past numerous volcanoes. It is composed of two separate National Scenic Byways, the Volcanic Legacy Scenic Byway - Oregon and...
.
California
U.S. Route 97 begins in town of Weed, CaliforniaWeed, California
Weed is a city located in Siskiyou County, California. As of the 2010 Census, the town had a total population of 2,967, down from 2,979 at the 2000 census. There are several unincorporated communities adjacent to, or just outside Weed proper. These include Edgewood, Carrick, Lake Shastina, Rancho...
. From Weed, the highway continues in a northeasterly direction toward Klamath Falls, Oregon. The California portion of U.S. Route 97 is approximately 55 miles (88.5 km) in length, with its southern end at the junction with Interstate 5
Interstate 5
Interstate 5 is the main Interstate Highway on the West Coast of the United States, running largely parallel to the Pacific Ocean coastline from Canada to Mexico . It serves some of the largest cities on the U.S...
and California State Route 265
California State Route 265
State Route 265 , part of Weed Boulevard, is a state highway in the U.S. state of California in Siskiyou County.-Route description:...
in Weed, and reaching Oregon after the junction with California State Route 161 (Stateline Rd) just north of the community of Dorris, California
Dorris, California
Dorris is a city in Siskiyou County, California, United States. The population was 939 at the 2010 census, up from 886 at the 2000 census.-Geography:...
.
While the town of Weed has an elevation of 3467 feet (1,056.7 m), a section of U.S. Route 97 in California is above 5000 feet (1,524 m) in elevation with two significant summits. At mile 19 the Grass Lake Summit has an elevation of 5101 feet (1,554.8 m). There is a rest area with restrooms at Grass Lake about a half-mile south of the summit.
At mile 30 the Mount Hebron Summit has an elevation of 5202 feet (1,585.6 m). The small community of Mount Hebron
Mount Hebron, California
Mount Hebron is a census-designated place in Siskiyou County, California, United States. The population was 95 at the 2010 census, up from 92 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Mount Hebron is located at ....
follows the descent from the summit, but is located a couple miles east of the highway. The next community located directly on the highway is unincorporated town of Macdoel
Macdoel, California
Macdoel is a census-designated place in Siskiyou County, California, United States. As of the 2010 census, the CDP population was 133, down from 140 in at the 2000 census.-Geography:Macdoel is located at ....
.
The entire length of the California portion of U.S. Route 97 is part of the Volcanic Legacy Scenic Byway
Volcanic Legacy Scenic Byway
The Volcanic Legacy Scenic Byway is an All-American Road in the U.S. states of California and Oregon. It is roughly 500 miles long and travels through the Cascade Range past numerous volcanoes. It is composed of two separate National Scenic Byways, the Volcanic Legacy Scenic Byway - Oregon and...
.
Southbound travelers entering California must be prepared to stop at the California Department of Food and Agriculture
California Department of Food and Agriculture
The California Department of Food and Agriculture , is a cabinet-level agency in the government of California. Established in 1919 by the California State Legislature and signed into law by Governor William Stephens, the Department of Food and Agriculture is responsible for ensuring the state's...
(CDFA) Inspection Station south of Dorris. After a five year hiatus, during which only commercial vehicles were stopped, all motorists are once again subject to inspection.
Oregon
Washington
The Washington section of U.S. 97, with the exception of concurrencies with Interstate 82Interstate 82
Interstate 82 is a Interstate Highway that extends from I-90 in Ellensburg, Washington to I-84 near Umatilla, Oregon in the United States. In the state of Washington, it serves the cities of Ellensburg, Yakima, and the Tri Cities , and in Oregon, it serves Umatilla and Hermiston...
, Interstate 90
Interstate 90
Interstate 90 is the longest Interstate Highway in the United States at . It is the northernmost coast-to-coast interstate, and parallels US 20 for the most part. Its western terminus is in Seattle, at Edgar Martinez Drive S. near Safeco Field and CenturyLink Field, and its eastern terminus is in...
, and U.S. 2
U.S. Route 2
U.S. Route 2 is an east–west U.S. Highway spanning across the northern continental United States. US 2 consists of two segments connected by various roadways in southern Canada...
, is defined at Washington Revised Code § 47.17.155.
The route of Alternate U.S. 97 is defined at Washington Revised Code § 47.17.157.
Between Goldendale and Yakama
Yakama
The Confederated Tribes and Bands of the Yakama Nation, or simply Yakama Nation , is a Native American group with nearly 10,000 enrolled members, living in Washington. Their reservation, along the Yakima River, covers an area of approximately 1.2 million acres...
the highway passes over Satus Pass
Satus Pass
Satus Pass is a high mountain pass in the Cascades in the state of Washington. The pass connects Goldendale and the Klickitat Valley to the south with the Yakama Indian Reservation and Yakima Valley to the north. The Simcoe Mountains lie to the west of Satus Pass, and Bickleton Ridge to the...
.