Washington State Route 215

On Saturday, October 27, 2012, we drove through Okanogan and Omak on lovely Highway 215.

RCW 47.17.419 State route No. 215:

A state highway to be known as state route number 215 is established as follows:

Beginning at a junction with state route number 20 in the vicinity of Okanogan, thence northeasterly on the west side of the Okanagan river to a junction with state route number 97 north of Omak.

So here we begin, in Okanogan County, just south of the City of Okanogan, beside the Okanogan River. SR 20 is following the west-bank old Highway 97 here, but turns east over the river. SR 215 takes over the northerly duties.


Through Okanogan we roll, wet pavement but no rain. The highway is also signed as Business Route 97. (Business routes in Washington are officially a county/city thing, in case you were wondering why I didn't drive it in numerical order.) Out of habit, I have Chunlin take a photo at the halfway point of the highway as we pass Shellrock Point. We enter Omak and roll up to this stoplight and I realize that instead of a halfway photo, we should be taking a picture of Highway 215's junction with SR 155! This, we did.


SR 215 turns east, climbing the hill out of old Omak onto Robinson Flat, the "new" Omak full of Walmart and friends. It is here we return to SR 20 and also US 97, which share a road through here. Highway 215 is at an end, rejoining its parent (SR 20) and completing the business loop (US 97).

The cool, moist air is so invigorating. Is it always like this in central Washington?