Washington State Route 730

On Monday, November 4, 2024, we drove Washington State Route 730 (aka US Route 730). It was on the way home...

State route No. 730:

A state highway to be known as state route number 730 is established as follows:

Beginning at the Washington-Oregon boundary line, thence northeasterly to a junction with state route number 12 south of Wallula.

On the south bank of the mighty Columbia River, US 730 enters Washington.


With a tailwind, we drive beneath the towering cliffs carved by ice-age floods. Under one stretch, there's a giant fence with a stout net to catch falling rocks. Not most of the cliffs, though. After Port Kelley and the Walla Walla Yacht Club, US 730 turns north and starts climbing. This is the halfway point of the Washington portion.


The Columbia River (Lake Wallula here) spreads out before us as we pass through Wallula Gap. Twin Sisters Rock marks the narrowest portion of the river. Whitecapped waves push upstream. And then we're through the gap and US 730 turns east again. Very shortly, we reach the delta junction with US 12. Be very sure to check for oncoming traffic when turning left. If you look at an aerial photo, you'll see that this entire triangular junction was rebuilt a few hundred feet to the west when WSDOT built a new bridge over the Walla Walla River. Most of the pavement and half the bridge still exist.

US 730 is a pleasant drive along the Columbia and I must say that the Washington portion is the best.