| U.S. Route 197 | |||||||
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| The Dalles-California Highway | |||||||
| Route information | |||||||
| Auxiliary route of US 97 | |||||||
| Length: | 63.90 mi[1][2] (102.84 km) | ||||||
| Major junctions | |||||||
| South end: | US 97 near Shaniko, OR | ||||||
| OR 216 in Tygh Valley, OR I-84 in The Dalles, OR |
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| North end: | SR 14 near Dallesport, WA | ||||||
| Highway system | |||||||
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United States Numbered Highways
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U.S. Route 197 (US 197) is a north–south U.S. Route serving Central Oregon and the Columbia Gorge. The route was added in the 1950s. The southern terminus of US 197 is at an intersection with U.S. Route 97 west of Shaniko, Oregon.[3] From US 97, US 197 traverses Wasco County and the cities of Maupin, Tygh Valley, Dufur, and The Dalles before reaching the Oregon – Washington border.[4] From the border, US 197 goes over The Dalles Bridge and then continues north to end at SR 14 north of Dallesport, Washington.
Contents |
| mi | km | |
|---|---|---|
| OR | 60.72 | |
| WA | 3.18 | |
| Total | 63.90 | 102.84 |
The Oregon section of US 197 is designated as part of The Dalles-California Highway No. 4 (see Oregon highways and routes).
Branching from US 97 south of Shaniko, US 197 runs northwest, first climbing to the Criterion Summit at over 3,300 feet (1,000 m) and dropping to about 900 feet (270 m) to the Deschutes River at Maupin in a dramatic winding river crossing.[4] About two miles (3 km) west of Maupin, US 197 intersects Oregon Route 216 (Wapinitia Highway) and overlaps it north to Tygh Valley. At Tygh Valley, OR 216, now known as the Sherars Bridge Highway, turns east to Sherar's Bridge and Grass Valley.[4]
Remaining west of the Deschutes River, US 197 crests the Tygh Grade Summit 6.5 miles (10.5 km) north of Tygh Valley and then proceeds north down the slope of the Columbia River Gorge through Dufur to the city of The Dalles and thence to The Dalles Bridge and on to Washington.[4][5][6]
In Washington, US 197 extends for three miles (5 km) from The Dalles Bridge over the Columbia River to an intersection with SR 14 near Dallesport. Although most of the route within the state is little more than a local road, the southernmost portion of US 197 passes by The Dalles Municipal Airport and is the main connector between the airport and the city.[7] The entirety of U.S. 197 within Washington is defined at Washington Revised Code § 47.17.382.[8]
When US 197 was created in the 1950s, US 197 went from US 97, its current southern terminus, north to U.S. Route 830 and east to US 97 in Maryhill, Washington. The portion from US 830 to US 97 was co-signed with US 830 until 1968, when US 830 was removed from the system and US 197's northern terminus was moved to SR 14, which is the former route of US 830. Even though the section was removed in 1968, the portion of US 197 was not removed from most highway mileage logs until 2006.
| County | Location | Mile[1][2] | Destinations | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wasco | Shaniko Junction | 0.00 | US 97 – Madras, Bend, Shaniko, Biggs | |
| 24.71 | OR 216 west – Government Camp, Portland | South end of OR 216 overlap | ||
| Tygh Valley | 31.69 | OR 216 east – Tygh Valley, Wamic, Sherars Bridge, Grass Valley | North end of OR 216 overlap | |
| The Dalles | 59.79 | US 30 west – The Dalles | South end of US 30 overlap | |
| 60.07 | I-84 / US 30 east – The Dalles, Portland, Arlington | North end of US 30 overlap | ||
| 60.72 | The Dalles Bridge over the Columbia River (state line) | |||
| Klickitat | ||||
| 63.90 | SR 14 to I-82 – Vancouver, Kennewick | |||
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