| U.S. Route 97 | |
|---|---|
| Route information | |
| Length: | 663 mi[1] (1,067 km) |
| Existed: | 1926[1] – present |
| Major junctions | |
| South end: | I-5 in Weed, CA |
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US 20 in Bend, OR |
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| North end: | BC 97 at Canadian Border |
| Highway system | |
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United States Numbered Highways |
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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.[2]
A portion of the highway in California and Oregon is part of the Volcanic Legacy Scenic Byway.
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U.S. Route 97 begins in town of Weed, California. 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 (89 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 3,467 feet (1,057 m), a section of U.S. Route 97 in California is above 5,000 feet (1,500 m) in elevation with two significant summits. At mile 19 the Grass Lake Summit has an elevation of 5,101 feet (1,555 m). There is a rest area with restrooms at Grass Lake about a half-mile south of the summit.[3] At mile 30 the Mount Hebron Summit has an elevation of 5,202 feet (1,586 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.[4]
The Washington section of U.S. 97, with the exception of concurrencies with Interstate 82, Interstate 90, and U.S. 2, is defined at Washington Revised Code § 47.17.155.[5]
The route of Alternate U.S. 97 is defined at Washington Revised Code § 47.17.157.[6]
Between Goldendale and Yakama the highway passes over Satus Pass.
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Main U.S. Routes |
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| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | |
| 20 | 21 | 22 | 23 | 24 | 25 | 26 | 27 | 28 | 29 | 30 | 31 | 32 | 33 | 34 | 35 | 36 | 37 | 38 | |
| 40 | 41 | 42 | 43 | 44 | 45 | 46 | 48 | 49 | 50 | 51 | 52 | 53 | 54 | 55 | 56 | 57 | 58 | 59 | |
| 60 | 61 | 62 | 63 | 64 | 65 | 66 | 67 | 68 | 69 | 70 | 71 | 72 | 73 | 74 | 75 | 76 | 77 | 78 | 79 |
| 80 | 81 | 82 | 83 | 84 | 85 | 87 | 89 | 90 | 91 | 92 | 93 | 94 | 95 | 96 | 97 | 98 | 99 | ||
| 101 | 163 | 400 | 412 | 425 | |||||||||||||||
| Lists | U.S. Routes • Bannered • Divided • Bypassed | ||||||||||||||||||