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Laurier to Pasco

  • Distance: 265 miles
  • Routes: SR 395, SR 26, SR 904
  • Estimated Driving Time: 5 hours

Tour Overview

From the Canadian border the tour dips down to Spokane, crosses a palisaded metropolitan area, and winds southwesterly through a country of lakes, parks, escarpments and wooded hills, until it sweeps down into the “Big Bend” wheat-lands. Continuing southwesterly, US 395 descends through a succession of lava-walled coulees and breaks into an open, semidesert country, where the Snake River joins the Columbia, southeast of Pasco.

A part of the area traversed by this route, adjacent to the Columbia River on either side of Kettle Falls, was drastically affected by the backwater from Coulee Dam. This dam across the Columbia River, part of the Columbia River Basin project, created a vast, 130-mile long artificial lake. The depth of this lake, directly behind the dam, is 377 feet, lessening gradually up the river as the ground rises. The waters covered not only the Columbia itself but also tributary streams such as the Kettle, San Poil, and Spokane rivers; forming a shore line estimated at 5,000 miles, extending irregularly far up many valleys, canyons, and gullies.

Key Waypoints along Laurier to Spokane

Laurier

A group of white-painted houses, dominated by the customhouse, a large structure in Colonial style. Here are the personnel of... Visit

Kettle Falls

Kettle Falls, on the Columbia River, is below the mouth of the Kettle River. It was an important salmon fishing... Visit

Spokane

The major city of the Inland Empire of Washington, Spokane sits at the falls of the Spokane River 90 miles... Visit

All waypoints on this leg

Side trips along Laurier to Spokane

Republic

This 160 mile side trip follows Sherman Pass Scenic Byway. The side trip connects with Tour 7. The round trip to Republic is 2 hours.

American Fort Colville

  This 6 mile side trip leads out to the former site of Fort Colville where a heritage marker identifies the location.

Tshimakain Mission

  This 22 mile side trip extends out to a monument marking the site of the former 1838 Tshimakain Mission.

Key Waypoints along Spokane to Pasco

Spokane

The major city of the Inland Empire of Washington, Spokane sits at the falls of the Spokane River 90 miles... Visit

Marshall

The town was named for William H. Marshall who filed a homestead on January 9, 1880. The company, Marshall &... Visit

Cheney

Platted in a triangle, with its base on the Northern Pacific Railway. It is a pleasant busy town. Several railroad... Visit

Sprague

Named for General John W. Sprague, director of the Northern Pacific Railway. The town is laid out at a 45-degree... Visit

Ritzville

Seat of Adams County, the town was an important milling and shipping center of the dry and dusty wheat country.... Visit

Pasco

The seat of Franklin County, spreads its attractive public buildings, landscaped grounds, and business blocks over a level desert plain... Visit

All waypoints on this leg

★ Mainstreet Community

Side trips along Spokane to Pasco

Medical Lake

  The 18 mile side trip zigzags through a bunch-grass and farming area, occasionally spotted with clumps of bull pine out to Silver and Medical lakes.

Washtucna

  This 60 mile side trip cuts out through the narrow Washtucna Coulee to Washtucna.

Side trips along Spokane to Pasco

There are no side trips along this tour leg.

This tour has 2 legs, 38 waypoints, 2 side trips, and covers 265 miles.