Omak, WA

Ireland

Omak is a small city in north-central Washington's Okanogan Valley, serving as the area's main commercial hub. Located on US Highway 97 about 235 miles from Seattle, it connects travelers heading to Canada (40 miles north) or the Wenatchee Valley (85 miles south). The town experiences hot, dry summers and cold winters in the Columbia Plateau's rain shadow. Every August, Omak hosts the famous Suicide Race at the Omak Stampede, where horses and riders charge down a steep 62-degree slope into the Okanogan River.