Omak Washington - Introduction

Omak, Washington is a small town alongside State Route 97. Although often used as a sort of pit stop for travelers to and from Canada, it is most famous for the Omak Stampede. This wild rodeo has spurred some controversy for the dangerous and popular Stampede Race, which often kills horses and injures riders, but the rodeo still draws tens of thousands of spectators a year.

Omak is proud of its Westernness, but its natural heritage is not to be overlooked. The cutthroat-filled Omak Lake and its trophy-size fish draws many fishermen and parks are readily found in this pleasantly uncrowded town.

The arts are also strong in Omak. Film festivals, theater productions and gallery exhibitions round out the local social calendar - nearly everything in Omak, in fact, from the arts to the produce to the stores, is local. Omak is a convenient resting point for Canada bound travelers, but it is also a unique destination in its own right.

Omak is 58 miles northwest of Chelan and 85 miles south of Penticton.