Anyone here from central Washington state? My computer is being evil and sending me pictures of lovely rolling (cheap) open dry land for sale in something called the Okenogan. I think it’s in the middle of nowhere, but that might be okay with me, depending on how vile traffic has been that day in eastern Massachusetts where it takes 45 minutes to drive 3 miles.
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The Okanagan is lovely. Exceptional rural, just eadt of the Cascades along the Canadian border. Very prone to wildfire, has 4 sharp seasons, fairly dry
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The extension into Canada is the Okanagan Lake area and it’s much more developed, went from tree fruit and beaches to wineries and suburban sprawl in Kelowna. Dry semi desert except where irrigated, Ponderosa and sage brush.
I don’t know how easy it would be to drive up into Canada for a dose of small city life, but the US Okanogan area is contiguous with the Canadian just much less developed.
Unfortunately in Kelowna, urban interface forest fires are a real threat in summer.
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I’m in North Idaho --can confirm the Okanagan/Okanogan (a becomes an o when you cross the border) is very pretty country, but rural (most horse stuff is on the other side of the Cascades; very little going on on the Dry Side) and wildfires are a thing.
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Ok, I have never been across the border at the Okanagan or given any thought as to what the American end is like. When I look at the map, I see that the big chain of lakes that run North/South in the Canadian Okanagan don’t continue into the USA and it really is rural.
On the Canadian side the lakes provided irrigation for huge tree fruit agriculture from early in the 20th century, it’s a huge hub for apples, peaches, nectarines, etc. As well as grapes and wine.The sandy lake beaches have long been a recreation draw. Coming from either the cooler wetter coast or the dryer flatter prairies, the Canadian Okanagan can really be a glorious lake beach vacation, plus there’s ski hills for winter too. The cities especially Kelowna have boomed, and while it’s cheaper than Vancouver it’s certainly not budget land out there. Anyhow it’s a booming and vibrant hub for British Columbia, so it’s interesting to realize that the American end of the valley is just desert with no lake. There’s lots of horse activity in the Canadian Okanagan, between proximity to ranch country, tourism, and population boom.
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Climate is: Hot. Hot and dry. Cold. Cold and dry. Snow. A bit of rain and green for a month. Then hot and dry. Thunderstorms and wildfire smoke are seasonal as well. My MIL lives there (Omak) and it is very rural, somewhat inexpensive, lacks vet and farrier unless you don’t mind cow vet/cowboy shoers. Hay is reasonable. Long drives to any events, airports, cities. Politically conservative if that matters. Lots of orchards, not many jobs, lots of retirees, Indigenous reservations and the poverty that comes with them (and racism).
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And the Ponderosa zones, on a warm, late Spring morning, smell like heaven
great botanizing and birding. Great place for a nature nut if you like geology. Good hiking
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just saw the the US Gov is going to start reintroducing Grizzly Bears into northern Washington state
The draft plan and environmental impact statement include two options for reviving North Cascades grizzlies. Both involve releasing three to seven bears annually over five to 10 years. The goal would be to establish an initial population of about 25 bears. In the long term, the target would be a population of about 200 bears
How it takes them to wonder off into other lands no one knows.
LOL that would be the least of my concerns. 9000 sq miles of environment, The bears that are currently there . You know that song, The Bear Went Over The Mountain… probably written about this region
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So, Hoopoe is in a different Okanogan than others, clearly. 
I like Hoopoe’s version!
We will have to go visit.
I was up in June camping in the Similkameen area near Princeton BC, which is en route to the Okanagan. It’s Ponderosa and rangeland, not the Ponderosa and desert you get in the Okanagan, but basically next door. It is gorgeous horse country. Our Okanagan desert is getting priced out of being affordable retirement or small horse property, because the lake is such a draw. Anyhow, Princeton in June was just wonderful, wildflowers everywhere. It’s such a change from the coast.
I would not consider the area desert in the technical sense. It is Shrub steppe and upland grassland with Ponderosa and tall pine .
It is nature nut heaven. It is a lot of land with very little development. If you can stand isolation or lack of urban amenity, it is for you. If you wish to get to the west side of the mountains in winter, it is a long drive down to Wenatchee or Ellensburg to Hwy 2 or I 90. The North Cascades Highway closes in winter. If you have medical issues which require quality specialty doctors, you will be challenged
Not sure about Internet / Starlink etc capabilities for someone who works from home. Probably getting better since a lot of Tech folks have summer and winter places in the region
I love the area but dont get there often simply because the drive is so long. To justify the long drive I would have to spend several days there to enjoy. I use to do it more often
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In Canada, people just love the Okanagan for all these reasons (plus the beaches). If the lakes extended down to the US side this would be recreation heaven too. It really is an interesting ecosystem and one that horses do well in.
It is very isolated— that’s a huge drawback for anyone who wants to do any horse show type stuff. Trail riding? Superb! English? Looking at a 7+ hour drive over one to three mountain passes. Spokane would be closest-ish but winter plays havoc with driving in the mountains. Remember— passes here are at 4000 feet! There are other parts of central/eastern Washington I’d consider before the Okanogan.
Clanter- bears are not a concern and we welcome the return of Grizzlies. Which, of course, are already in the state.
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Washington pass in North Cascade Hwy is 5600 feet and gets a lot of snow and avalanche activity. Hikers have an informal lottery bet on when the gates will open. Usually sometime between mid April and the first 10 days of May. It is a stunning drive
Sharon a1 if you are really interested in this region I would invest in visiting during the hot summer and cold winter and see if it is the right place for you
Hmmmm. Do tell! But they probably won’t be as el cheapo.
The quiet and the superb trails and lack of mosquitoes are what I am craving, but yeah, I’d prefer to be within an hour of a library or bookstore and a coffee shop. I do ride English but I don’t show and I had extra rings put on my dressage saddle (which is very comfy for trail riding) so it thinks it is born to be wild.
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well the NCW Library network has Library buildings, book mobile and books via mail. Coffee Shops in Omak and Tonasket. Probably a fair number of old school cafes that serve breakfast all day and there is a table of locals that meet every morning and talk about hay prices or where the best deer hunting is this season
I live on the west/wet side, but must say I enjoy vacationing over in that general region. The North Cascades Highway is my fave drive through wet Skagit Co into Okanogan Co, Twisp is a cute city if you don’t mind overly cutesy cowboy theme and it’s definitely tourism-driven - the one time we stopped there everything was closed, and it was an early lunch time, very strange, but apparently Oct is when they start closing shop and switch to “winter hours.”
@SharonA1 check a little south to Ellensburg area? Land, at least comparatively to where I am, is still affordable, but more in the way of amenities.
I keep getting advertisements on my Facebook showing these amazing farms in Idaho. Almost makes me want to move there… until I remember everything is 8-10 hours away from civilization/decent vets/horse shows/an airport larger than a postage stamp. (Used to live in Washington, have family in Montana)
If you don’t mind dry weather or heat, I might suggest the Indio/Palm Springs area of California. The traffic isn’t like in other parts of California, there’s a decent horse scene and you can actually get vets, and you’re not far from LA, San Diego, or Phoenix.
Cons are the summers are VERY hot (but, IMO, not unbearable. I’ve gone hiking in August there), you will need to buy hay year round, and California taxes.
You are very kind, but, I grew up in Southern California (on the coast, but…) Not doing anything anywhere near central or southern California. Speaking only for myself, hated it. Being “not far” from LA or San Diego or even Palm Springs is a reason to bolt in the other direction, for me. But someone else on this thread might be more open, so definitely feel free to share more insight into the area!
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