{{Use American English|date=May 2025}} {{Use mdy dates|date=January 2025}} {{Infobox mountain pass | name = Alpowa Summit | photo = US12eRoadside-AlpowaSummit-Elevation2785Feet (31695747641).jpg | photo_caption = Road sign at the summit | map = Washington#USA | map_alt = | map_caption = | map_relief = 1 | map_size = 260 | label = {{small|Alpowa Summit}} | elevation_ft = 2785 | elevation_ref = | traversed = U.S. Route 12 | location = Garfield County, Washington, U.S. | range = Blue Mountains | coords = {{coord|46.43553|N|117.42393|W|type:pass_region:US-WA_source:gnis|format=dms|display=inline,title}} | coordinates_ref = <ref>{{cite web |title=Alpowa Summit |publisher=ACME Laboratories |format=map |url=http://mapper.acme.com/?ll=46.43553,-117.42393&z=16&t=H&marker0=46.43553%2C-117.42393%2CAlpowa%20Summit}}</ref> }}
'''Alpowa Summit''' (el. 2785 ft./849 m.) is a mountain pass in the state of Washington. The pass connects Pomeroy on the west with Clarkston on the east. The pass separates the Blue Mountains' foothills on the south with the rolling Palouse to the north. The Washington State portion of U.S. Route 12 connects the cities of Lewiston, Idaho and Walla Walla, Washington by passing over this summit.
==History== In May 1806 the Lewis and Clark Expedition passed over the Alpowa Summit on their return trip to the United States. A historic market at the Alpowa Summit Rest Area commemorates this event.<ref name="HMDB">{{cite web |title=Lewis and Clark Expedition |url=https://www.hmdb.org/m.asp?m=159255 |website=hmdb.org |publisher=Historical Marker Database |access-date=4 October 2024}}</ref> A stage road connecting Walla Walla in the west with Lewiston in the east was established in 1862. Initial settlement of the Alpowa Summit area was constrained to livestock grazing until 1870, when farmers growing grain began to work the fertile prairie land surrounding the summit.<ref name="Pomeroy">{{cite web |last1=Gordon |first1=John R. |title=A History of the Creation of Garfield County |url=http://historicpomeroy.com/history/AHistoryOfGarfieldCounty.htm |website=historicpomeroy.org |publisher=The Pomeroy Historic Preservation Committee |access-date=4 October 2024}}</ref>
==Geography== Alpowa Summit is located in Garfield County in Southeastern Washington, between the city of Pomeroy on the west and Clarkston to the east. U.S. Route 12 traverses the summit at an elevation of 2,785 feet above sea level. It ascends Pataha Creek and Sweeney Gulch from the west and descends into the Snake River valley to the east through Megginson Gulch.<ref name="USGS">{{cite web |title=Alpowa Ridge Quadrangle |url=https://ngmdb.usgs.gov/ht-bin/tv_browse.pl?id=55290a847c182aa98bd31795c166e087 |website=usgs.gov |publisher=U.S. Geological Survey |access-date=4 October 2024}}</ref> While referred to as a summit, the terrain continues to rise to the south of the highway along Alpowa Ridge, to a height of 3,425 feet,<ref name="GNISReport">{{cite web |title=Summary Report Alpowa Ridge |url=https://edits.nationalmap.gov/apps/gaz-domestic/public/gaz-record/1503011 |website=nationalmap.gov |publisher=U.S. Geological Survey |access-date=4 October 2024}}</ref> and ultimately higher into the Blue Mountains. Where U.S. 12 meets the Snake River the elevation is 750 feet,<ref name="USGSSilcott">{{cite web |title=Silcott Island Quadrangle |url=https://ngmdb.usgs.gov/ht-bin/tv_browse.pl?id=8f804e5293bdcf0f2a2893415c17647b |website=usgs.gov |publisher=U.S. Geological Survey |access-date=4 October 2024}}</ref> while the town of Pomeroy to the west sits at 1,850 feet.<ref name="USGSPomeroy">{{cite web |title=Pomeroy Quadrangle |url=https://ngmdb.usgs.gov/ht-bin/tv_browse.pl?id=7f2351a0966fc4016f121a421bb4fb6c |website=usgs.gov |publisher=U.S. Geological Survey |access-date=4 October 2024}}</ref>
==References== {{reflist}}
==External links== * {{cite web |title=Webcam at Alpowa Summit |publisher=Washington State Department of Transportation |url=http://www.wsdot.wa.gov/Traffic/cameras/default.aspx?cam=1135}}
Category:Landforms of Garfield County, Washington Category:Mountain passes of Washington (state) Category:Transportation in Garfield County, Washington Category:U.S. Route 12
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