Mazama, Washington

Mazama, Washington
Unincorporated community
A small meadow in Mazama
A small meadow in Mazama
Mazama, Washington is located in Washington (state)
Mazama, Washington
Mazama, Washington
Coordinates: 48°35′34″N 120°24′17″W / 48.59278°N 120.40472°W / 48.59278; -120.40472
CountryUnited States
StateWashington
CountyOkanogan
Elevation
2,106 ft (642 m)
Time zoneUTC-8 (Pacific (PST))
 • Summer (DST)UTC-7 (PDT)
ZIP code
98833
Area code509
GNIS feature ID1522828[1]
Deer in Mazama on the last stretch of the Spokane Gulch Trail heading towards the Mazama Store

Mazama (/məˈzæmə/ mə-ZAM-ə)[2] is an unincorporated community in Okanogan County (population 158) located in the Methow Valley of Washington, on the east slopes of the North Cascades and North Cascades National Park. It is located along the North Cascades Highway (Highway 20), 14 miles (23 km) northwest of Winthrop and about 28 miles (45 km) south of the Canada–United States border. Mazama's town center elevation is 2,106 feet (642 m), and it is located 2.7 miles (4.3 km) south of and 4,895 feet (1,492 m) below Goat Peak.[3][4]

Founded around the beginning of the twentieth century, Mazama boomed as the departure point for mining towns in the rugged Harts Pass area, such as Barron, Chancellor, and Robinson.[5] Recently considered little more than a pit-stop, Mazama "town" is centered at the intersection of Lost River Road and Country Road 9140. Mazama offers a general store, an adventure supply store, a gas station, a café, and two restaurants.[6][7] It has been a destination for summer weddings, rock climbing, mountaineering, and winter sports with options for heli-skiing, back-country and cross country skiing. It is home to one of the world’s longest cross-country skiing trails, stretching for 120 miles (190 km) and running through the settlement.

  1. ^ U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: Mazama, Washington
  2. ^ Bolton, Bob; Beavon, Fred. "Washington Placenames Pronunciation". County Highpointers Association. Retrieved July 7, 2013.
  3. ^ "Mazama". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey, United States Department of the Interior. September 10, 1979. Retrieved November 15, 2012.
  4. ^ "Goat Peak". ListsOfJohn.com. Retrieved November 14, 2012.
  5. ^ Smith, Jerry (2011). Boom Towns & Relic Hunters of Washington State. Seattle, WA: Classic Day Publishing. p. 52. ISBN 978-1-59849-120-3.
  6. ^ "Home". mazama.org.
  7. ^ "Goat's Beard Mountain Supplies". Retrieved June 25, 2013.