Old West storefronts a mile from our door, two rivers, North America's largest cross-country ski network and the North Cascades on the horizon. Here's how to make the most of every season.
Approximate driving distances from Abbycreek Inn. Allow extra time in winter and on summer weekends.
Distances calculated with OpenStreetMap routing. Downtown Winthrop is also an easy walk or bike ride over the river on the Susie Stephens Trail.
There is no off-season in the Methow, just different adventures. Pick a season to see what's on.
Long, sunny days made for the river, high-country trails and evenings on the patio. The North Cascades Highway is open, so Washington Pass and the national park are an easy drive west.
Best for: river days, hiking, biking and lake time
Cool mornings, golden afternoons and the valley's famous larches. In October, larch needles turn gold for a few short weeks, a sight that draws visitors from all over the state.
Best for: larch season, quieter trails and scenic drives
The valley turns into a snow-sports playground with more than 200 km of groomed Nordic trails, an outdoor ice rink downtown, and hot-air balloons in March.
Best for: Nordic skiing, skating and cozy weekends
The valley wakes up with wildflowers on the hillsides and the reopening of the North Cascades Highway, usually in April or May. It's also the season for '49er Days and the Memorial Day rodeo.
Best for: wildflowers, western heritage and shoulder-season deals
From the inn's backyard on the Methow River to the peaks of the North Cascades, here are the big ones.
A nonprofit trail network founded in 1977 and the largest cross-country ski area in North America: more than 200 km (about 130 miles) of groomed winter trails across the Winthrop, Mazama, Sun Mountain and Rendezvous areas, linked by the Methow Community Trail and its suspension bridge over the Methow River. Many trails are open for summer hiking and biking too. A trail pass is required in winter.
Official site →One of the great mountain drives in the West. Head west over Washington Pass (5,475 ft) and Rainy Pass (4,862 ft) toward North Cascades National Park. The 37-mile mountain section closes every winter; check WSDOT before you go.
WSDOT pass info →A short, level paved path through subalpine forest to a dramatic view of Liberty Bell Mountain and Early Winters Spires. It's one of the best places to see golden larches in autumn. Snow can linger until early July, and a Northwest Forest Pass is required to park.
NPS details →Known as "the American Alps," the North Cascades hold the most glaciated peaks in the continental U.S. Highway 20 is the scenic route into the park complex, with overlooks and trailheads along the way.
Official site →Thousands of miles of trails range from riverside strolls to multi-day trips into the Pasayten Wilderness. Off Highway 20, Blue Lake is a 2.2-mile (one way) climb to an alpine lake, and Rainy Lake is an easy, paved one-mile walk. Closer to town, Pearrygin Lake's Rex Derr Trail is 3.1 miles.
Blue Lake trail (USFS) →1,186 acres just outside Winthrop with 11,000 feet of waterfront for swimming, paddling, boating and fishing in a spring-fed lake, plus camping in season. In winter, it's a Sno-Park for snowshoeing, fat biking and Nordic skiing. A Discover Pass is required.
Official site →The Chewuch joins the Methow right in Winthrop. In July and August our shuttle drops you upstream so you can float the Methow back to the inn. Outfitters offer rafting and kayaking, and the rivers are popular with anglers. Fishing rules vary by stretch and season, so check current WDFW regulations first.
WDFW fishing rules →Sun Mountain Lodge's trail system has more than 40 miles of single- and double-track mountain biking, from the gentle Beaver Pond loop to the expert drops of Pete's Dragon. Guided horseback rides run from May through October (reservations required), and in winter the trails are part of Methow Trails' Nordic network.
Official site →The Methow has hundreds of miles of singletrack, doubletrack and Forest Service roads, plus a mountain bike skills park. Grab the Methow Trails summer map, or borrow one of our free bikes for an easy cruise into town.
Methow recreation hub →Bring your own horse or book a guided trail ride. Valley trails follow the Methow River in the shade, while higher routes climb to alpine meadows. Local outfitters offer trail rides, chuckwagon breakfasts and multi-day pack trips.
Rides at Sun Mountain →Methow Trails grooms nightly, typically covering all 200+ km on weekends, holidays and Wednesdays, with a daily groomer's report. There are dedicated snowshoe trails throughout the network, with the most around Sun Mountain.
Trail system & conditions →Highway 20 opens up a million acres of wilderness. Hire a local guide, stay in the ski-in, off-grid Rendezvous Huts, or book a multi-day trip with North Cascades Heli.
Rendezvous Huts →Ride groomed fat bike trails on Methow Trails (a pass is required, except at Big Valley) and at Pearrygin Lake (Sno-Park pass). Rent fat bikes in Winthrop at Methow Cycle & Sport or Cascades Outdoor Store, or in Mazama at Goat's Beard Mountain Supplies.
Fat bike info →About half of Okanogan County's 384 miles of groomed snowmobile trails can be reached from the Methow Valley, from riverside tours to high-elevation rides. Several local businesses rent sleds.
Learn more →An outdoor rink in town with public skating, pick-up hockey and figure skating through the winter. Skates, helmets and hockey pads are available to rent, and non-skaters can watch from an indoor upstairs viewing room and a sledding hill next door.
Rink schedule →Loup Loup Ski Bowl, about 20 miles east of Twisp, has 1,240 vertical feet, a quad chairlift, a terrain park, a tubing hill, a luge sledding hill and 23 km of its own Nordic trails.
Official site →
Winthrop got its western look in 1971 and 1972, as the town prepared for the opening of the North Cascades Highway. Today Riverside Avenue is lined with false-front buildings, wooden boardwalks and hitching rails, with shops, galleries, saloons and ice cream along the way.
Winthrop Chamber →Explore Methow Valley history at historic buildings and outdoor mining, homesteading and farming exhibits. The grounds are open daily during daylight hours, and docents host the historic buildings in season. Check the museum's site for current hours.
Official site →Downtown is made for browsing: boutiques, galleries, western wear, outfitters and sweet shops are packed into a few walkable blocks. Gear shops in Winthrop and Mazama rent bikes, skis and snowshoes.
Business directory →Just down the valley, TwispWorks turned a 6.4-acre former U.S. Forest Service campus into a hub for more than 40 local businesses, artists and nonprofits. The Methow Valley Farmers Market meets Saturdays in season at the Methow Valley Community Center in Twisp.
TwispWorks →Start the day with our free hot breakfast, then try a few local favorites. For pizza, wine and more, see the Winthrop Chamber's full food & drink guide.
Craft beer brewed in Winthrop with North Cascades water, plus burgers and pub food on a riverside patio on the Chewuch River. There's also a taproom in Twisp.
Official site →Billed as the oldest legal saloon in Washington, with family dining in an Old West atmosphere.
Official site →Fresh-baked pastries, bread and breakfast in the heart of downtown.
Official site →Handmade candy, ice cream and coffee, with an outdoor patio and mini golf.
Official site →A family- and pet-friendly cider bar right on Highway 20 near downtown, with lawn games and live music.
Official site →A favorite stop on the way to Washington Pass, with an in-house bakery, local food and handcrafted goods.
Official site →Hours change with the seasons, so check with each business before you go.
Event weekends fill up fast, so book early. For everything else going on, check the Winthrop events calendar.
More than 20 hot-air balloons launch each morning over three days, with a free evening Balloon Night Glow on Riverside Avenue. Balloons lift off right from our property. The next Roundup is March 5–7, 2027.
Event info →Winthrop's western-heritage weekend kicks off when the Ride to Rendezvous horse and wagon train arrives in town, followed by a Grand Parade, a stick-horse rodeo, a barn dance and a packing contest. 2026 was the 81st year.
Event info →The Methow Valley Horsemen's community rodeo runs twice a year, with saddle bronc, barrel racing, mutton busting and more. Performances start at 1 p.m.
Event info →For nearly four decades, this award-winning festival brought national blues acts to the Blues Ranch on the Methow River each July. Organizers have announced it will not take place in 2027 after losing the Blues Ranch, and they hope to find a new home. Follow their site for news.
Event info →Folk and roots music at the Winthrop Barn (in 2026, October 23).
Event info →Gear up for winter at the ski swap at the Winthrop Barn Auditorium (in 2026, November 7).
Event info →Winthrop kicks off the holidays western-style, with skating, sleigh rides, caroling, the town lighting and a fireworks show over town.
Event info →A tiny mountain hamlet at the upper end of the valley and the last stop before Washington Pass. Grab a pastry at the Mazama Store and ski or bike the Mazama trails.
The Mazama Store →A friendly river town where the Twisp River meets the Methow, home to TwispWorks, galleries, the Old Schoolhouse Brewery taproom and the Saturday farmers market.
TwispWorks →Drive the North Cascades Highway to Washington Pass Overlook, then keep going to Rainy Pass and the national park (open spring to late fall).
North Cascades NP →The town where the Methow River meets the Columbia, the gateway to the valley from the south.
About Pateros →
Lake Chelan is 50.5 miles long and up to 1,486 feet deep, the third-deepest lake in the U.S. Take the Lady of the Lake ferry to Stehekin, a village with no road access, for an unforgettable day.
Lake Chelan Chamber →WSDOT closes the 37-mile stretch of SR 20 over Rainy and Washington passes (between the Ross Dam trailhead and the Silver Star gate) every winter, usually between mid-November and early December. It typically reopens in April or May. When the pass is closed, the valley is still open: just come in from the east on Highway 20 or Highway 153 via Twisp. Always check WSDOT before you travel.
Summer for the river, hiking and biking; October for golden larches; winter for Nordic skiing, snowshoeing and skating; early March for the Balloon Roundup; April and May for wildflowers and '49er Days.
A Northwest Forest Pass to park at Washington Pass Overlook, a Discover Pass at Pearrygin Lake State Park ($10 a day or $45 a year), and a Methow Trails pass for groomed ski, snowshoe and fat-bike trails in winter.
Holiday and event weekends ('49er Days, the rodeos, the Balloon Roundup and Christmas at the End of the Road) are the valley's busiest. Reserve your room, dinners and guided trips early.
We're locals. Call (509) 996-3100 for trail tips, river shuttle times or the best place for ice cream.
60 rooms on the Methow River, a mile from downtown Winthrop, with free hot breakfast, free bikes, a heated pool, a hot tub and a sauna.
Photo credits. Inn and valley photos courtesy of Abbycreek Inn. Washington Pass, Pearrygin Lake, Riverside Avenue, Shafer Museum and Lake Chelan photos from Wikimedia Commons under the licenses noted in each caption. Event dates and hours can change, so please confirm with each organizer.