Traveling Tuesdays: The Methow Valley

Winthrop WA

There are three large towns in Washington State’s Methow Valley. Winthrop is known for its great cross-country skiing. More than 120 miles of well-kept trails offer a delightful way of traveling across the deep snow during the winter.  Winthrop is on the North Cascade Highway (Hwy 20), which is closed in the winter.

28 miles northwest of Winthrop is Mazama, with an elevation of 2,106 feet. A noted high point in the area is Goat Peak. Mazama is 28 miles south of the Canadian border.

 

Mazama Lakes from Chain Lakes Loop Trail

Do you enjoy long-distance hiking? Harts Pass to Canada Thru Hike on the Pacific Crest Trail is a 39 mile point-to-point 4-day hike from near Mazama into Canada. The best time of year to take the hike is from mid-July through September. Contact the Methow Valley Ranger Station for updates on weather, as you’ll reach a top elevation of 7,126 feet and weather is variable.

Methow Valley taken from Mazama

We actually went to visit a friend in Mazama and skipped the hike. It was a lot of fun, though, because we stopped at the Mazama Store for a delicious sandwich. Yes, we did get tee-shirts to show we’d been to Mazama.

 

Mazama River

Twisp is known as the heart of the Methow Valley. Camp out or stay at one of the local bed & breakfasts, and browse through museums, jewelry shops, and art galleries.  There’s even a Saturday Farmers Market from April through October.

Old Stage Coach Stop in Twisp

The drive is beautiful and the stops between these remote areas interesting.  You can access the Washington’s DOT to see weather and traffic cams for the area. When I talked to my friend the other day, he said the road will be closing soon, keeping them close to home until late spring.

What interesting place have you enjoyed traveling to?