Winthrop (Washington)
Winthrop is a town in the Methow Valley, in the North Central Cascades of Washington State. This eastern gateway to North Cascades National Park has retained its historic frontier-town roots.
Understand
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With 300 days of sunshine, it's a popular base for backpacking, climbing, and backcountry skiing. It is also the base for the Methow Trails, a destination for cross country skiing.
Visitor information
Get in
By car
State Route 20 (WA-20), known as the North Cascades Highway, passes through town, from Twisp to the east and North Cascades National Park to the west. WA-20 closes during the winter west of Winthrop, and is also subject to temporary winter storm closures.
Get around
See
Main Street Winthrop has maintained an Old West feel, with simple wooden storefronts and antique signage.
- 🌍 Shafer Historical Museum, 285 Castle Ave.
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Do
Winter sports
- Methow Trails. Over 120 miles of cross country skiing trails, making the Methow Valley one of the premier locations in the world for this sport.
- 🌍 Winthrop Ice Rink, 208 White Ave.
Nature
- 🌍 Pearrygin Lake State Park, 625 Bear Creek Rd (2 mi (3.2 km) east of Winthrop), ☏ +1 509-996-2370, pearrygin.lake@parks.wa.gov. 6:30AM-dusk. This state park covers 1,186 acres (480 hectares) that almost entirely surround Pearrygin Lake, giving it 11,000 ft (3,400 m) of shoreline. Park activities include camping, boating, fishing, swimming, water sports, and cross-country skiing. The park's hiking trails include the 3.1 mi (5.0 km) Rex Derr Trail. Discover Pass required.
Climbing
- 🌍 Mazama (From US-20, turn onto Lost River Rd/Mazama and drive 1/4 mile). Some of the best single- and multi-pitch sport climbing in Washington.
Buy
Winthrop is the last full-services stop along westbound WA-20 until Concrete, 104 mi (167 km) west.
Eat
Drink
Sleep
- 🌍 River Run Inn, 27 Rader Rd. secluded cabins, rooms and a house on the Chewuch River, walking distance to downtown Winthrop
- 🌍 Sun Mountain Lodge, 604 Patterson Lake Rd. luxury hotel
- 🌍 Chewuch Inn & Cabins, 223 White Ave, ☏ +1 509 996-3107. Check-in: 3PM, check-out: 11AM. Offers lodging with a hearty breakfast and an outdoor spa with cross country skiing, mountain biking and other outdoor recreation activities nearby. $90-200.
Go next
- North Cascades National Park, some of the most dramatic and wild mountain scenery in the Pacific Northwest
- Chelan, at the foot of a 50-mile-long lake
Winthrop is on the North Cascade Loop itinerary.
| Routes through Winthrop |
| North Cascades N.P. ← Mazama ← | W E |
→ Twisp → Omak |