Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
which rents all manner of gear, can give you tips on where the fish are biting,
and also offers a guide service and classes.
HIKING
Hikers will find miles of trails, including the
Pacific Crest Trail,
within a few miles of Winthrop, although the best hiking trails are farther west
off the North Cascades Scenic Highway. For information, contact the
Okanogan/
Wenatchee National Forest,
Methow Valley Ranger District, Visitor Informa-
tion Center, 24 W. Chewuch Rd., Winthrop, WA 98862 (
&
509/996-4000;
www.fs.fed.us/r6/okanogan).
If you want to head for the hills for a few days but don't want to carry a pack,
consider a llama trek. These can be arranged through
Deli Llama Wilderness
Adventures,
17045 Llama Lane, Bow, WA 98232 (
&
360/757-4212;
www.
delillama.com); or
Pasayten Llama Packing,
P.O. Box 852, Twisp, WA 98856
(
&
509/996-2326;
www.mtllama.com).
HORSEBACK RIDING
If you've come to Winthrop because you're a cow-
boy at heart, you'll probably be interested in doing some horseback riding.
Early
Winters Outfitting
(
&
800/737-8750
or 509/996-2659; www.earlywinters
outfitting.com) in Mazama offers rides ranging from an hour ($20) to overnight
($160) or longer.
HOT-AIR BALLOONING
If you'd like to see the Methow Valley from the
air, you can arrange a hot-air balloon flight through
Morning Glory Balloon
Tours
(
&
509/997-1700;
www.balloonwinthrop.com), which charges $175 per
person for a 1-hour flight with a champagne picnic at the end of the flight.
MOUNTAIN BIKING
With its many miles of gravel and dirt roads and both
national forest and
Methow Valley Sport Trails Association
(MVSTA) trails
that are open to bikes in the snow-free months, the Methow Valley ranks as the
best mountain-biking area in the entire state. Mountain-bike rentals and trail
recommendations are available from
Winthrop Mountain Sports,
257 River-
side Ave. (
&
800/719-3826
or 509/996-2886; www.winthropmountainsports.
com), which is located in downtown Winthrop and charges $20 to $30 per day
for mountain-bike rentals.
ROCK CLIMBING
The best rock climbing in the state surrounds the
Methow Valley, and if you'd like to hire a guide to lead you (or are interested in
taking some climbing lessons), contact
North Cascades Mountain Guides,
50 Lost River Rd., Mazama (
&
509/996-3194;
www.ncmountainguides.com),
which charges $130 to $210 per person per day for a day of guided climbing.
WHITE-WATER RAFTING
May through August is white-water rafting sea-
son on the Methow River. If you're interested, contact
Osprey River Adven-
tures
(
&
800/997-4116
or 509/997-4116; www.methow.com/osprey). Trips
are about $70 per person.
WINTER SPORTS
With its sunshine and powdery winter snows, the
Methow Valley is legendary in the Northwest for its cross-country skiing. The
Methow Valley Sport Trails Association
(
&
509/996-3287
or, for trail condi-
tions and pass information, 800/682-5787 or 509/996-3860; www.mvsta.com)
maintains approximately 125 miles of groomed ski trails, which makes this the
second-most extensive groomed trail system in the country. Trail passes are $16
for 1 day, $12 for a half day, or $36 for 3 days. Children ages 13 to 17 pay
around half price, and children 12 and under ski free. Snowshoe passes are also
available ($3 per day). The greatest concentration of trails for all skill levels are
in the vicinity of Sun Mountain Lodge, while the trails around Mazama offer
