WINTER RECREATION
Ice SkatingWhen Jack Frost gets to work in the Methow Valley, it's time to pull out the ice skates! The outdoor Winthrop Ice and Sports Rink offers daytime and evening open skating, pick-up hockey, and figure skating lessons. Rentals and day passes are affordable, and the indoor viewing room allows the non-skating members of your party to enjoy the experience from a comfortable vista. |
Cross-country SkiingWith over 200 kilometers of groomed, interconnected trails, surrounded by more than a million acres of wilderness and forest lands, the Methow Valley is a winter wonderland like no other. The trails are considered some of the best in North America and offer an incredible experience for first-time and expert skiers alike. |
SnowmobilingMultiple SnoParks and miles of Forest Service roads become a veritable playground for snowmobile terrain seekers in the Methow Valley, with access up all of the major Valley sub-basins. Snowmobiling in the Methow offers everything from high elevation exploring to riverside groomed tours, and the extensive terrain allows for all-day rides over exceptionally dramatic scenery. |
Downhill SkiingJust 30 minutes from the town of Winthrop is one of the Pacific Northwest's best kept downhill ski secrets, the Loup Loup Ski Bowl. The lift tickets are affordable, the lodge and lifts are family-friendly and the terrain is surprisingly extensive and variable. The Loup (as the locals call it) offers 1,240 vertical feet with ten cut runs - not to mention the popular tubing hill and terrain park. |
Heli & Backcountry SkiingPerhaps you're itching to get off the beaten path or looking for an unforgettable heli-skiing trip in the Cascades with some of the best snow conditions available anywhere? Experience an amazing potpourri of open bowls, steep glades and excellent tree skiing surrounded by immense granite cliffs and spires. Friendly local guides and tours are available. |
SnowshoeingSnowshoeing can be slow and gentle — an opportunity for quiet reprieve far from the hustle and bustle of daily life — or it can provide a higher paced opportunity for a workout and a destination vista. Either way, there's something for every ability on the Methow snowshoe trail network (or off of it!). |
SleddingA winter wonderland experience in the Methow Valley would not be complete without the simple pleasure of daytime or moonlight sledding! Families with kids young and old will take delight in the thrill of sledding down a freshly snowed on slope, coming up for air and laughing, and running up to do it all over again. |
Wildlife & Nature StudiesThe Methow Valley is defined by its natural beauty, and students of nature will not be able to resist visiting the Valley's quiet corners and diverse habitats. Winter offers a special opportunity for naturalists, young and old, to learn about the fascinating adaptations that winter creatures make to survive the challenges of harsh conditions, or to follow an animal track, revealing the story of its travels and patterns on snow. |