The Methow Valley (pronounced “MET-how”) boasts warm, dry summers and crisp, blue-skied winters.
Savvy powder hounds turn to the state’s only heli skiing outfitter, North Cascades Heli. The 23-year-old company drops skiers high in the glacier-carved “American Alps” for untracked runs. Not to be outdone, the Methow Valley Sport Trails Association caters to the cross-country set with 125 miles of finely groomed track.
Early spring brings Winthrop’s annual Balloon Roundup. Longer days mean more time for mountain biking, too. Explore hundreds of miles of single-track trails and Forest Service roads near Mazama and Winthrop.
Summer is high time for backpacking the old-growth forests and flower-filled meadows of the 530,000-acre Pasayten Wilderness (“pa-SAY-tin”). Want someone else to lug your gear? Charter a beast of burden with Deli Llama Wilderness Adventures. When fall arrives, set your sights on Pearrygin Lake State Park, which blazes with autumn colors.
Learn more about the area and Okanagan Country and Okanogan National Forest.
—Amanda Castleman
