Washington · Cross-country skiing · Near Winthrop

Founders Trail

0.4 mi
round trip
97 ft
climb
2,083 ft
high point
Out and back
route
Apr–Oct
best months

Is Founders Trail open right now?

Alert in the area

The Forest Service lists 5 alerts for Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest.

As of · Source: USFS · Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest. Agencies don't list every closure — check before you go.

Founders Trail is a short, easy cross-country ski route in the Methow Valley Ranger District of the Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest in Washington, managed by the Forest Service. The trail is about 0.44 miles long, with a total elevation gain of 10 feet, and it makes an out-and-back trip of roughly 0.88 miles. The climb is gentle, with the steepest stretch at about 5% grade near the middle of the route. The most comfortable months for a ski outing are typically late spring and early fall. Typical averages from the nearby Mazama weather station show May highs around 68°F and September highs around 74°F, with July and August the warmest at about 84°F. Winter is cold, with January highs near 29°F and lows around 16°F. The trail sits close to several other routes. The Methow Community Trail from Browns Farm to Suspension Bridge Trailhead and Goat Creek Cutoff are each about 0.1 mile away, and the GOAT -CUB CREEK hike is about 0.2 mile off. For an overnight stay, Early Winters Campground is about 3.6 miles away.

Around this trail

Add any of these when you start a trip
  • Sleep close

    Early Winters Campground

    Campground

    Campground · 3.6 mi from the trail
  • If it rains

    The Confluence

    Gallery

    Gallery · 19 mi from Winthrop

Places © OpenStreetMap contributors

More in Winthrop
  • Best time to go · Apr–Oct

    Best time to visit Founders Trail

    Best months: April–October. Best months have typical highs of 55–85 °F, lows of 30 °F or warmer (32 °F where the station doesn't record snow), at most one snowy day and no more than 12 wet days.

    1. Jan

      29° / 16°

      15 wet

    2. Feb

      37° / 19°

      12 wet

    3. Mar

      46° / 26°

      10 wet

    4. Apr

      58° / 33°

      7 wet

    5. May

      68° / 41°

      7 wet

    6. Jun

      75° / 48°

      7 wet

    7. Jul

      84° / 55°

      5 wet

    8. Aug

      84° / 53°

      4 wet

    9. Sep

      74° / 44°

      6 wet

    10. Oct

      56° / 34°

      10 wet

    11. Nov

      39° / 25°

      14 wet

    12. Dec

      28° / 16°

      15 wet

    Typical high / low (°F) and days with rain or snow, 1991–2020. Measured at Mazama, WA, 3 mi away at 2,141 ft. This station doesn't record snowfall. Source: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020.

Keep exploring — more snow worth the drive

SKI

Methow Community Trail- Browns Farm to Suspension Bridge Trailhead

Next door

0.16-mile out-and-back trail in Washington with 32 ft of elevation gain.

SKI

Goat Creek

Next door

0.51-mile out-and-back ski route in Washington with 162 ft of elevation gain.

SKI

West Fawn Creek Road

~2 min drive

2.08-mile out-and-back route on West Fawn Creek Road with 1,573 ft of gain.

SKI

Founders Trail

Next door

Founders Trail is a 0.86-mile out-and-back route in Washington with 117 ft of elevation gain.

SKI

Goat Creek

~1 min drive

0.53-mile out-and-back ski trail in Washington with 229 ft of elevation gain.

SKI

National Forest Development Road 100

~4 min drive

1.33-mile out-and-back route on National Forest Development Road 100 in Washington

SKI

Lunachik

Next door

0.78-mile out-and-back route in Washington with 50 ft of elevation gain.

SKI

National Forest Development Road 100

~2 min drive

1.59-mile out-and-back route with 724 ft gain in Washington.

SKI

National Forest Development Road 100

~4 min drive

0.92-mile out-and-back route on National Forest Development Road 100 in Washington.

SKI

John's Way

~2 min drive

0.49-mile out-and-back route in Washington with 27 feet of elevation gain.

Map and trail data © OpenStreetMap contributors