Early Winters Campground
Campground
Campground · 1.8 mi from the trail
Washington · Cross-country skiing · Near Winthrop
Methow
- 0.3 mi
- round trip
- 64 ft
- climb
- 2,233 ft
- high point
- Out and back
- route
- Apr–Oct
- best months
Is Methow open right now?
Alert in the area
The Forest Service lists 5 alerts for Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest.
Cle Elum River Restoration Area Closure on the Cle Elum Ranger District
Agency alert covering Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest · USFS · Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest
Storm Damaged Roads Closure on Methow Valley District
Agency alert covering Methow Valley Ranger District · Order 06-17-04-26-18 · USFS · Methow Valley Ranger District
Gold Creek Restoration Project Area Closure on Cle Elum Ranger District
Agency alert covering Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest · USFS · Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest
Grouse Creek Aquatic Project Road Closure on the Wenatchee River Ranger District
Agency alert covering Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest · USFS · Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest
Termination of Stage 1 Public Use Restrictions and Campfire Ban
Agency alert covering Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest · Order 06-17-00-2026-16 · USFS · Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest
As of · Source: USFS · Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest. Agencies don't list every closure — check before you go.
Methow is a short, easy cross-country ski outing in the Methow Valley Ranger District of the Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest in Washington. The route is about 0.66 miles long and has a steady climb to a high point of 2,233 feet, with a total gain of 64 feet over the course. The start sits at 2,227 feet, and the steepest section comes at about 0.17 miles in, with a grade of 2 percent. Winter is the natural season for this trail. Typical averages from a nearby weather station in Mazama, about 2 miles away, run from highs near 29°F and lows around 16°F in January to highs near 37°F and lows around 19°F in February. Summer is warm and drier, with July and August highs typically around 84°F and fewer wet days. Several other places lie within a short distance. Upper River Run is about 0.1 mile away and Jack's about 0.4 mile. Goat Wall offers climbing about 0.6 mile off, and Early Winters Campground is the nearest town.
Around this trail
Add any of these when you start a tripSleep close Eat after If it rains The Confluence
Gallery
Gallery · 24 mi from Winthrop
Places © OpenStreetMap contributors
More in WinthropBest time to go · Apr–Oct
Best time to visit Methow
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.
Jan
29° / 16°
15 wet
Feb
37° / 19°
12 wet
Mar
46° / 26°
10 wet
Apr
58° / 33°
7 wet
May
68° / 41°
7 wet
Jun
75° / 48°
7 wet
Jul
84° / 55°
5 wet
Aug
84° / 53°
4 wet
Sep
74° / 44°
6 wet
Oct
56° / 34°
10 wet
Nov
39° / 25°
14 wet
Dec
28° / 16°
15 wet
Typical high / low (°F) and days with rain or snow, 1991–2020. Measured at Mazama, WA, 2.1 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
Upper River Run
Next door
0.22-mile out-and-back ski trail in Washington with 48 ft of elevation gain.
SKI
Jack's
Next door
0.37-mile out-and-back route in Washington with 37 ft of elevation gain.
SKI
Upper River Run
Next door
Upper River Run is a 1.06-mile out-and-back route in Washington with 152 feet of elevation gain.
SKI
Doe Canyon Loop
~2 min drive
0.24-mile out-and-back out-and-back in Doe Canyon, Washington with 43 ft of elevation gain.
SKI
Cassal Cutoff
Next door
0.49-mile out-and-back ski route in Washington with 42 ft of elevation gain.
SKI
Jack's
~2 min drive
1.15-mile out-and-back route in Washington with 324 ft gain.
SKI
Methow
Next door
Methow is a 0.47-mile out-and-back ski route in Washington with 32 feet of elevation gain.
SKI
Sandy Butte
~3 min drive
0.14-mile out-and-back at Sandy Butte in Washington with 21 ft of elevation gain.
SKI
Jack's
~1 min drive
0.32-mile out-and-back ski trail in Washington with 54 ft of elevation gain.
SKI
Doe Canyon
~4 min drive
1.37-mile out-and-back route in Washington with 272 ft of elevation gain.
Also worth it near here
Photo: Robert Ashworth from Bellingham, WA., USA, CC BY 2.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)Rattlesnake Cutoff
~2 min drive
Photo: eliduke, CC BY-SA 2.0 (via Flickr)Ripple Rock
~3 min drive
BED
Early Winters Campground
~3 min drive
Photo: Curt Smith from Bellevue, WA, USA, CC BY 2.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)Goat Peak
~5 min drive
Map and trail data © OpenStreetMap contributors
