Washington · Cross-country skiing · Near Winthrop

National Forest Development Road 400

2.6 mi
round trip
1,628 ft
climb
3,872 ft
high point
Out and back
route
May–Sep
best months

Is National Forest Development Road 400 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.

National Forest Development Road 400 is a 5.1-mile out-and-back route in the Methow Valley Ranger District of the Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest in Washington. The Forest Service manages the land, and the trip climbs from about 3,577 feet to about 3,872 feet, with a total elevation gain of 296 feet. The steepest stretch comes early on, around the 0.9-mile mark, where the grade reaches 17 percent. The route sits at the edge of several other winter destinations. Heifer Hut is just 0.3 miles away, and Cougar Bait and Cub Creek Road are both about 1.2 miles off, so it works well as a connector between these short skiing runs. For comfortable conditions, late spring and early fall are the sweet spots. Typical averages from the Holden Village weather station, about 36 miles away, show May highs near 60°F and September highs near 67°F. Winter is cold, with January highs around 28°F and lows near 17°F, and snow is common. Nice Campground and Buck Lake Campground are both within about 4 miles for an overnight stay.

Around this trail

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

    Nice Campground

    Campground

    Campground · 3.6 mi from the trail
  • If it rains

    The Confluence

    Gallery

    Gallery · 18 mi from Winthrop

Places © OpenStreetMap contributors

More in Winthrop
  • Best time to go · May–Sep

    Best time to visit National Forest Development Road 400

    Best months: May–September. 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

      28° / 17°

      17 wet

    2. Feb

      34° / 18°

      14 wet

    3. Mar

      41° / 23°

      14 wet

    4. Apr

      50° / 29°

      10 wet

    5. May

      60° / 36°

      10 wet

    6. Jun

      66° / 43°

      9 wet

    7. Jul

      76° / 47°

      6 wet

    8. Aug

      76° / 46°

      6 wet

    9. Sep

      67° / 40°

      8 wet

    10. Oct

      51° / 32°

      14 wet

    11. Nov

      34° / 24°

      17 wet

    12. Dec

      27° / 17°

      18 wet

    Typical high / low (°F) and days with rain or snow, 1991–2020. Measured at Holden Village, WA, 35.8 mi away at 3,218 ft. The station sits about 700 ft lower than this place, so expect it a little cooler here. This station doesn't record snowfall. Source: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020.

Keep exploring — more snow worth the drive

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Heifer Hut

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0.13-mile loop at Heifer Hut in Washington with 37 ft of elevation gain.

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National Forest Development Road 370

~2 min drive

1.98-mile out-and-back route on National Forest Development Road 370 in Washington.

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Cub Creek Road

~5 min drive

0.28-mile out-and-back ski route on Cub Creek Road in Washington with 115 ft of elevation gain.

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National Forest Development Road 5215

~4 min drive

0.10-mile out-and-back ski route on National Forest Development Road 5215 in Washington.

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Cub Creek Road

~2 min drive

2.11-mile out-and-back route on Cub Creek Road in Washington.

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Cub Creek Road

~6 min drive

0.49-mile out-and-back route on Cub Creek Road in Washington with 138 ft of elevation gain.

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National Forest Development Road 300

~4 min drive

3.14-mile out-and-back route on National Forest Development Road 300 in Washington.

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National Forest Development Road 5215

~4 min drive

1.27-mile out-and-back route on National Forest Development Road 5215 in Washington.

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Lunachik

~7 min drive

0.16-mile out-and-back ski route in Washington with 22 ft of elevation gain.

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National Forest Development Road 100

~4 min drive

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

Map and trail data © OpenStreetMap contributors