Winthrop Washington is famous for it’s outdoor recreation opportunities. Every season of the year brings new activities and scenic colors to enjoy. With the largest network of groomed cross-country ski trails on the continent, we have hiking, biking, snowshoeing, trail running, and water sports galore. 

On a moonless night you’ll be able to see the Milky Way from one end of the galaxy to the other and occasionally the Northern Lights thanks to our predominately cloudless weather.

History

The history of Winthrop Washington in the Methow Valley begins when Native Americans lived along the banks of the Methow, Twisp and Chewuch rivers. The Native Americans lived off of camas root, picking berries, fishing and hunting. The first white men to visit the valley were trappers in the 1800’s.

But it was in 1883 when the lure of gold brought the first permanent white settlers. Three of these settlers were James Ramsey, Ben Pearrygin and Guy Waring. Waring stopped at the forks of the Chewuch and Methow rivers in 1891. Here he and his family settled a home they called the “Castle.” The castle is now the Shafer Museum.