The Best Outdoor Adventure In Washington Is On The Cascade Loop

The last thing any diehard road tripper wants to do is get stuck sitting in the car for hours on end. The whole point of taking a road trip isn't just to see pretty scenery from the car--it's to get out and explore! Whether your thing is touring historic barns, hiking epic ridgelines or photographing wildlife, the Cascade Loop has got a LOT to keep you busy!

Need to Know Info

North Cascades National Park Hikes Hiking

Know Which Permits/Passes to Take

Most State and Federally operated public lands (parks, trails, forests, wildlife preserves, etc.) will require that you purchase and display the correct permit or pass during your visit. To determine which permits or passes you need, consider if the land says it is State or Federal/National.

Know How to Follow The Rules

Hiking is just like most every other activity or sport—there are unwritten rules that when followed, make the experience much more fun for everyone. And likewise, when not followed, can either drive people crazy or in the worst case scenario, be dangerous. Because we’re in the business of inviting folks from all over the world to come and join us on the trail we figure we would be remiss if we didn’t give folks a few pointers. Take a moment to review Hiking Etiquette before you hit the trails!

Newly Opened Trail In Winthrop Washington - You will Want To See For Yourself

If you’re into mountain biking, we have some exciting news for you from Winthrop Washington! Evergreen Mountain Bike Alliance | Methow Chapter has reaped the rewards of a ten-year permitting process to access the national forest around Sun Mountain Lodge for mountain bike trails. The pinnacle of the quarter-million-dollar project is the newly opened Thompson Ridge Trail. This is a single-track trail (not dirt road) which is intended to be ridden clockwise in about three to six hours depending on the cyclist. There really isn’t anything like it in the… Read More >>>>

Bird of the Week: Varied Thrush

"The Varied Thrush is a gorgeous bird with a simple single note for a song. It is closely related to the American Robin and other thrushes who are considered amazing songsters. Bird sightings and behaviors are often major seasonal cues for me, and I tend to think of the Varied Thrush as a "winter" bird in our neck of the woods because they move up in elevation to the mountains during the summer and back down to our yards and feeders from now through early spring. Winter must be nearly… Read More >>>>

Winthrop Ice Rink is open for winter!

There’s nothing quite like the feeling of gliding across glistening ice on a pair of skates. Add a stunning outdoor setting, complete with towering mountains and bald eagles soaring overhead, and you’ve got the Winthrop Rink. Nestled in the Methow Valley, the Winthrop Rink offers a range of programs for all ages and abilities, from Open Skate sessions, to drop-in hockey, to freestyle figure skating, to Learn to Skate, to hockey tournaments. Read More >>>>

Get Out and Explore!