• Methow Trails has opened virtually all of its 200 kilometers of ski trails and is grooming the majority of those trails nightly during the holidays, despite a notable absence of significant snowfall in the past week. Mazama, Rendezvous and Sun Mountain area trails all received enough snow in the mid-December storm to provide excellent […]
Methow Trails
North Cascades Highway closes, but skiers still need snow
Highway closure among latest on record Heavy snow forecast for higher elevations this week prompted the closure of North Cascades Highway at 6 a.m. on Wednesday (Dec. 11), but local ski areas are still waiting for enough snow to kick off their seasons. As of Tuesday (Dec. 10), Methow Trails reported no open cross-country ski […]
Methow Trails survey identifies top community priorities
Winthrop-Twisp connector is popular idea A recreational trail connecting Winthrop and Twisp emerged as the top “future priority” in a community outreach survey conducted by Methow Trails. The survey was launched in October 2018 and was available for participants for six months. Nearly 1,500 people responded, about 48 percent of them from the Methow Valley […]
Methow Trails plans to install donated waxing hut at Winthrop Town Trailhead
By Don Nelson The Town of Winthrop has tentatively accepted the donation of a small, rustic building to be used as a waxing hut at the Town Trailhead. James DeSalvo, executive director of Methow Trails, told the Town Council at its meeting last week that a Mazama-area homeowner offered to donate the small log-cabin structure, […]
Sun Mountain trails project begins soon
The network of mountain bike trails at Sun Mountain will get 22 miles of new single-track trails, including a trail along Thompson Ridge offering sweeping views of the Methow Valley and surrounding mountains.
The trail construction project is expected to get underway as soon as conditions allow and will …
‘Backyard Ski Day’ has free skiing, more
Ski the Methow Trails Nordic system for free during “Backyard Ski Day” on Friday (Jan. 26). No trail passes will be required all day. There will also be free fat bike access on allowable trails, free snowshoe access on signed snowshoe trails, and complementary access for dogs on dog-friendly trails. Other highlights include: • Free […]
DNR planning Wolf Creek/Virginia Ridge logging and timber sale
The Washington Department of Natural Resources (DNR) is proposing a forest-improvement timber sale next year in the Virginia Ridge and Wolf Creek areas, plus a small section near Mazama, a total of 750 acres.
The largest unit, about 390 acres, goes from the Methow River to Wolf Creek Road …
Lewis Butte, Riser Lake trail systems targeted for improvements
A popular network of trails that climb Lewis Butte and travel around Riser Lake has been chosen for a “Save-A-Trail” project aimed at improving the trails and restoring areas damaged by overuse and erosion.
Close to Winthrop and easily accessible from Lower Rendezvous Road, Lewis Butte and …
Methow Trails Collaborative gets big turnout for its first project
The first joint project of the Methow Trails Collaborative on the Falls Creek/Burch Mountain FS #518 trail was a big success last weekend, according to organizers. The project drew 56 people who helped open an iconic, high alpine wilderness trail. Well over 300 hours of labor was put into the trail over the weekend. The work […]
Ready hired as Methow Housing Trust executive director
Danica Ready, who has devoted her professional career to working with nonprofits that hold land in trust for public benefit, has been hired as the first executive director of the Methow Housing Trust, a nonprofit launched in March to create affordable housing in the Methow Valley.
