Rendezvous Ski Trails - Methow Valley, Washington

Address:Methow Valley, Washington
Tel: (509) 996-3287

The more advanced cross-country skier is sure to feel right at home amongst the seemingly endless trails of Methow Valley. If you're looking for a cross country adventure of a lifetime, Methow Valley's Rendezvous trails are definitely the choice for you. Part of the interconnected Methow Valley Cross Country Community Trails, the Rendezvous trails are 48 kilometers of breathtaking, mostly intermediate and advanced, trails.

The Methow Valley is one of the most picturesque corners of the region, filled with beautiful forests, reflective lakes, and a magnificent view of the dramatic North Cascades Mountains. If you're looking for an American version of Scandinavia's famed cross country trails then you have found just the right place. Methow Valley, located in Washington State, is a cross country skier's paradise. With more than 120 miles of interconnected groomed paths, spanning three separate cross-country ski areas, Methow Valley is sure to please any Nordic lover's appetite.

The Rendezvous trails provide an ever changing challenge for the more seasoned skier. Everything here is just right: the snow, the sun and the scenery. The Northern Cascades is a region renowned for its unbelievable powder. Five out of every seven days here are sunny. As to the scenery, Methow Valley is surrounded by over a million acres of wilderness and forest. The trails 4000 feet up are a fantastic challenge, and those looking to really work up a sweat can ski 30km from Cub Creek to Mazama. Weather permitting, skiing is possible from December until March. There is a trail pass fee for every day you ski the trails.

The Rendezvous trails interconnect with both the Mazama and Sun Mountain trails, so if you are looking for an easier afternoon of skiing you won't even need to take the car. If you're skiing over to the Mazama trails, you'll ski over the 275 foot high Foster-Talks Bridge over the Methow River. This is the country's only suspension bridge for skiers.

There are plenty of other activities nearby. Looking for a little alpine action? The family friendly Loup Loup Ski Area is just a few miles away, featuring 10 runs and a 1,240 foot vertical drop. At the Mazama trails you are free to try out snowshoeing on trails made by the Methow Valley Sports Trails Association. Additional activities in the area are ice skating at the Winthrop rink, sledding and sleigh rides. If you're looking for an interesting day off the trails check out Winthrop for its authentic wild-west feel. If you get tired, you may just choose to take it easy by soaking in a hot tub or having a glass of wine or hot chocolate by a welcoming fire.

If you're just starting out, or are looking to sharpen your skiing skills be sure to check out the Methow Valley Ski School. The School offers skate and classic lessons for the young and the young at heart. Both group and private lessons are available, and they leave from three locations in Methow Valley to ensure easy access to them: Sun Mountain Lodge, Freestone Inn, and Mazama Country Inn.

A variety of dining options await those visiting the area. The choices range from a wide choice of dining options located in the hotels and resorts scattered throughout the Methow Valley Community Trails area. Another great idea is to check out Winthrop with its wide variety of local cuisine and historic atmosphere. Nearby Twisp also has a selection of menus to soothe your growling stomach.

A great adventure, for a group of up to 10 people, is the hut to hut skiing available on the Rendezvous trails. These are a series of huts spread out at an average interval of 8km between huts. This allows for daylong skiing and then a warm and cozy place to rest at night. All huts are supplied with a wood stove heater and fuel, sleeping pads, propane lights, an outhouse, and a full kitchen, so that you only have to bring your food with you. If you are uninterested in lugging your equipment on your own, there is a freight haul and drop service to ensure your equipment meets you at your hut when you need it.

If hut hopping really isn't your thing and you'd prefer a Simmons mattress to a nice hut pad, then worry not; the area provides a wide variety of additional lodging options. Spread throughout the trails is a choice of lodges, inns, and resorts. There is also a wide variety of lodging scattered along the roads between Mazama, Twisp, and Winthrop. If you're looking for more of a cityscape, or more correctly a small-townscape, then check out the lodgings available in Twisp and rustic Winthrop.

Spectacular scenery of the North Cascades and the Methow Valley from trailside overlooks. Washington State's high-country hut system. 4,000-6,000' elevation. Access to lower valley via Cub Creek and Goat Creek trails. Backcountry skiing via Fawn Creek High Route, upper Goat, Banker Pass, and Buck Mountain trails. The European tradition of mountain skiing hut to hut is affordable, simple and safe with MVSTA member Rendezvous Huts. Cozy, well-equipped overnight cabins. Telemark slopes trailside. Freight hauling available. A cross-country skiing adventure close to home.