Winthrop & Methow Valley Mountain Bike Trail Guide
Washington mountain bikers will love exploring the amazing alpine riding in Winthrop and the Methow Valley. Located on the eastern slopes of the Cascade Mountains, the mountain bike trails near Winthrop offer a more dry, and different kind of riding than the lush and wet Western Cascades. The trails in this part of Washington feature great long singletrack rides with great views. Trails like Angels Staircase, with it’s high alpine exposure and great riding, have become some of the most famous mountain bike trails in Washington.
Twisp River Trail
Beginner/Intermediate | 12.5 Miles | 1,039' Climb (West to East) | 2,402' Descent
The Twisp River trail is a nice and mellow out-and-back ride just outside of the town of Twisp. The trail is mostly smooth, with the occasional rocky section. Despite its name, the trail is not actually that close to the river, there are several stream crossings. The Twisp River trail is one of the first trails in the area to melt out in the spring.Cutthroat Pass
Intermediate | 12 Miles (Out & Back) | 2,300' Climb/Descent
Cutthroat Pass is an awesome singletrack mountain bike trail located between the town of Winthrop and the North Cascades National Park. The trail is a nice out-and-back that totals just under 12 miles round trip. The climb on the way out is consistent, rewarding riders with a fun, pedal free descent back to the trailhead. The Cutthroat Pass joins the Pacific Crest Trail, however, bikes are not allowed on the PCT. This is one of the many amazing alpine singetrack mountain bike trails in the Methow Valley.Sun Mountain
Beginner & Intermediate| 37 Trails | 37.4 Miles | Cross Country
Sun Mountain is a system of mountain bike trails located just outside of the town of Winthrop near Patterson Lake. There are a ton of beginner and intermediate trails to explore here. Some of the highlights of Sun Mountain include the Black Bear, Blue Jay, and Pete’s Dragon trails. Evergreen Mountain Bike Alliance recommends a 16 mile loop. The mountain bike trails at Sun Mountain can be accessed by driving, or riding from town. These trails are typically rideable from mid-May to mid-Novemeber depeding on how fast the snow melts.Angel's Staircase
Advanced | 21.5 Miles | 5,900' Climb | 5,900' Descent
Angels’s Staircase is one of the best and most scenic mountain bike trails in the Methow Valley and Washington State as a whole. This 21.5 mile epic is a huge and physically demanding ride with a reward of unparalleled views and high alpine singletrack. Angel’s Staircase climbs almost 6,000’ vertical in total. The loop passes alpine lakes, and is made up of the highest elevation singletrack mountain biking in Washington. It is almost alway ridden in a clockwise loop. The descent meanwhile is a ripping fast good time. Carry plenty of water and food for this cross country epic, it’s a long ride. Definitely plan some time to knock this one off of the mountain bike trail bucket list. With much of the loop located near or above 7,000’, it takes a while for the snow to melt off of the Angel’s Staircase.Rental and demo bikes are available at evo Seattle, evo Portland, evo Denver, evo Whistler, evo Salt Lake, and evo Snoqualmie Pass. (Note: The cost of up to three bike demos can be applied toward the final cost of purchasing a new or used bike from us.)
