Winthrop

Winthrop, Washington, is a small mountain town located in the Methow Valley on the eastern side of the North Cascades. Sitting along Washington State Route 20, the North Cascades Scenic Highway, Winthrop is commonly regarded as the eastern gateway town to North Cascades National Park and the North Cascades National Park Service Complex. For visitors traveling across the North Cascades Highway, Winthrop is an ideal place to stay, eat, refuel and stock up on supplies before or after exploring the park.

Winthrop offers a good selection of hotels, motels, cabins, campgrounds, restaurants, grocery stores, gas stations, shops and outdoor recreation services. Its location also makes it a convenient basecamp for exploring nearby attractions such as Washington Pass, Rainy Pass, Blue Lake, the Early Winters Spires and the eastern side of the North Cascades. Outdoor recreation is a major part of the Winthrop experience, with hiking, mountain biking and fishing during the warmer months, along with cross-country skiing, snowshoeing and other winter activities.

One of the most noticeable things about Winthrop is its Old West appearance. The community's history dates back to the late 1800s, when trappers, miners and settlers began moving into the Methow Valley. Guy Waring, considered one of Winthrop's founding figures, settled near the confluence of the Methow and Chewuch rivers in 1891. The town was named after American writer and adventurer Theodore Winthrop.

Winthrop's present-day Western theme really took shape in the early 1970s as the North Cascades Highway was nearing completion. Local business owners transformed downtown into an Old West-style district in anticipation of increased tourism along State Route 20. Today, wooden boardwalks, Western storefronts and historic-looking buildings give Winthrop its distinctive character.

For visitors exploring the North Cascades, Winthrop is more than simply a place to pass through. It is the primary gateway community on the east side of the mountains, providing the services and accommodations needed before heading west across Washington Pass and into the heart of the North Cascades.