Making A Lemonade Slushy Out Of Lemons: A Winter Trip To Winthrop, WA

Nothing so far in 2026 has gone as planned, it is obvious that it is going to be a year of just rolling with it.

Back in November, I made plans to knock a long desired trip off my bucket list: a trip to Stehekin in the winter. I dreamed of a snowy arrival on the boat up the lake, plodding up the one road through town on snowshoes during the day and gazing out at a wintery mountain scene from the balcony of my cabin at the Landing. They had a Black Friday sale and I bought enough nights to stay the week of mid-winter break this February.

Then the record-breaking flooding happened in mid-December and Stehekin suffered disastrous slides, including taking out the new water system for the Landing.

Well, okay.

I anxiously waited to hear if repairs would be made in time for my trip in February but mid-January I received the dreaded call that my reservations were cancelled. They hoped to be open in March if I wanted to reschedule at the same price but that didn’t help me for mid-winter break. I needed a Plan B.

How about another trip on my bucket list with a visit to Winthrop and Mazama during the winter? Maybe some fat biking and a class on Nordic skiing? I booked a few nights there and a few in the state park in Spokane for some winter hiking (another bucket list item). Maybe visit a knitting friend and time it with their weekly knit night?

A normal visit to Winthrop for me is part of a Cascade Loop weekend drive in the fall when SR 20 is open over Washington and Rainy Pass. But in the winter it means an out-and-back drive, normally over SR 2 and Stevens Pass and up SR 97. That flooding I mentioned? It also closed SR 2 between the pass and Leavenworth meaning one would have to drive around via I-90 and Snoqualmie Pass. I had the whole week off, so why not keep my plans to visit the east side like I did in 2021?

A week later I knocked myself off my bike and broke a few bones in my wrist. Alrighty then.

I spent the next 3+ weeks deciding what to do as I dealt with taking care of healing. I did cancel the reservations in Spokane because I knew that would be too much driving with one hand but just couldn’t bring myself to cancel Winthrop. And then they announced they would have SR 2 open by mid-February! Wasn’t that a sign I shouldn’t just sit at home wallowing in FOMO for my vacation?

At the last minute after an appointment with the ortho who said I was healing okay and the announcement of SR 2’s opening on February 12th, I booked a night at a cheap hotel in Wenatchee for the 15th and drove over the night before my Winthrop reservations, cutting my drive in half. This also allowed me to make the trip over the pass with an optimal weather window.

I didn’t do much in Wenatchee but walk from the hotel to Wenatchee Valley Brewing (the Thai restaurant I originally set out for turned out to not be open even though the hours on the door said it should have been). I ordered a spinach salad and watched Olympic bob sledding in their outdoor seating. The salad was not remarkable but quite plentiful so even with leftovers in a to-go box, I was full as I walked back to the hotel. I am a sucker for bacon and bleu cheese, even if it from Costco.

I settled into bed at a reasonable hour in anticipation of tomorrow’s drive. What was I going to do in Winthrop with only one good wing? Pretty much try to not slip and fall. Maybe eat some good food and experience a bit of winter since we really weren’t getting it on my side of the mountains?

Let’s see how many flat and not-too-icy hikes I can get in while I am out.

Daroga State Park

The next morning I left Wenatchee with a Dutch Bros decaf coffee and the light snow falling down, already feeling like winter was on my side. I took Sr 97 on the east side of the Columbia River, stopping at the entrance to Daroga State Park just for the views. The snow was not really sticking and made for a tranquil scene.

Chelan Falls Park

After Daroga, I turned off 97 briefly to make a stop at Chelan Falls Park. It offered a wide, paved path with a beach on one end and a rocky viewpoint at the other. The snow made everything more inviting than it would normally be on a grey February day.

Beebe Bridge in the middle of the picture.

Beebe Springs Wildlife Nature Area

My next stop was a road side natural area that offered a decent bathroom. In my research on Washington Trails Association Hike Finder map, Beebe Springs Wildlife Natural Area was supposed to be seasonally closed but as I approached, the gate was open so I pulled in to check it out. The kiosk showed there were a few loops I could do sticking by the river that would avoid the elevation gain on the other side of 97.

I opted for a walk up the Columbia River, taking the Discovery and North Spur Loops.

Winthrop, WA

After Beebe, I arrived in Winthrop about 3 hours before I could check into my cabin so I went over to Methow Valley Cider House to sit and knit for a while. They have different owners since I first started visiting here and it isn’t quite the cider draw it used to be (maybe one house cider and the rest are more mass produced) but the chicken enchiladas were very tasty and it was a quiet enough way to spend the afternoon. I pondered a salad but everyone else in the room was ordering the chicken enchiladas so that seemed like the smartest thing to do.

No regrets.

Pine Near RV Park

After lunch, I made my way over to my cabin at Pine Near RV Park just one street up from the main drag of Winthrop. We have stayed here a few times, this being the second time in a cabin. The place is low key, even more in the winter. The wild turkeys were the only ones out to greet me…

I called the owner who was just leaving Wenatchee herself to find out I could head up to the cabin, she was glad to hear I was familiar with where things were.

They have 3 rustic “mining” cabins that rest up on the hill behind the main office, I would be staying in #1 which sits in front overlooking the park.

You can see the main office where the bathrooms are below on the left of the picture.

There is a fridge and microwave not pictured.

It took several trips to get everything in the cabin and then I made use of the bathroom before settling in for an evening of Netflix (on my iPad) and knitting.

The next morning I woke to blue skies and was out the door by 8am to see what adventures I could find for the day. Leaving the RV park, I was excited by the views down into the valley.

After a stop at The Little Dipper Cafe for a hot cup of coffee, I walked up Riverside Ave to a bridge on the Sateekhwa Trail over Chewuch River near River’s Edge Resort.

Can the morning get any better than this view?

The trail is supposed to continue on the other side for about .25 miles so I crossed the bridge to check it out but when I saw the sheet of ice over the path I decided it was not worth putting my spikes on for that short of a distance and I turned around.

From here, I walked back through town where nothing was open yet but laughed at the sign in the outfitters window. Yes, it has been a sad winter indeed.

Susie Stephens Trail

At the southeast end of town, I crossed Spring Creek Bridge and began a walk on the Susie Stephens Trail. Susie Stephens was a well-loved cyclist and transportation activist who tragically died in a pedestrian accident. There are several Eastern Washington trails named in her honor now, including one in Spokane.

The views just kept getting better…

The paved path snaked its way through the southeast section of town, past the ice skating rink, library and recreation center.

No need to penguin today but it didn’t hurt to be aware.

The trail was mostly barren of snow but there were a few patches in the shade where I needed to be extra cautious. With so little snow, I was not feeling a lot of FOMO at not being able to fat bike as planned.

As I approached where the trail ends at SR 20 near the grocery store, I noticed a spur that led up to more trail options. Why not? There was more snow coverage but it was solid and crunchy so I turned to see how far I would get and still feel comfortable.

TWIN Trail

The trail was labeled as TWIN and it did a loop up and around a large parking lot for the Methow Trails system. A short 1.1 km on mostly grass and gravel, it was a nice extension to my walk.

Geared towards the littles, the local library had also installed a book walk along the loop.

The loop also connected with the section of the trail system that offers beginner mountain bikers some easy lines to work on their skills. I was a little sad here that I wasn’t able to have that adventure on this trip.

There were several pockets of ice on the trail but the worst was where it crossed over the road near the parking lot. I had to stay on the side of the road with snow until I could get around to the other side. No slipping for me, thank you!

On the way back on the Susie Stephens Trail, clouds began to roll in and I knew the blue skies were short lived. But did this mean the possibility of snow??

Homestream Park

At Twin Lakes Road near the skating rink parking lot, I took a jog and crossed SR 20 to visit the Homestream Park. I have driven past here so many times on my way through Winthrop but never stopped so this seemed like the perfect time to check it out.

The land that is now Homestream Park was once an overgrown, privately owned lot near downtown Winthrop. In 2017, longtime local residents Phil and Cathy Davis purchased the property with a powerful vision: to restore it as a space for public river access, ecological renewal, and cultural recognition. They named it Homestream Park to honor the salmon that return each year to their natal waters—and to honor the Methow People, who remain rooted in this homeland.

The small park offered several interest areas, all designed to bring awareness to both the history of the land and its people and current efforts to restore it to its rightful state.

Homestream also featured the artwork of a member of the Colville Federated Tribes, Virgil “Smoker” Marchand who was widely known for his distinctive steel sculptures.

They brought to life the truth of the people who have passed through this land and are still present today.

It was also possible to stand on the river’s edge and watch the icy water flow silently along. Nearby poetry added context to the visual beauty.

Fainting Goat

Crossing back over SR 20, I noticed a cute little restaurant named Fainting Goat and decided it was a great time for a bite to eat.

I indulged in a steamy cup of London Fog and noshed on a toasty gluten free waffle while watching the day become a bit more hazy.

After brunch, I headed back up through downtown and to the cabin to relax for a little while before heading back out again. Did I mention the temperatures overnight were in the twenties? This was one of the reasons I had opted to get a cabin over car camping. I rescued my water bottle from the car only to be reminded of exactly how cold it was during the wee hours of the night.

In doing my research on hikes in Winthrop, I came across one that was literally down the street from my cabin! With a pole in one hand and spikes in my backpack, I headed out down Castle Street and then turned up onto Wister to the trailhead about half a mile away.

It was nice to see a little bit of blue in what is a red part of the state.

Meadowlark Natural Area Trail

The Meadowlark Natural Area started out in a very muddy parking lot next to the cemetery but quickly took me up on the hillside above Winthrop. With only one car in the parking lot, I knew I wouldn’t see very many people unless they also had hiked up from town.

It was quite the blessing to be able to see the town from this perspective while I was in town, the trail closes in March to protect the mating of the local mule deer.

The mule deer were munching on the exposed grasses, unaware of the March window for privacy.

The clouds were ominously crowding out the sun from earlier in the day and precipitation looked certain as I crossed over the terrain at the top of the loop trail.

Past trip reports had warned of mud and it was in abundance as I carefully made my way back down to the trailhead.

All in all my trek was a little less than 3 miles and I was back to the cabin by 3:30pm. I settled in for a little audio book and knitting but about 45 minutes later I noticed that there were snowflakes hitting the window!

Wahoooo, winter was here! I guess I better get out for dinner if I am going…

Jupiter Cafe

Winthrop offers a few establishments with gluten free options on the menu, Jupiter Cafe was one that peaked my interest so I attentively took a short cut through the open museum across from the RV park and down into town and then up wooded steps of the restaurant. This may have been a little sketchy but who couldn’t use a little adrenaline before dinner?

From their website:

A unique Winthrop eatery offering healthy, globally-inspired comfort food. Forget the usual; discover a lunch and dinner menu with lots of vegetarian options, gluten-free and vegan delights, morning pastries, espresso drinks, kombucha, and wine. Order at the counter, select your perfect seat, and let us bring your meal to you.

The menu had several tasty gluten free offerings but I decided on the one that sounded like comfort food: the BBQ Pork Fries with pickled cabbage and red onion. The tangy vegetables with the creamy garlic aioli was heavenly.

After a lovely meal watching the snow fall onto the patio as the sky darkened, it was time to venture out and back to the cabin. I was able to gingerly step across the deck and down the stairs to the street below without incident.

I didn’t want to leave the snow too soon so I crossed the street and visited Confluence Park, a tiny pocket area off the sidewalk that looked out on the confluence of the Methow and Chewuch rivers. So peaceful…

Then it was back up the hill to my cabin for the night. Does it get any more romantic than this?

I awoke Wednesday morning to bright skies and snowy roads. I didn’t want to leave but a weather window was opening that afternoon over the pass and I wanted to make it so I begrudgingly packed up and worked on defrosting the car. After a quick stop in town for coffee, I was slowly making my way back down SR 20 towards the junction with 97. The roads were plowed and it wasn’t long before I was back to bare pavement.

Chelan Gorge Trail

For my trip home, I took the 97A alternative that heads toward Chelan and Wenatchee on the west side of the Columbia River. This would allow me to hit a few different hikes (or wanders) that I have been meaning to stop at for a while now.

The first one was the Chelan Gorge Trail. When I was here to hike the Chelan Butte Trail in 2023, I noticed some hikers were not heading up but down along a wide path from the parking lot.

The sun was warming the day up from the morning’s low in the 20s and melting a fair amount of the light snow dusting from the night before. The trail ran along the road at first and I could gaze up at Chelan Butte with its frosted summit. From here there are several trail options and bikes are welcome.

I stuck with the wide gravel path that dropped down to a viewpoint over Chelan River Gorge and eventually ending at the river’s edge. I loved how this trail presents you with a different side of Chelan than just a walk on the streets downtown.

I had secretly hoped that there would be a point near the end where I could cut up on a road I could see on GAIA but it was signed for private property so I retraced my steps. My walk was 2.4 miles and took me less than an hour. The sunshine felt wonderful on my skin!

Wildland Firefighter Memorial Walk

The drive from Chelan on 97A took me through the small town of Entiat and I made time for one last stop before the final push home. If you have driven it, you know it is hard to miss the towering fire lookout on the side of the road. Turns out there is a small network of trails you can walk to learn more about the wildfire history of the area!

After parking in the empty lot next to a closed visitor center, I first strolled the loop that makes up the Wildland Firefighter Memorial Walk. It was a such meaningful way for the lost firefighters to be remembered and made me think of how my hubby once fought fires in Colorado when his years after college.

Columbia Breaks Fire Center

The memorial is a part of the Columbia Breaks Fire Center which has a small trail system that extends learning with interactive displays about fire behavior and plant ecosystems. There are three lookouts onsite, as well as an amphitheater.

The Trail of Fire and Forest which loops the property looked out at Badger Mountain and its rocky face before taking me to the base of the Chelan Butte lookout.

The Civilian Conservation Corps constructed lookout once stood atop Chelan Butte but was moved and erected here in 1996 in efforts to preserve it.

I stopped at the second lookout, East Flattop, which sits at ground level next to the visitor center but for some reason I didn’t take a picture. You can read about that one here. I also didn’t have time to take the Badger Mountain Trail to the third lookout, I guess I will have to stop here again on a future trip. After this, it was non-stop back through Wenatchee, Leavenworth and over the pass to get home about 3 hours later. My strolling meant I did have a bit of snow while driving over the summit but nothing too sketchy. Another successful trip!

This turned out to be longer post than I anticipated so if you made it to the end you are a rockstar. I thoroughly enjoyed this trip and plan to do it again when I am all healed and can get in some winter sports. Have you been to Winthrop in the winter time? Do you have a favorite winter sport?