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Long, flowy, fast & some of the best variety of trails/views that the Methow Valley has to offer.


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Map Key

17.7

Miles

28.5

KM

90%

Singletrack

3,612' 1,101 m

High

2,281' 695 m

Low

2,002' 610 m

Up

2,003' 610 m

Down

4%

Avg Grade (2°)

19%

Max Grade (11°)

Dogs Unknown

E-Bikes Unknown

Overview

A variety of single and doubletrack trails that include vista views of the Methow Valley and Patterson Lake, fast rolling hills, grinding climbs and screaming descents.

Each of the trails individually can be enjoyed by all levels of mountain bikers.

Warm up on Black Bear Trail and Yellow Jacket Trail (it's debatable which order to do these two so try it in reverse as well to decide) before making the long climb up Upper Inside Passage Trail. Then you are rewarded with a long and wonderful varied downhill.

Need to Know

Some of Patterson Lake Trail has steep hill exposure to the lake. Also, if you choose to jump over to Pete's Dragon for the descent, it can often times be washed out with loose rock and tree limbs hanging across the trail - be careful.

Description

Suggested Trail Sequence: (but we encourage everyone to just spend time explore these and several other single-tracks that make up the Sun Mountain trail system)
Chickadee Trailhead,
East towards Cabin Trail,
Follow to the north across Patterson Lake Road to Winthrop Trail
Connect to Black Bear Trail to the northwest
follow to Yellow Jacket Trail
turn right on Criss-Cross Trail
Climb to Upper Inside Passage Trail
Climb to Thompson Road NF-4410
Follow to Goshawk Trail
turns into Meadowlark Trail
Descend to Rader Creek Trail
turn left on Patterson Lake Trail
Return to Chickadee Trailhead

Getting there:
From Winthrop drive south of town, over the Methow River Bridge. Instead of turning left with the highway, continue straight, following the signs for Sun Mountain Lodge. At mile 8 you'll reach the junction with Thompson Ridge Road. Turn left onto that and then almost immediately left again into the Chickadee parking lot.

Contacts

Shared By:

Tony Locati

Trail Ratings

  3.6 from 5 votes

#3195

Overall
  3.6 from 5 votes
5 Star
20%
4 Star
20%
3 Star
60%
2 Star
0%
1 Star
0%
Recommended Route Rankings

#56

in Washington

#3,195

Overall
12 Views Last Month
11,496 Since Apr 15, 2014
Intermediate Intermediate

13%
0%
88%
0%
0%
0%

Photos

Patterson Lake Trail
Apr 4, 2014 near Winthrop, WA
Trail includes vista views of the entire Methow Valley and Cascade Mountain Range
Apr 2, 2014 near Winthrop, WA
Riding along the Lake Trail.
Sep 21, 2016 near Winthrop, WA
Awesome back drop.
Sep 21, 2016 near Winthrop, WA
Trail intersection of Patterson Lake Tr., Cabin Tr. and Magpie.
Apr 2, 2014 near Winthrop, WA
Meadowlark Trail - doubletrack
Apr 4, 2014 near Winthrop, WA
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