Length
The Sun Mountain Trails are a vast and dynamic network that radiates out from Sun Mountain Lodge located in the hills west of the town of Winthrop. Some trails are solely on the private property owned and managed by the lodge, while others extend out into the Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest. Trails can be accessed directly from the lodge or from the Chickadee Trailhead in the national forest. A map is indispensable, since so many routes weave together and intersect. With so many options, anyone can plan the perfect outting.
The options also vary with the seasons. During the summer, the area is host to crowds of hikers, bikers, and horseback riders, while the winter transforms these hills into great snowshoeing terrain. With so many options and so many different types of recreating, this area is a popular playground all year round.
One trail skirts the western shores of Patterson Lake, while another climbs up and along Thompson Ridge with views of the valley below and distant peaks in the distance. Numerous other paths explore along the slopes in between. For those looking for maximum miles, consider connecting to the towns of Winthrop and even all the way to Mazama, via the Methow Valley Community Trail. In winter a shuttle service takes visitors up to the snowshoeing trails where they can start their return journey back to their lodging.
Trailhead
