Winthrop Washington is a truly unique place. A re-created Old West town with a pioneer history to match the facades, Winthrop Washington is also a popular base for outdoor recreation — cross-country skiing, hiking, mountain biking, white-water rafting, and, most famously, fishing — with all the facilities and services you would expect in a modern tourist destination, including some of the finest Washington State resorts.

In the late 1800s Winthrop Washington was a bustling center for mining activity. By the time the town incorporated in 1924, the mines were tapped out and the settlement was in danger of becoming a ghost town. (There a still some abandoned mine workings and stone cabins dotted around the town.) After the mining failed, Winthrop became a trading post for local ranchers and farmers.

In 1972, the North Cascades Scenic Highway opened, bringing many new travelers through Winthrop WA. To encourage travelers to stop in the sleepy town, Winthrop Washington underwent a startling transformation, putting up Old West facades that harked back to the heady mining days of the settlement and turning the sidewalk into a covered wooden walkway.

Winthrop WA has made the most of its rediscovered heritage. Summer visitors flock here for the Old West shootouts and historic feel. But Winthrop is much more than just a West Coast Williamstown.

Located in the beautiful Methow Valley in the heart of the Cascade Mountains, Wintrop WA is a Mecca for outdoor and extreme recreation. The rivers of the Methow Valley are famous for fishing. The Pacific Crest Trail, which meanders from Canada all the way to the Mexican border, has some trailheads just miles from Winthrop. Extreme sports fans come to the area for the great rock climbing and bouldering, the spring white-water rafting, and the miles of mountain biking trails.

In the winter, the hiking and biking paths become some of the best cross-country skiing trails in Washington State. Hotels and outdoor stores in Winthrop rent skiing equipment and provide trail maps to the surrounding area. Downhill skiers and snowboarders can head to the small ski resort at Loup Loup Ski Bowl. This is not the largest of the Washington State Ski Resorts, but a quad chair lift services some good trails for all abilities. Advanced skiers can opt to take heli skiing tour with North Cascade Heli Skiing tours.

Winthrop Washington is the place to stay when you explore the North Cascade National Park or the surrounding wilderness. With campsites, RV parks, hotels, rental houses, bed and breakfasts, Winthrop hotels, and top-notch resorts, Winthrop WA has accommodation for any budget and tastes. One Winthrop resort, the Sun Mountain Lodge Washington, is among the finest of all Washington state resorts.

A visit to Winthrop Washington is a trip into an Old West movie set and a chance to experience some of the finest outdoor recreation in Washington State.