Best trails in Pasayten Wilderness, Washington

The Cathedral Slam is a multiday backpacking loop with breathtaking views that allows you to summit 4 of Washington's top 100 mountains (Apex, Amphitheatre, Cathedral, and Remmel). The wild flowers are everywhere and the views are totally epic, in particular the sheer south face of Cathedral Peak. The route takes you along lakes, alpine meadows and rolling parkland where you will find several streams with camping areas nearby. The campsites at Upper Cathedral Lake area may be what paradise looks like. Apex summit is a simple walk up which can be climbed by anyone. Apex and Cathedral can easily be done on same day but Cathedral requires scrambling up Class 3 to the near summit, then there is a crux move on Class 4 rock if you want to tag the actual summit. The Amphitheatre (Class 2) is a very straightforward climb. Remmel (Class 2) is also straightforward, but you need to pay attention to the cairns otherwise, you will end up navigating large boulder fields unnecessarily.Show more

Cross country skiing high above the Methow Valley with spectacular views and picturesque forest. The Gunn Ranch Road Tour starts at the winter terminus of the Gunn Ranch Road which branches off of Rendezvous road about 2.5 miles outside of Winthrop, Washington. The tour climbs from 3000 feet elevation to about 3460 feet. The steady uphill climb require good skating skills if you plan to skate ski the route. Classic skis will get you there easily. This tour has some of the best views of any tour in the Methow. You'll find people on the trail who have just discovered the tour who are dazzled by the scenery of this route. A MVSTA pass is required to ski this trail. Cougar Mountain lies just 2 miles northwest of Winthrop, Washington and is a local favorite when the snow is deep enough to ski the hillsides of the Methow Valley. In most seasons, this tour is possible in late December through February. It is particularly ideal with a dump of new snow on top of the base layer that forms early in the season. The climb is short but steep so makes yo-yo-ing the slopes a good option for full day of skiing. As with most slopes on the east side of the Cascades, the sun can adversely affect the south facing slopes so looking for east or north facing terrain will provide the best snow conditions for skiing.Show more

This is a relatively flat hike to a mountain lake, mostly through old fire from 2003.Show more