Discover the Methow Valley
Each year, nearly one million visitors flock to the Methow Valley to experience its sunshine, snow, and rustic appeal.
Our cabins are ideally situated on the ski trail, close to the Winthrop Ski and Hockey Rink, and just a scenic 10-minute stroll from downtown Winthrop, known for its abundance of shops and restaurants with a Western flair.
Summer in the Methow
For summer visitors, the Methow Valley boasts thousands of miles of hiking and running trails suitable for all ages and skill levels.
Stretching approximately 70 miles from the Cascades to the Columbia River and averaging about two miles in width, the valley is widest in Winthrop, where the Methow and Chewuch Rivers converge.
Kick off the summer with exciting trail running events like the Sunflower Relay, which celebrates the blooming of our arrowleaf balsam sunflowers.
The Cutthroat Classic, an 11-mile singletrack trail run that follows the Pacific Crest Trail through the stunning North Cascades, is the season’s final running event late summer.
Discover scenic riverside walks, vibrant meadows brimming with wildflowers and breathtaking views of the North Cascades.
Embark on various day hikes in the Pasayten Wilderness, Sawtooth Mountains, Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest, Pearrygin Lake State Park or North Cascades National Park. After a day of adventure, return to your tranquil and comfortable private retreat.
Your canine companions will love our dog-friendly resort and want to come back season after season.
Winter in the Methow
Nordic skate skiing offers fast gliding on groomed trails, while classic cross-country skiing in set tracks is beginner-friendly and perfect for learning.
Beyond Nordic skiing, the Methow Valley offers ice hockey and skating, fat-tire snow biking, snowshoeing, snowmobiling, ice fishing, downhill skiing at the family-friendly Loup Loup Ski Bowl, and backcountry telemark or randonnée skiing near Liberty Bell.
The Methow also hosts renowned races for both regular and Paralympic skiers, including the Race of the Methow, Chasing the Sun Race & Clinic, Ski Rodeo, and Try Biathlon.
Sunflower Resort in the Methow Valley Ecosystem
Nestled in downtown Winthrop, between the charming towns of Mazama and Twisp, Sunflower Resort offers easy access to the best of the Methow Valley, with both towns just a short 20-minute drive away. The resort is perfectly situated to appreciate the valley’s stunning shrub-steppe landscapes, featuring silvery-blue bunch grasses, vibrant purple lupine, and hardy shrubs like bitterbrush and sagebrush.
Winthrop lies in the widest section of the valley, where this unique ecosystem is most intact and easily explored, alongside protected wilderness areas.
The Methow Valley, at the northwest edge of the steppe, receives about 15 inches of precipitation annually—slightly more than the Great Basin regions of Nevada, California, and Utah—supporting a diverse array of flowering shrubs and stands of ponderosa pine. While much of eastern Washington’s shrub-steppe has been converted to farmland, over 60% of the original steppe remains here, thanks to the valley’s rugged terrain.
Guests can discover this extraordinary landscape through scenic hikes at Reiser Lakes, Lewis Butte, and the trails surrounding Sun Mountain and Pearrygin Lake State Park, all easily accessible from the resort. Whether you’re exploring the valley’s natural beauty or simply relaxing at Sunflower Resort, the location offers a perfect balance of adventure and tranquility.
North Cascade Region Ecosystem
To reach Winthrop from the North Puget Sound area, travelers are fortunate to take the breathtaking North Cascades Scenic Highway, part of the Cascade Loop. This stunning route features jagged peaks, cascading waterfalls, and over 300 glaciers within North Cascades National Park.
Highway 20, also known as the North Cascades Scenic Highway, is a designated byway that showcases the iconic Liberty Bell and Early Winters spires.
As you descend from Washington Pass, the headwaters of the Methow River reveal lush landscapes adorned with thick ponderosa pine forests and expansive cottonwood groves on the valley floor. Impressively, 90% of the valley’s biodiverse watershed is publicly owned and managed, offering wide-open spaces and breathtaking natural beauty.
About Building the Sunflower Resort Ourselves
Sierra and Michael founded the Methow Valley Wellness Center in 1997 and Sunflower Resort in 2024, bringing decades of experience in holistic care and thoughtful building.
Their modern, dog-friendly homes are perfectly located near year-round outdoor activities and offer on-site wellness services or peaceful spaces to unwind.
It took us quite a few years, but we finally have the resort we first envisioned over 30 years ago.
Local and on-site daily, they’re dedicated to making Sunflower Resort a true home-away-from-home.
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