Gunn Ranch Trail

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.