Methow River Paddle Tour (Winthrop To Twisp)

Check it out

Distance: 11 miles

Difficulty: Moderate

Paddling time: 2 - 4 hours

Season: Virtually year-round

Maps: USGS Winthrop, Blue Buck Mountain, Twisp East

Info: USGS Water Resources Office in Spokane, 353-2633

Paddling trip notes

Access: Put-in: Entering Winthrop, WA, from south on State Highway 20, cross bridge over Methow River. Immediately turn right and down to put-in area on east side of river near gauging station. Alternate put-in upstream from Winthrop at Red Barn and community park.

Take-out: On Highway 20, drive 8-1/2 miles south from Winthrop to Twisp. Just south of bridge over Twisp River, turn east between Road House Diner and Chevron service station (called Twisp Avenue, but no street signs), and drive to second stop sign. Turn left into Twisp Community Park. Scout best spot for take-out.

Attractions: Easily accessible float on river that handles waters originating from pristine Pasayten and Chelan-Sawtooth wilderness areas. Trip winds through gentle portion of valley. Shores lined with ponderosa pines and cottonwoods towering above willows, service berry and bitterbrush. Two rapids ranging up to Class II depending on flow, provide play areas. Bald eagles, ducks, deer regularly seen along river in winter and spring. Fishing for rainbow trout. Some steelhead in 6-pound range run upriver in fall.

Hazards: Diversion dam completely crosses river. Sweepers always possibly on river channel that changes in spring flood.

Comments: River can be floated most of year, but low water can assure bottom-bouncing August-September and portions of winter when flows dip below 300 cfs. Occasional surges in February can make making great winter floating. High period generally occurs in mid-May with flows around 6,300 to 10,000 cfs. No paddling advised during peak flow levels.

At any flow level, river demands paddlers to be able to handle a few sharp turns and eddy lines.

Small number of private homes along river, but number growing. Little public land on river above high water mark.

River fairly straight forward, although stream channel can change dramatically year to year. First rapid ranging to Class II at about 2 miles.

Diversion dam at 5-1/2 miles downstream from Winthrop spans river. From river, dam shows up in distance as perfectly straight line of water from bank to bank with concrete fixtures on each side. Portage river left. With careful scouting at some flow levels, accomplished canoeists can paddle over diversion dam slightly left of center, but you must negotiate dangerous rocks just below dam.

Next rapid just downstream from dam.

Methow River flows 89 miles from east flank of North Cascades to Columbia River near Pateros. Methow Valley popular with cross-country skiers in winter and mountain bikers and hikers in summer. Large network of trails and accommodations. Info sources include Methow Valley Central Reservations, (800) 422-3048 and Forest Service Visitor Center in Winthrop, (509) 996-4000.

Possible trips upstream and down from featured route. From Mazama to Winthrop, river feels remote with beautiful course through cottonwoods. But this stretch subject to dangerous log jams. River downstream from Carlton for expert paddlers only, with rapids ranging to Class IV in Black Canyon area before reaching mouth of river at Pateros.

, DataTimes ILLUSTRATION: Map of Methow River Paddle Tour (Winthrop to Twisp)

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