Sorry - I forgot to post this drive in the forum. It has been posted on the NWCC Facebook Group page for a few weeks. Hopefully everyone in the forum also belongs to the NWCC Facebook group! There is still time... hope to see you there!

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Ok Crossfire Friends… Summer 2016 and driving season may be winding down, but it’s not over yet!

Now that we have all had time to recover from the absolutely fantastic time we had in Yakima for CAA7, it is time for us to come together once again and hit the open road!

You are all invited on the next adventure… A fabulous First-Weekend-of-Fall cruise over the breathtakingly scenic North Cascades Highway to the Old West themed town of Winthrop, WA

As this highway loops between massive peaks and along lakes colored turquoise by glacial silt, you’ll see why these mountains are called “the American Alps.” Many argue that the North Cascades Highway is the most scenic in Washington State, and it is loved by both auto drivers & motorcyclists alike. Of all the passes that traverse the Cascades this is the most mountainous with high hairpin turns and jaw-dropping vistas. It’s so rugged, it closes during winter months. And it is so stunning that travelers line up before sunrise on the day it reopens in late spring in order to be among the first across.

We’ll work our way west-to-east, stopping at several scenic and historic sites along the way (including a group drive across the top of Diablo Dam!) and ending in the Old West town of Winthrop in the Methow Valley. Winthrop is a fun little Wild West town complete with western wooden buildings, hitching rails, boardwalks & western murals.

Meetup bbetween 9:00-10:00am at the McDonald’s right off of I-5 in Burlington, WA at: 876 Nevitt Road, Burlington, WA 98233

Once everyone arrives and has had a bite to eat & all tanks are fully gassed up (no later than 10:30am), we will get rolling out on Highway 20 through Sedro Wolley, Concrete, and Rockport. There are planned stops in Marblemount, Newhalem, Diablo, and more.

Notes:
-Cameras: No shortage of spectacular photo ops – with & without your car, so make sure your cameras are fully charged & ready!
-Food/Drinks: You will need to plan ahead and bring individual snacks & drinks for the drive as there aren’t many services in route and we won’t be arriving in Winthrop until after 3:00pm. We will have a couple of really great picnic spots to stop at, so packing a lunch is suggested.
-Weather/Clothing: While we always hope for sunshine & warmth, this trip will take us over a mountain pass so prepare for possible rain & cooler temps than at the lower elevations. Wind will be a factor as well, so a sweatshirt and/or jacket is recommended as are sturdy shoes.
-Pets: Almost all of the restaurants & lodgings in Winthrop allow pets and this route is very dog-friendly. I am considering bringing my own little canine co-pilot with me on this trip, so please feel free to do the same!

Lodging:
For those of you that would want (or need) to make it an overnight trip, there are currently options for lodging available in Winthrop. But - you should not wait long to make a reservation, as weekends are very busy and last minute day-of arrangements may be very hard to find.

Overnighting in Winthrop would allow those who want to continue the “Cascade Loop” and continue south to Wenatchee and then west on highway 2 to Leavenworth (the Bavarian themed village) where they are having their “Autumn Leaf Festival” weekend Sept. 24-25th. Or those that want to drop south from Wenatchee could also catch I-90 to head west back to the Seattle area.

Here are a few with openings on Saturday, September 24th on our arrival to Winthrop. Strongly suggested to book as soon as possible!

These first three are in close proximity to each other and are walking distance to grocery store & to East 20 Pizza/Brew.


The Virginian Resort: The Virginian Resort
(866) 996 2535 808 North Cascades Highway 20 Winthrop, WA 98862
Western rustic/dated, Restaurant on-site, Cabins available, Riverfront rooms available, Pet-Friendly $10/night
Volleyball court, Horseshoe Pit, BBQ area, Picnic tables, No Pool, Free wireless internet in the office only.
Note: Cancelation policy is TWO days ahead of reservation, Full payment due 48 hours PRIOR to arrival

Abby Creek Inn: AbbyCreek Inn - Winthrop's Friendliest Hotel
(509) 996-3100 1006 Hwy. 20 Winthrop, WA 98862
Standard motel room style, Pet-Friendly $15/night, Free continental breakfast 7-10am, WiFi in all rooms
Pool – I called but they aren’t sure it will still be open Sept. 24th
Free shuttle into Winthrop (only 1/2 mile, but it saves us from finding parking in town, which can be difficult)
Note: Cancelation policy is TWO days ahead of reservation, Full payment due 48 hours PRIOR to arrival

The Winthrop Inn: Winthrop Inn WA, Winthrop Lodging WA, Methow Valley, USA
(800)-444-1972 960 Highway 20 Winthrop, Washington 98862
Standard motel room style, Pet-Friendly, Pool is confirmed to be closed for season by Sept. 24th, but hot tub is open year-round. Note: Cancelation policy is one WEEK ahead of reservation.

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Freestone Inn: Freestone Inn :: Accommodations
(509) 996-3906 31 Early Winters Drive Mazama, Washington 98833

Mazama Country Inn: Mazama Country Inn Resort Lodge Methow Valley WA USA
(800) 843-7951 15 Country Road Mazama, WA 98833

The Bunk House Inn: Rooms ? The Bunk House Inn
(509) 996-2148 209 Bluff Street Winthrop, WA 98862

Duck Brand Hotel: https://www.centralreservations.net/lodging/duckbrand
(509) 996-2408 248 Riverside Ave, Winthrop, WA 98862