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Directions to Bear Fight Center
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Jump to detailed directions from:
Seattle /
Spokane /
Wenatchee /
Winthrop
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When traveling to Bear Fight Center in Winthrop, Washington you
have an array of routing options:
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Fly into Seattle, then by way of:
In winter, check the pass reports!
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Fly into Spokane
Driving time is approximately 4 hours.
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Fly into Wenatchee
Driving time is approximately 2.25 hours
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Fly into Bellingham. (NOTE: If the North Cascade Pass is
closed, this is not a time effective option.)
Check the pass reports for the North Cascade SR 20.
NOTE: THE NORTH CASCADE PASS CLOSES FOR WINTER (late October or
early November) and does not open again until early spring!
Driving time is normally ~4 hours.
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Private charter flights are also available from all airports. The fares work
just as they do with taxi cabs; i.e., they are expensive if
you are traveling alone, and more economical if you can fill
the flight (up to five passengers).
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From Seattle
- Via Snoqualmie Pass (I 90) & Blewett Pass (US 97)
Go east on I–90 over Snoqualmie Pass through Cle–Elum. Take Exit
85 east over Blewett Pass on US–97.
In Wenatchee, continue to follow US–97. (You can take 97A,
but it's a longer route, weaving through Chelan, then meandering
back to US–97.) Take US–97 to Pateros. This route
parallels the east and then west sides of the Columbia River.
Approximately 58 miles north of Wenatchee, turn left
at Pateros onto Highway 153 (which is or will soon become
Highway 2 near Twisp). Continue heading in this
north–northeast direction for some 50 miles,
passing through the towns of Methow, Carlton, and
Twisp before reaching Winthrop.
Pay close attention to signs warning of “night time
driving speeds.” We have a very large population of
seemingly suicidal deer here in the Methow, and they
aren’t bashful about wandering out in front of your
automobile—day or night. Be careful and drive with
caution.
Go through the town of Winthrop, turning left at the [stop sign]
intersection. Just outside Winthrop you’ll come to a ball
field and a road on your right. Turn right onto this road, which
is the West Chewuch Road. At this point you are approximately 7
miles from BFC and it will take another 15 minutes to get to the
facility.
Further directions are the same as traveling from Winthrop.
- Via Everett, WA & Stevens Pass (US 2)
When coming from Bellingham or Seattle, use
Stevens Pass
when the North Cascades Highway is closed.
From Seattle, drive north on 405 and turn east toward Monroe.
Take Highway 2 through
Monroe over Steven's Pass to Wenatchee…
Or from Bellingham drive south on I–5 to Everett… and
take Route 2 east over Stevens Pass.
As in the Methow, there is a large population of
thrill–seeking deer between Leavenworth and
Wenatchee. Be on the lookout for deer in the road and
drive with care.
You’ll have driven about two hours from Everett when,
north of Wenatchee, you’ll cross the Columbia River.
You’ve got another two hours to go. On the east side of
the river, take Route 97 north toward Pateros.
Just before entering Pateros, take Route 153 northwest to Twisp.
There the highway becomes Route 20. Be on the lookout for
suicidal deer again, and don’t let your guard down until
you’ve arrived at BFC! Travel on Route 20 northwest
to Winthrop. Go through the town of Winthrop, turning left
at the [stop sign] intersection. Just outside Winthrop
you’ll come to a road and a ball field on your right.
Turn right onto this road, which is the West Chewuch Road. At
this point you are approximately 7 miles from BFC and it will
take another 15 minutes to get to the facility.
Further directions are the same as traveling from Winthrop
- Via North Cascades Highway (State Route 20)
NOTE: This is the shortest and most scenic route, but it
closes in winter due to avalanche danger.
If traveling this route from November through April,
check with the Department of Transportation to be sure the
route is open.
Leave SEATAC and follow directions to I–5 north and
Seattle (I–5 goes through downtown Seattle). Nearing
Seattle on I–5, watch for "Express Lane"s
on left. If open, take these.
About 1 hour out of SEATAC, take exit 208 and route 530 to
the east. (Watch for sign: to North Cascade Highway via
Darrington.) At this exit, there is a Denny’s
restaurant immediately on the right (SE corner). This is
a useful but not elegant place to rest, eat, and use the
restrooms. There are few options from here on.
Continue on RT 530 east through Arlington (watch for jog
left and then right at first traffic light in Arlington),
and continue on to Darrington, about 32 miles. Watch
speed limits in these places, as the local governments run
on traffic fines. Also, watch for wildlife — deer,
bear, elk — that are big enough to cause serious
damage. Near Darrington on the right is a spectacular
and beautiful example of retreating glaciers on the
Three Fingers Mountains.
In Darrington, Rt 530 turns left/north in the middle of
town and continues on to Rockport, about 19 miles. There
is a café/restaurant on the right as you enter Darrington.
Again, this is a place to eat and use the restrooms.
At Rockport, turn right/east onto Rt 20 (The North Cascades
Highway) toward Marblemont. After this turn, less than
3 miles up the road, is Cascadia Farms on the left and
across from the Skagit River. This is a nice place to
use the restrooms and purchase coffee/tea/sweets/fresh
organic berrys and other fruits in season.
A little further east on Rt 20 and just before you enter
Marblemont, is Clark’s Cabins and Restaurant — The
Eatery — on the left. This is also a good place
to stop, use the restroom and eat a meal. Tootsi Clark,
owner, is a local character.
In Marblemont, Rt 20 turns left/north. Marblemont is the
last place before Winthrop to obtain fuel and some other
services. There are also some restaurants in town, some
of which are OK.
15 miles out of Marblemont is Newhalem, the headquarters
of the Seattle City Light power generation operation from
the several hydroelectric dams on the Skagit River,
further upstream. Here, there are restrooms, a display,
and a small store. The grounds are well maintained and
can be beautiful when in flower or fall colors. Here also
is the National Forest and Wilderness Area ranger station
with information center. Obey the speed limit! Except
for some National Park campground restrooms, this is your
last chance before Winthrop.
On the road between Newhalem and Mazama (58 miles),
just before Winthrop, there are a number of spectacular
scenes with view sights and parking spots. If
conditions are right, you might stop a few times to
observe. Some of the best are along Ross Lake and at
Washington Pass; the latter is breathtaking when
conditions are right. The road over the Cascades is
in very good condition, but can be slow due to heavy
vehicles, sightseers or fog or snow.
When you come out of the Cascades you’ll
be in the Methow Valley at Mazama, about 15 miles
northwest of Winthrop. Just before you actually
enter the town of Winthrop, you’ll turn left at the
ball field onto West Chewuch Road.
Further directions are the same as traveling from
Winthrop.
On the entire route, watch for wildlife, especially on
the road — please drive defensively
and do not exceed posted speeds. Don’t forget your camera
– the scenery can be spectacular and rare species
of wildlife are occasionally seen.
Driving time from SEATAC to Winthrop is about four hours
plus stops. (Tom does it in 3.5 hours.)
From Spokane
- From the Spokane Airport
Driving time is approximately 4.5 hours
Drive west on Highway 2 through Reardan, Davenport and Creston to
the junction with Highway 174 just west of Wilbur. Turn right
and proceed NE on 174 through Grand Coulee to Leahy and
Bridgeport. Continue west on 173 past Chief Joseph Dam through
Bridgeport, cross the Columbia River, to the junction with
Highway 97 at Brewster. Turn left and follow Highway 97 down
the west side of the Columbia River approximately 7 miles to
Pateros. Just after crossing the bridge at Pateros, turn right
and take Route 153 northwest to Twisp. There the highway becomes
Route 20.
You will see signs that warn drivers to travel at 45 mph after
dark, keep your eyes peeled for deer. They’re out there,
guaranteed, and if you don’t see one, either you
weren’t paying attention or it was a rare day indeed.
They have a knack for springing out of nowhere to collide with
motor vehicles. Please drive with extreme care in these posted
areas, for even in broad daylight, you may encounter them on
the road.
Travel along Route 20 northwest to Winthrop. Go through the town
of Winthrop, turning left at the [stop sign] intersection.
Just outside Winthrop you’ll come to a road and a ball
field on your right. Turn right onto this road, which is the
West Chewuch Road. At this point you are approximately 7 miles
from BFC and it will take another 15 minutes to get to the
facility.
Further directions are the same as traveling from Winthrop
From Wenatchee
- From Pangborn Airport
Driving time is approximately 2.25 hours
From Pangborn Memorial Airport, take S. Airport Way northwest
toward Grant Road. Turn west onto Grant Road and go 3.7 miles
to the intersection of Highway 28. Keep right and do not go
across the bridge into downtown Wenatchee. Go north (right)
on Highway 28. In a little over 1 mile Highway 28 will merge
with Highway 2/97. Go through the stoplight and continue north
to Highway 2 / Highway 97. Continue to follow Highway 97, which
will take you toward Brewster and Pateros. This route follows
the east and then the west sides of the Columbia River. (You
can take 97A, but it's a longer route). Approximately 58
miles north of Wenatchee turn left at Pateros onto Highway
153 (which is or will become Highway 20 near Twisp).
When you enter the Methow Valley, you will see signs warning of
great damage incurred by vehicles that had the gross misfortune
to collide with jay walking deer. Take these signs very seriously.
The Methow deer are not the brightest bulbs on the string;
it could be argued that they are practicing a form of genocide.
Please drive with extreme care.
You will continue along this north – northeast route for some 50
miles, passing through the towns of Methow, Carlton and Twisp,
before reaching Winthrop. Go through the town of Winthrop, turning
left at the [stop sign] intersection. Just outside Winthrop
you’ll come to a ball field and a road on your right.
Turn right onto this road, which is the West Chewuch Road.
At this point you are approximately 7 miles from BFC and it
will take another 15 minutes to get to the facility.
Further directions are the same as traveling from Winthrop
From Winthrop
- From the "Red Barn"
Find your way on Route 20 to the northwest edge
of Winthrop to the landmark known as the Red Barn. Across the
street you’ll see a ball field and the West Chewuch Road.
Take the West Chewuch north from Route 20 for about 1 mile to
Rendezvous Road. The distance from the Red Barn and ball field
to Bear Fight Center is approximately 7 miles.
Turn left onto Rendezvous Road heading northwest. Within a
hundred feet or so, it will become a high–quality gravel road
that travels up hill in a northerly direction. It can be quite
slick in rain, so drive cautiously if the road is wet.
A little past a mile you will come to the crossroad
intersection of the Gunn Ranch and Rendezvous Roads. Go
straight through the intersection and travel up the hill.
Proceed up hill about 5.5 miles from West Chewuch Road
to the point where you have just left the grasslands
and have entered the forest. You will come to a wide
place in the road marked with a sign identifying
this as the "Snow Plow Turnaround." You are a
half–mile from the facility.
Continue slightly to the left on this gravel road and
keep to the left as the road narrows and forks. Do
not turn onto roads that run off to the right. A few
hundred feet or so after the snowplow turnaround, you
will come to a fork identified as the Cabin Creek Road,
but you’ll keep left. Again, very soon you will
reach yet another fork in the road. Keep left again onto
the road identified as Fiddler's Road.
Fiddler’s Road is steep; in the winter it can
be compact snow and ice, which can be extremely
slick. If we know you’re coming, we’ll have sanded
the road. You are welcome to call ahead to learn what
the conditions are like on the day of your arrival.
As the road grade levels out you’ll find the next Y
intersection marked by a red “Whoa” sign. This
time you’ll take the right fork or lane into a farm–like
set of buildings. You have arrived at Bear Fight Center! Come
to the main house at the north side of the complex. The lane
goes by the front entrance. Park so that you do not block the
driveway.
Prior to your visit you may find it helpful to get a sense of
pass conditions, weather forecasts and local events. The
Methow
Valley website is a good source for such information.
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