This time of the year, there is no shortcut to Winthrop. With Highway 20 closed for the winter, it’s the roundabout trek or nothing.

But the long ride is worth it. The Methow Valley Sports Trail Association boasts about 120 miles of groomed, interconnected trails, surrounded by more than a million acres of wilderness and forest lands.

Make sure to pick up a map at your hotel, Sun Mountain Lodge, the chamber of commerce or the Forest Service Information Center.

Along with the map, one must also have a Snowshoe Pass, which costs $3 per day. Passes can be purchased at many of the hotels, lodges and sports chalets around town.

If you don’t own snowshoes and poles, there are numerous places on this side of the mountains and on the other side at which to rent them. I rented mine at Joe’s Sports Outdoor and More in Mount Vernon for $11 a day.

If you haven’t tried snowshoeing, it’s not that difficult to pick up, especially around this area where trails are prepped.

Just take your time, keep your feet a little wider apart than if you’re walking and simply put one foot in front of the other. Poles are helpful, particularly when trekking up or downhill.

The views of the Methow Valley on this hike are impressive. When snow is falling, it’s a picture-perfect sight. Sunrise and sunset are good times to take this trek as sunshine reflects off the snow and frost when the sun is high.

At times, the trail runs along rather steep mountain slopes, so solid snowshoe footing is a must. Make sure of each step. You don’t want to take a tumble down the hillside.

Distance: 2 miles

Destination: Loop trail

Difficulty: Depends on snowshoe ability

Elevation gain: Minimal

Getting there: Highway 2 east over Stevens Pass to Wenatchee. At Wenatchee, go north on Alt. 97. Alt. 97 merges with Highway 97 outside of Chelan. Continue on Highway 97 toward Pateros. Just before Pateros, turn northwest on State Route 153. Continue toward Winthrop. Reaching the outskirts of Winthrop, turn left on Twin Lakes Road. This is the road leading to Liberty Bell High School. Stay on Twin Lakes Road for about 2.2 miles. Turn left on Patterson Lake Road. Follow the signs 6.4 miles to Sun Mountain Lodge. Pass the lodge and continue past the tennis courts. Park at the west end of the lot.

The Trek: After parking, strap on the snowshoes, pick up your poles and set out. Locate the signed trailhead and began with a tromp uphill. Pass several snow-covered Douglas fir trees. Icicles cling to their green needles. Douglas firs can live 250 to 500 years.

Continuing along a rather steep slope, the snow is fluffy and crunches with each step. Each breath hangs in the air for a moment before it disappears.

This time of the year, the temperatures are anything but balmy. On this day, the thermometer read 16 degrees. So make sure to dress in appropriate layers.

A bench usually offers a place to sit and take in a spectacular view of the sprawling Methow Valley and the surrounding peaks. This time, however, the bench was nothing more than a strange shape in the snow.

Reaching a hill, continue into a grove of flocked trees. The hill is not particularly steep. However, there is a need to dig in with the snowshoes’ crampons.

Exit the grove and break out into a clearing as the trail continues to cling to the steep sides of the mountain.

Eventually, an impressive overlook is reached.Snowshoers can now enjoy frosted views of Thompson Ridge, Gardner Mountain (8,897), Story Peak (7,985), Virginia Ridge, Robinson Mountain (8,726), Beauty Peak (7,985) and Goat Peak (7,019). Each is blanketed in a thick coat of white.

The trail continues up an exposed hillside. If the sun is shining, this area can be blinding as the sun reflects off the snow. Wind provides momentum for spindrift that swirls around the area.

At the intersection with the Kraule Trail, stay straight then continue on the View Ridge Trail, taking it to the left.

The large, snow-covered boulder just passed is a Canadian import. The granite-type rock under the ice and snow was deposited during the last ice age as the Methow Valley Glacier pushed over Sun Mountain before retreating about 12,000 years ago.

Continue along the ridge past several descents that are favorites of the sledding community. There are two hills — one big and one small. Sledders of all ages yelp in excitement as they take their wild rides.

To the right in the valley below is Patterson Lake. Those small figures upon its frozen waters are ice fishermen. The trail dives left, then reconnects with the main trail.

About 18,000 years ago, a massive ice sheet came over the top of Harts Pass while another came around Robinson Pass. The pair joined to form a massive river of ice.

At that time, the valley was 1,000 feet deeper than it is now and it looked much like an ice-filled tub. In the winter, it’s easy to imagine what the area must have looked like.

The trail bends to the right and allows a better view of Patterson Lake. A solitary, snow-covered Ponderosa pine sits atop a small ridge and shows the way. Pass it and continue back to the rig.