Sun Mountain Lodge Review: Winthrop, Washington

Welcome to a paradise tucked away in the heart of the Pacific Northwest – Sun Mountain Lodge in Winthrop, Washington. This enchanting destination offers an unforgettable experience that combines stunning natural beauty, a wide range of activities, and luxurious amenities. If you're seeking a perfect getaway, especially when visiting North Cascades National Park, look no further. Here's why Sun Mountain Lodge deserves a spot on your travel bucket list!

LOCATION: 10/10

With North Cascades National Park at your fingertips, the location here is excellent. The town of Winthrop which is about 15 minutes down the hill, is a fun cowboy town that has cute shops and restaurants.

Sun Mountain Lodge is located on top of a hill that allows you to look into valleys and see other mountain ranges in the distance, which is gorgeous.

Activites: 10/10

From horseback riding to kayaking to a special Cowboy dinner, Sun Mountain Lodge has an abundance of activities that will keep you busy during your stay.

Horseback Riding:

This was my favorite activity I did while staying at Sun Mountain Lodge! The guided trail ride was excellent and we were taken through forests, meadows, and to a beautiful overlook of the mountains. It was my first time horseback riding so I was a bit nervous, but they made me feel comfortable and explained everything perfectly for safety and comfort.

Kayaking on Lake Patterson:

Kayaking on the property was such a great experience! Super easy to get in the water and we had the lake all to ourselves. There was an Eagles nest which was really cool to see from the kayak. I would recommend going kayaking in the morning because this lake can get pretty breezy in the afternoon. You can also go fly fishing on the lake as well!

Cowboy Dinner:

If you are staying at Sun Mountain Lodge, you must go to the special Cowboy dinner that they put on! It was such a wonderful evening where they take you in a horse-drawn carriage to a beautiful spot in the woods. There you enjoy wonderful comfort food and live music. The company was excellent and the blueberry cobbler pie at the end was to die for!

Once you are done with dinner, they take you back in the carriage and drop you off at the hotel entrance. This was a magical experience and I highly recommend it for all ages!

AMENITIES: 10/10

Sun Mountain Lodge has two outdoor pools and 2 hot tubs which are great ways to unwind, especially after a long day of activities and/or hiking in the national park. There are also an extensive network of hiking and mountain biking trails right on the property which was very cool.

Pro tip- go in the hot tub at night and look up to see all of the amazing stars above!

food: 10/10

We found the food on the property to be excellent, so much so that we didn’t even go into Winthrop to get food during the trip. There were a variety of options on the menus and we were very happy with the quality of the food and the service in the restaurants on property.

Dining Room:

Had an absolutely wonderful dinner at the Dining Room in Sun Mountain Lodge. The food was incredible and the filet mignon was the best my boyfriend had in a very long time! We also enjoyed the strawberry burrata appetizer and the chocolate cake for dessert was delicious. Whether if you’re staying at the lodge or not, I definitely recommend eating at the dining room for a nice dinner.

Wolf Creek Bar & Grill:

The Wolf Creek Bar & Grill which is also on the property was a great lunch spot! We got the charcuterie board and the mac and cheese. Both were delicious and it was a great place to fuel up before more outdoor activities.

summary:

Overall, Sun Mountain Lodge is a hidden gem in Washington that needs to be added to any outdoor and nature enthusiast’s bucket list. Especially being so close to North Cascades National Park, this is a perfect destination. I had such a wonderful stay and loved the town of Winthrop as well.