Methow is an unincorporated community in Okanogan County, in north-central Washington, set along the Methow River about 13 miles upriver from the river's confluence with the Columbia. With a population of 246 at the 2020 census, it is a small settlement within the Methow Valley, a region that stretches from the Columbia River basin into the eastern foothills of the North Cascades. The community takes its name from the Methow people, whose traditional homeland encompassed the Methow River drainage. Long a place of seasonal habitation and salmon fishing for Indigenous residents, the valley later developed into a landscape of orchards, ranches, and small towns tied to the river. Methow itself remains one of the lower-valley communities, positioned along State Route 153 between the river and the surrounding benchlands. Today Methow serves a dual role. It is one of the principal starting points for rafting and floating on the Methow River, and it functions as a quiet residential community with its own post office, community center, fire station, church, water system, and parks. The historic Methow Store stands along State Route 153 as a reminder of the community's early commercial life. Residents look upriver to Twisp and Winthrop for schools, groceries, and services. Recreationally, Methow sits within one of Washington's premier outdoor destinations. The Methow Trails system, the largest cross-country ski trail network in North America, anchors winter recreation across the valley, while hiking, mountain biking, fishing, and river sports define the warmer months. Students attend the Methow Valley School District, based in Winthrop. For residents, Methow offers a genuine small-community existence in a landscape prized for its open space, river access, and mountain setting.