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Cashmere, 11 miles
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You will find hundreds of miles of walking, hiking and backpacking trails around Leavenworth, most of which are within the Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest.
Trails vary in length and difficulty and you are encouraged to contact the Leavenworth Ranger District or the Lake Wenatchee Ranger District for more information. Additionally, descriptions of many of the hikes can be found in hiking books that cover the area. A couple of these books are listed in the column at right and others can be found listed within the pages of our Go Northwest Bookstore under Washington hiking.
Also, some trails require a Northwest Forest Pass, which can be obtained locally from vendors or from the nearest district ranger office. You also will want to be aware of regulations either allowing or prohibiting mountain bikes and or motorized bikes. Information about these regulations can be found at the nearby ranger stations, the addresses of which are listed below.
The closest walking and hiking trails are in Waterfront Park where you will find two miles of trail along the Wenatchee River.
For more adventure, try the trails leading off the Icicle Creek Road in Icicle Canyon. These trails include easy loop and interpretative trails as well as strenuous hikes of many miles. We've listed a couple of trails here and will be listing more in the future. So check back with us from time to time for updates and feel free to send us an email with your suggestions of other trails to include. The Icicle Creek Road is at the west end of town on Highway 2 and can be identified by the big Osprey Rafting Company sign located at the intersection.
Ski Hill Loop Trail. Length:0.4 Miles, USGS Map: Leavenworth
From downtown, go west on Highway 2 from the Leavenworth Ranger Station. Turn right on Ski Hill Drive and follow it to the top of the hill, which is about two miles, and park in the lot. You will find the trailhead behind the gated fence to the right of the shed.
Icicle Gorge Loop Trail, No. 1596. Length:3.5 miles, USGS Map: Leavenworth.
Easy valley-bottom trail along the Icicle River. Leashed dogs allowed. No mountain bikes nor motorized bikes allowed.
Getting there: Follow Icicle Road about 16 miles from the intersection with Highway 2 to the trailhead parking area which is about 1/2 mile past the Chatter Creek Guard Station on the left side of the road.
Icicle Gorge Upper Tie Trail, No 1596.1, Length: 2 Miles.
This is a trail between Chatter Creek and Rock Island Campgrounds. No mountain bikes nor motorized bikes allowed.
Additional trails are near Lake Wenatchee and Fish Lake, both of which are a short distance north of Leavenworth.
Wenatchee National Forest Offices
Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest. Wenatchee River Ranger District: 600 Sherbourne, Leavenworth, WA 98826. Phone: 509-548-2550.
The Northwest Forest Pass is good at most USDA Forest Service fee sites throughout Oregon and Washington, as well as some fee sites in North Cascades National park. An annual pass is $30, a daily pass is $5.
Annual Northwest Forest Passes are good for a year from the month of purchase.
Northwest Forest Passes usually are available at all USDA Forest Service offices, and from many other vendors. They will also be available over the Internet in the near future.
Other Trails
Waterfront Park has scenic walking trails and viewing areas winding along the Wenatchee River and riverbank forests. These trails are ideal for bird watching. Sitting benches and interpretive signs are scattered throughout the park. Cross the bridge to Blackbird Island that leads to the Enchantment Park Trail System. The hike is easy to moderate along a flat trail and takes about 1 hour. Getting there: Travel west on Highway 2 and turn left at 9th Street and take another left at the end of 9th Street into the parking lot.
Related Hiking Links
Bavarian Volkssport Association. Phone: 509-548-4084 or 509-886-9526. E-mail or E-mail
Bavarian Volkssport Association is a walking and biking group for all ages and levels for those who wish to improve their health, meet new people and see beautiful places.
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Day Hike! Central Cascades, 3rd Edition: The Best Trails You Can Hike in a Day by Mike McQuaide. Explore the best trails for day hikes in the Central Cascades. This guide details 69 hikes through forests, mountain vistas, waterfalls and alpine meadows. Each trail is rated and has a description. Topographical maps are included. Order now...
Day Hiking: Central Cascades by Craig Romano, Author and Alan Baue, Photographer. This book focuses on cream-of-the-crop trails in these areas. Compact in size, this is the most up-to-date guide for the area, organized along highways and other travel corridors, with an emphasis on trails that are 12 miles or less. Order now...
Hiking Washington's History by Judy Bentley. Each chapter begins with an overview of the region's history followed by individual trail narratives and historical highlights. Quotes from diaries, journals, letters, and reports, plus contemporary and historic photographs, describe sites and trails from Washington's past. Each trail description includes a map and directions. Order now...
Cascades Rock - 160 Best Multipitch Climbs of All Grades by Blake Herrington. This book is full of information including details on routes, topos and stories of local climbers covering mountain and alpine routes in the Cascade Mountains of Washington and BC plus rock climbing in nearby towns. Order now...
Highroad Guide to the Washington Cascades by Allan May. This guide contains detailed trail instructions and 50 maps in an easy to use format leading you to the best sites of Washington's Cascade Mountains. Order now...
Great Places: Washington: A Recreational Guide to Washington's Public Lands and Historic Places for Birding, Hiking, Photography, Fishing, Hunting and Camping by John Kruse. The geology, animal and plant life, and history of Washington's most-storied and scenic locales, including the best local lodging and amenities are explained in this full color guide. Order now...
Selected Climbs in the Cascades Volume II by Jim Nelson and Peter Potterfield. Features 100 routes, including top favorite sport and crag climbing areas. Illustrated throughout with black and white photographs, several with route overlays. Highlights fun, quality climbs for all skill levels. Order now...
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