Located in the foothills of the Cascades, Wenatchee is a mix of arid basalt plateaus and forested hills, with the Wenatchee River churning through the heart of it. You’re likely to find more sun than rain as you explore this rain shadow area. Horse Lake Reserve is home to dreamy singletrack that will give you a stunning view of the valley.

Mission Ridge, the local ski hill, doubles as a beautiful trail access point. Explore the 5.3-mile Devil’s Spur Trail just off Mission Ridge Road or take a short hike to Clara and Marion Lakes.

To stay closer to town, gain elevation in the Saddle Rock Natural Area for a great view of the Columbia River. These locations also double as mountain biking paths.

Between your morning and afternoon explorations, stop by the Pybus Public Market, a hub of local produce and goods such as wine, honey, cheese, artisan meats, seafood, gelato, and crafted works. This indoor market is open every day from 8 a.m. – 9 p.m. and is located on the paved, 22-mile Apple Capitol Loop Trail running through town. Families can take off on a bike ride, rollerblade adventure, or walk or run along the river, while younger kids can enjoy a miniature train ride at Wenatchee Riverfront Park.

Another fun family venture includes a stop at Ohme Gardens, a hillside garden oasis complete with hidden ponds and a wishing well. It’s a great place to take in that late-afternoon fall glow as the sun gives nearby hills a purple tinge come dusk.

After a full day in Wenatchee, book a stay in the nearby Bavarian-themed Leavenworth village. Leavenworth is deserving of a fall trip on its own, so waking up here will be the perfect start to a Sunday of hiking on the Icicle Ridge Trail, bouldering at Icicle Creek Canyon, or perusing the many unique shops, restaurants and wine stops downtown.

Depending on when you go, snow may already top the Enchantments in the background of this village, but the fall foliage will still be bright and full.

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• Fourth of July: A steep but beautiful 5-mile trail climbs 5,000 feet to the top of Icicle Ridge. Turn left at the top and go 1/2 mile to the site of an old fire lookout.  
• Chatter Creek: A 5.5-mile trail that gains 3,800 feet into a beautiful alpine basin and ridgetop. 
• Blackjack Ridge: A steep 3.5-mile climb of 4,000 feet through shady forest and then an open alpine ridge with some of the best views of the Alpine Lakes Wilderness. 
• Icicle Creek: A mostly flat, easy trail through beautiful lush old growth. 
• Round Mountain and Nason Ridge: The Round Mountain trail climbs steeply for 1 mile to join Nason Ridge Trail. Turn left for a more gradual 3 miles to Alpine Lookout with great views of Lake Wenatchee, White River and Little Wenatchee valleys, and Glacier peak. 
• Rock Mountain: A steep 4-mile and 4,000-foot climb to the site of an old fire lookout. The trail passes near beautiful Rock Lake in an alpine basin. 
• Lanham Lake: An easy day hike of about 3 miles round-trip. It enters a nice stand of old growth forest to reach the lake and views of Jim Hill Mountain. 

Originally published as “Find Your Next Favorite Hike” as a sidebar to the “Loving Leavenworth” feature story in the July-August 2020 issue.

Resources for more trail information:

• Washington Trails Association website
• Day Hiking Central Cascades – guidebook by Craig Romano and Alan Bauer (photography), published by Mountaineers Books.

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Ugh, shoulder season. Throw in your adventure towel. Maybe it’s time to take up gardening. And you should probably clean out the gutters or something, too. Whether the trails aren’t quite dry, the rock’s still under its winter blanket of snow, or the ski lines are melting out, spring  can be a rough time of year for the intrepid adventurer. But these in-between conditions are exactly what make the Wenatchee Valley—and its surrounding hills, rivers, and trails—the perfect shoulder season destination.   

Skiing 

The powder’s mostly gone and the temps are rising, but don’t give up just yet. Instead, throw on your Hawaiian shirt and shades and head to Mission Ridge to enjoy the spring skiing without the crowds. The resort is located on the east slopes of the Cascades and is higher, drier, and sunnier than many nearby ski hills.  

At only 12 miles from downtown, Mission Ridge makes Wenatchee the state’s most accessible ski town. There aren’t any fancy condos on mountain yet, and the food is classic pub fare that you’d expect to find at any resort, which is part of the charm. However, Mission punches above its weight in terms of snow quality and fun terrain. It boasts a small mountain vibe but with really interesting terrain. The free SkiLink bus runs every Saturday and Sunday from the downtown Columbia Station and Lincoln Park through the end of the season. Also check out ski and stay deals through several local hotels. 

After getting sufficiently sunburned, grab a drink at the Chair 5 Pub or fire up your grill in the parking lot. With events and live music on every weekend this spring, there’s plenty of reasons to ski hard and party hard through closing day on April 12. 

Hiking and Trail Running 

Trail running and hiking are great ways to carry over that ski-season fitness to longer summer endeavors. Wenatchee is home to some of the best early season trail running and hiking in central Washington. Whether you choose to lace up your shoes in town and run straight into the surrounding hills or take a short drive to a trailhead, there’s something for everyone. 

Apple Loop Trail: For a low-key paved option guaranteed to be dry, head out on the Apple Loop Trail. This trail is such a community mainstay that the city plows it after snow events. Jump on this 10-mile loop from the parking lot of Pybus Market and enjoy a flat run along the river. Be sure to refuel and grab a brew or a bite at one of the market’s bars and restaurants after your jaunt. 

Horse Lake Reserve: For moderate trails through reclaimed farmland with views of the Columbia River and North Cascades, visit Horse Lake Reserve starting on April 1. With interpretive signage to help identify flora, fauna, and nearby mountain peaks, Horse Lake offers a remarkable opportunity to get your bearings on the valley. Many .15 through 2.5-mile options can be braided together to create shorter or longer runs or hikes. These popular trails are dog and mountain-bike friendly and burst with color when balsamroot and other wildflowers are blooming.  

Ancient Lakes and Beezley Hills: The earliest trails to dry out are usually around Ancient Lakes near Quincy and the Beezley Hills in Ephrata. For information about these trails and other regional recommendations, visit WenatcheeOutdoors.org, which offers the most comprehensive guidebook to the region. Here you can find dog friendly, family friendly, and accessible trails, as well as up-to-date information about other outdoor activities.  

Climbing  

When the skiing starts to fade, and the trails are in the process of drying out, it’s prime time to start climbing outside in Eastern Washington. Even when the nights are still frigid, know that there’s plenty of local dry rock to be climbed. 

Frenchman Coulee: The most popular place for early spring climbing is Frenchman Coulee, better known to climbers as Vantage. The area’s columnar basalt offers a lifetime’s worth of splitter cracks for trad climbers and bolted face climbing for sport climbers.  The area known as the sunshine wall catches a lot of—you guessed it—sunshine, so it heats up pretty well for a few hours on even the coldest spring days. Because Vantage is often warm and dry when most other areas in the state are overcast and wet, this place can get packed. Plan ahead if you’d like to get on any of the classic moderates. Note that camping in the area is allowed but that a Discover Pass is required for parking.  One last hot tip: for climbing at vantage: The queue for the latrine is about 40 people deep on popular weekends. Plan to take care of your business early or bring your own TP and a winning attitude.  

Peshastin Pinnacles: If you’re not into fighting the crowds, there’s another unique spot to check out. Before Vantage stole the show for shoulder-season cragging, the Peshastin Pinnacles were the crud-weather climbing destination of choice in central Washington. Located just west of Cashmere, this group of sandstone fins overlooks orchards, the Wenatchee River valley, and the stunning peaks of the Enchantments. While too hot to climb in the middle of the summer, the primarily southwest-facing pinnacles offer sunny cragging close to the road in the early spring and late fall. Known for its unique but somewhat crumbly sandstone, many folks prefer the bolted sport climbs here, although there are a number of unique trad lines. Be prepared for old school grades and funky gear placements. Note that Peshastin Pinnacles has been a state park since being purchased from orchard owners in 1991, so you’ll need to buy a parking permit or have a Washington State Discover Pass. (MJ) 

Kayaking and River Sports 

The Wenatchee Valley is truly stacked with incredible whitewater opportunity. While your other hobbies may be taking a break for the season or haven’t ramped up yet, there really is no such thing as a spring shoulder season once you add rivers to your quiver of play. The Wenatchee area boasts incredible spring whitewater for every level of enthusiast. Within an hour of town you can find world class, big water playboating, class IV-V steep creeking, and lots of fun river running.  

Challenging Whitewater: For the adrenaline junkies there are only two places to be: Tumwater Canyon and Icicle Creek. Both located within five minutes of Leavenworth, these class V gems drop the jaws of every tourist who drives by. Icicle Creek can feel more like a river that’s been tipped upwards and poured over boulders, producing an endless series of long, complex, pushy, and intimidating whitewater. Tumwater is pool-drop in nature; it’s mellow sections only stand to give you extra time to pucker before dropping into some of Washington State’s biggest whitewater.  

Intermediate River Runs: Notching it down a grade, the Little Wenatchee offers a remote, lower volume, and tight canyon adventure for competent class IV boaters. Be on your toes for wood. Next, throw your boat on your shoulder and hike a mile up Ingalls Creek for class IV creeking that dumps you into the Peshastin River for non-stop class III-III+ boogie all way down to the Wenatchee River. Since you’re now back on the Wenatchee right near the put-in for the play section, just swap into your playboat and float down to Cashmere for one of Washington’s best play runs—massive standing waves, many with eddy service, await your surfing pleasure.  

Class-Fun Runs: Got some kiddos who want to play? Maybe a non-river person who is excited to see the valley from a different perspective? There are three great sections to suit: The upper Wenatchee River from Lake Wenatchee to the top of Tumwater Canyon provides a beautiful family-friendly scenic float. The town run from Leavenworth down to Peshastin offers easy logistics and keeps you in the heart of the mountains. Finally, the lower Wenatchee River from Cashmere to the Columbia provides a great way to admire the beauty of the lower valley.  Flow-dependent, these sections range from class I to II+ and can be fantastic for anything from canoe, to SUP, to family raft, to kayak. (CG)  

Mountain Biking 

After 10 years of project planning, the Central Chapter of the Evergreen Mountain Bike Alliance has received grants and generous community donations that have led to massive trail development over the past four years in the Wenatchee area, stretching from Leavenworth to Chelan. While the areas and trails listed are a sample of what the region has to offer, make no mistake, Wenatchee is a mountain biker’s dream. 

Sage Hills: Located on the fringe of Wenatchee, Sage Hills has over 20 miles of beginner and intermediate trails suitable for cross-country and enduro bikes. There are amazing views of the Wenatchee area and dynamic early season wildflower displays. Opens April 1. 

Squilchuck State Park Trail System: A perfect place for the mountain biking family. Bikers will find over 8 miles of beginner to intermediate singletrack trails, as well as a skills park. The skills park includes beginner to advanced jumps, skinnies, and log rides. One log ride is over 200-feet long! Creature Comfort Dark Forest is a recommended intermediate trail within Squilchuck. The trail has a manageable climb and a fast, fun descent.  

Devil’s Gulch/Mission Ridge: These two trails are intermediate rides through old growth forest, with occasional views of the North Cascades. They are best described as old school, rugged trails that also have some of the fastest singletrack in the state. The two trails cross, allowing bikers the option to ride a section of one trail, and then ride a section of the other trail. And they merge near the bottom and can be ridden up or shuttled. The climb is challenging. 

PTD (Prepare to Die): This is a new black diamond trail opening this spring. It is part of the Number 2 Canyon trail system trail near Wenatchee. It is a ride for bikers seeking an aggressive trail with natural features. This trail includes a large rock slab with a 30-foot dirt berm at the bottom. (JDE)  

Love Wenatchee’s Trails—Don’t Wreck Them! 

Even if it’s a nice bluebird day, certain trails may not be dried out for the season yet. Running, riding, or even hiking on wet trails can ruin them for the rest of the summer. If you’re in the Wenatchee area, make sure to visit the Chelan Douglas Land Trust’s website for current trail conditions or closures and please pay attention to the dirt under your feet or wheels. (Summer Hess)

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Highlights of the anticipated expansion include updating current lifts, an additional ski lodge, increased beginner terrain, and larger parking facilities to better accommodate peak volumes. It also includes newly developed Nordic and snowshoe trails and a tube and snow-play park. Long-distance visitors who have previously noticed the lack of onsite overnight accommodations will be pleased with almost 900 condominiums, townhomes, duplexes, and single-family homes planned as part of the expansion—75 percent of which will be dedicated as part-time vacation homes and short-term visitor accommodations. The expansion also includes nearly 90,000 square feet of retail space and associated parking with a new Village Base Area. 

The Mission Ridge expansion will occur in five key phases over multiple decades, but paperwork for the Master Planned Resort has already been submitted to Chelan County and the U.S. Forest Service, with intention to break ground winter of 2019. Throughout the expansion process, Mission’s priorities remain to maintain the values of stewardship, community, and the small mountain vibe while also keeping their roots and ties to the community.

Written by Chris Gabrielli

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This May’s Field Days are focusing on wild birds, and you don’t have to be a grade-school student to get involved. The WRI partners with the Leavenworth Bird Fest from May 16-19 to celebrate the return of migratory birds in the midst of peak wildflower season. The weekend is packed with field trips for kids and grown ups such as Birding by River Raft, Birding by Big Canoe, Birds & Beer, and Bikes & Birds. Free family activities for all ages include the Blackbird Island Family Bird Walk and bilingual activities with Team Naturaleza.

Rachel Bishop is the community education lead for the WRI and leads events such as Breakfast and Birding, Sleeping Lady Bird Walk, and the Owl Prowl. One of her favorite events to recommend is the birding by river raft trips. “It’s a cool and unique kind of birding. You get close to the birds. It’s really quiet on the water and you can sneak up on them.”

She says it’s relaxing and interesting to see a wide range of birds that nest in and rely on riparian zones, such swallows eating insects on the water’s surface. She also reports seeing Bullock’s orioles, bald eagles, and osprey. The float lasts two hours and connects the Icicle to the Wenatchee River.  She reckons that a lot of birders come from across the country to view the white-headed woodpecker because it’s so specific to eastern Washington. “We don’t have it on west side, probably because it lives off of and east insects on ponderosa pines.”

The Leavenworth Bird Fest is a great opportunity for lifelong birders to tick a few more birds off their life lists and for the bird-curious to learn more about this species-rich region. //

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Located outside of Leavenworth along Icicle Creek is Sleeping Lady Mountain Resort, whose namesake peak creates a picturesque ridgeline above the grounds. The mini-flashlight attached to each room key is the first clue that it will be a unique stay experience.

After loading your baggage into a cart, you follow a paved trail to the “cluster” that contains your guest room. After dark, that mini-flashlight comes in handy.

But the layout of the grounds and muted lighting are the only things that make this place feel like an old church youth camp—which it was, from 1957 to 1991. The Yakima Diocese of the Roman Catholic Church called it Camp Field. (Before that, it operated as the family-oriented Icicle River Ranch after being redeveloped from its status as Camp Icicle for the Civilian Conservation Corps.)
No smelly bunkhouses here. Guest rooms are duplex style with shared walls, organized in clusters of four buildings—for a total of 6-10 rooms per cluster. Inside, the hand-hewn log beds and desks, down comforters and lamps combine with amenities like heated towel racks, plush robes, WiFi access and coffee maker.

There are no televisions in the rooms—which is great. No mini-fridges either, which means if you want to store some cold snack or food items, you have to keep a cooler in your room.

There are five different room layouts available, with space for up to 3-5 people, and there are two stand-alone cabins. A “Loft Room,” for example, sleeps five people, making it ideal for a family—kids old enough to climb the ladder can sleep in the loft’s full-sized bed. There are also “Canine Companion” rooms, where your dog is welcome and gets its own resort amenities (dog bed, food/water bowls, treats)—all for no extra charge.
In the winter, you can nordic ski on the 8km Icicle River Trail, which is adjacent to the resort. It’s part of the Leavenworth Nordic Trail System, which includes 26km of cross-country ski tracks and skate ski lanes. For downhill skiing and snowboarding, you can drive to Stevens Pass, Mission Ridge, or Leavenworth’s Ski Hill.

One of the unique features of this resort is the outdoor (and indoor) artwork on display at various locations—creating an Art Walk with over 35 pieces, including a nine-foot-tall “Chihuly Icicles” glass sculpture near the restaurant.

The resort’s sister property, Icicle Creek Center for the Arts (icicle.org), hosts a music performance series and various festivals throughout the year.
Other on-site activities include the Woodland Rock Pools (small outdoor hot pool and seasonal swimming pool), sauna, fitness room, playhouse (for board games, ping-pong, etc), and spa.

To reserve a room, you choose a specific “package.” Great Escape Package is the basic one, starting at $238, double-occupancy for one night. (Additional adults are $59 each, kids ages 5-12 are $25 each, and children age four and younger stay and dine free.) This fee includes gourmet dinner and a hearty breakfast, which are served buffet style at the resort’s Kingfisher Restaurant (alcoholic drinks and gratuity not included). Other stay packages are centered on activity themes, such as Romance, Sleigh Ride and Resort Yoga.

The restaurant looks and feels like a lodge; instead of booth tables, it has open “European-style” seating. Breakfast is served 7:30-9:00 am on weekdays (open ‘til 10:00 am weekends); dinner hours are 5:30-8:00 pm, with staggered reservation seating times. Non-guests are also welcome to dine at the restaurant.

Sleeping Lady is a member of the Chefs Collaborative, which is “a leading nonprofit network of chefs that fosters a sustainable food system through advocacy, education and collaboration with the broader food community,” according to the resort website. What this equates to is a lot of organic and locally and regionally sourced food. In fact, Sleeping Lady maintains its own greenhouse and two-acre organic garden.

At $39 per adult, dinner isn’t anything like a typical buffet—it’s fancy, with lots of organic, fresh offerings, from a creative and diverse salad bar (no iceberg lettuce here), to the entrée/hot dish bar (chefs serve and dress your plate), to the dessert bar. Plenty of kid-friendly options—pizza, homemade mac-n-cheese, make-your-own peanut butter and jelly sandwich, organic milk, fresh fruit, apple sauce—make it easy for kids to eat happy.

There are two other places to eat at the resort—O’Grady’s Pantry (open for breakfast and lunch) and the Grotto Bar (opens at 4:00 pm, pizza and drinks).

Sleeping Lady’s quiet months are late March, April and November, according to Lori Vandenbrink, the resort’s director of sales and marketing. The busiest months are June through August, she says, “with a combination of corporate retreats, weddings and leisure travelers.” December is also busy. Occasionally, the resort offers special rates via its Facebook page (facebook.com/SleepingLady). Overall, this unpretentious resort encourages a slower pace and lives up to its goal to provide “accommodations in harmony with nature.” You’ll return home wishing you could have stayed longer.

For more details, visit sleepinglady.com.

WHEN YOU GO
Sleeping Lady Mountain Resort is 190 miles from Spokane, just outside of Leavenworth. Take I-90 west to the junction of Hwy 281 near George; travel north on 281 to Quincy. Turn left on Hwy 28 and travel west to Wenatchee to Hwy 2. Travel Hwy 2 to the west boundary of Leavenworth, and then turn left on Icicle Road. Go approx. 2.5 miles, passing the Leavenworth National Fish Hatchery. Turn left into Sleeping Lady. (Amtrak stops in Leavenworth.)

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For those unfamiliar with Leavenworth, it’s about a three-hour drive east from Spokane, and all the “downtown” village shops and eateries convey the same Bavarian aesthetic theme. This ingenuous motif idea, which began with the downtown area’s renovation in the early 1960s, saved Leavenworth from extinction after the local sawmill closed and the railroad was re-routed. Year-round tourism keeps this town alive.

If you don’t mind rubbing shoulders with hundreds of strangers, squeezing into small boutiques to shop, and spending time in the midst of the sights, sounds and smells of the bustling village, then you should enjoy this festival. It’s all about reveling in the Christmas spirit.

Anyone feeling bah-humbug this season might consider a visit to this festival like a dose of Prozac. After all, the town was named one of the “Most Christmassy Places in America” by the Travel Channel, and Time included it in its list of “Top 10 Places To Find the Most Holiday Cheer.”

The festival’s agenda each weekend will go like this: Friday evenings will be a simple affair with no lighting ceremony but the holiday lights will be on. Starting at 3:30 pm there will be choir entertainment at the Front Street Gazebo, and Saint Nikolaus (also known as Santa Claus to non-Bavarian folks) will arrive by carriage at the Gazebo at 4:30 pm with special treats for the kids.

Saturdays and Sundays are full of entertainment, such as high school and community choirs and bands, beginning either late morning or early afternoon. Festivities “officially” begin at 1:00 pm both days with an Opening Ceremony and the arrival of Santa, followed by more entertainment, which will continue through the early evening. Frosty, Rudolph and other Christmas characters will be mingling throughout the village, along with strolling carolers, to enhance the festive mood.

There will be a warming tent where you can purchase cider, gingerbread cookies and hot spiced Gluhwein (German wine). You can also gather around burn barrels to get warm. An outdoor Food Booth Court, courtesy of local non-profit organizations, will help feed the massive crowds throughout the festival weekends. And cafes and restaurants will provide a warm place to sit and enjoy a meal.

At 4:30 pm the Lighting Ceremony begins, and the anticipatory minutes before the lights are turned on are giddy, crowded and just plain fun. There is usually the singing of Christmas carols, so enjoy the merriment and raise your voice! Kids will especially love all this and consider it a magical winter wonderland—parents, the young at heart, and non-Scrooges will too.

On Saturday, December 4th there will be a Starlight Lantern Parade, starting at 5:45 pm at the Gazebo on Front Street. You can carry a lantern and join the procession to the Living Nativity—a reenactment of baby Jesus in a manger with Mary, Joseph, shepherds, and the wise men, with actors in costume and live animals. The 20-minute presentation will take place at an indoor location. This is a free event with cocoa, cookies and time to pet the animals (bring hand sanitizer!).

A weekend spent in Leavenworth, especially if you’re a snow sport enthusiast, can include one afternoon at the festival while enjoying recreation in the morning, such as Nordic skiing or snowshoeing on the nearby trails. Or spend an entire day alpine skiing or snowboarding at Stevens Pass or Mission Ridge, both only 32 miles from Leavenworth. There is also a family-oriented Ski Hill in town, organized by the Leavenworth Winter Sports Club, which has two rope tows, a terrain park and a tubing park. And a visit to Leavenworth in the winter would not be complete without enjoying an old-fashioned sleigh ride, such as the one offered at Red-Tail Canyon Farm, located only two miles from town. For more information about any of these options, go to www.leavenworth.org, the home page for all things Leavenworth tourism related, and click on the “Recreation Guide” tab.

There is also the Nutcracker Museum (nutcrackermuseum.com)—made more famous by the curator’s guest appearance on Conan O’Brien’s latest talk show premiere. When you arrive in town, more information about the festival, recreation options, and other special events can be obtained by visiting the Chamber of Commerce office, located at 940 Highway 2 (one block from downtown). It’s open seven days a week, starting at 8:00 am, and open Monday-Thursday until 5:00 pm, Friday and Saturday until 8:00 pm, and Sunday until 4:00 pm.

And if you can’t make it to Leavenworth this December, there is always the Ice Festival on January 16-17, 2011.

WHEN YOU GO:
Drive west on I-90 and take exit 151 at Quincy. Go right on Road 1 NW, then right at WA-281 north. Turn left at WA-28 West (also called F Street SW), and then take slight left at WA-285 N. Turn right at S. Mission Street, right at N. Miller Street, then slight left at N. Wenatchee Ave. Continue onto Highway 2 West and it will take you right into the town of Leavenworth. (You can also take Highway 2 West from Spokane, if you don’t mind traveling on two-lane highway the entire way.)

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Because when you talk rafting for the masses, many will consider the Wenatchee as “the river” for Washington whitewater. Sure there’s many other great rivers from which to choose in the state-the Skykomish, White Salmon and Tieton immediately come to mind-but when you add it all up, the Wenatchee offers something for everyone.

Just as many people associate the Salmon or Lochsa with Idaho and the Rogue or Deschutes in Oregon, so too do Washingtonians with the Wenatchee.And despite having maybe a dozen more rivers from which to choose where a commercial outfitter can guide you down the rapids, the combination of weather, location and rapids most likely put the Wenatchee at the top of the list for the number of trips it sees in a season.

The City of Cashmere, which charges commercial outfitters a per-person fee to exit the river at the city’s Riverside Park, estimated some 6,400 people rafted the river in 2006. This figure does not include private rafters, but one can figure that the number might be close, making the Wenatchee one of the most-if not the most popular raft runs in the state.

Drive up Highway 2 on any day from May through July and you’ll see the popularity of the river by the dozens of colorful rafts that bob down the river with guides shouting instructions and paddlers trying to follow those orders. In all of its four distinctive sections, the Wenatchee serves up nearly 60 miles of every conceivable level of difficulty. From tame Class I and II runs at both top and bottom that are perfect for beginners; the fun Class III water from Leavenworth to Cashmere or the suicidal Class V to VI churning washing machine that is tumultuous Tumwater Canyon. U.S. rivers are ranked on a scale of Class I being tame to insane at Class VI.

The Wenatchee is just one of a number of raft-able rivers within a relatively short drive. The only other commercially-run river that is easy to reach is the Methow to the north outside of Twisp. The Stehekin River at the end of Lake Chelan has offered some commercial trips in the past.

What makes the Wenatchee so popular is that it has everything for everyone, according to Terri Sarver of Seattle-based Blue Sky Outfitters. “It is located just on the East side of the Cascade Mountains. So it’s not to far for the folks who are coming from the Seattle area (right around 2.5 hours) and equal distance for the folks coming from Spokane,” Sarver says. An added bonus Sarver says is “For the west-siders it’s nice to be in the nice dry hot weather.”

And it’s not just all rafting. “Leavenworth is great outdoor paradise,” says Sarver. You have white water rafting, hiking, rock climbing and anything else you want to do in the great outdoors.”

Of course, Leavenworth offers that unique taste of Bavaria with dining and shopping for those post-rafting activities.

Sarver said most companies start running the Wenatchee in March and run the river until August. Traditional high water flows happen between the last couple of weeks of May and the first couple weeks of June.

Because of its width and the presence of few big rocks, the Leavenworth to Cashmere portion of the Wenatchee rarely gets more than a Class III+ rating. That doesn’t mean, however, that it’s by any means tame. “It has some of the tallest rapids in the entire state,” Sarver says. “Some can be as tall as 10 to 14 feet.” One of those waves is at Drunkard’s Drop. It’s HUGE at high flows and routinely pitch passengers into the drink. To add insult to injury-or in some cases bragging rights-a commercial photographer is stationed in a tower on the right side of the river snapping lots of photos of every boat.

Rod Amundson of Wildwater River Tours based in Federal Way,WA quits rafting the Wenatchee when flows drop to 1,700 cfs. “We raft it up to 25,000 cfs at high water in May and June.” Amundson cautions that below 1,700 cfs cubic feet/second) the Wenatchee is pretty much a Class II rock garden. The White Salmon River and the Upper Skagit River are better whitewater rafting trips in late July and August according to Amundson.

Amundson, like many of those who run the Wenatchee, loves the BIG water it serves up at certain levels. “I like big water volume on the Wenatchee, Skykomish or any challenging river,” he says. The Wenatchee between 6,000 cfs to 18,000+ cfs is the perfect flow range.

The Wenatchee is suitable for most folks between age 10 and 85. At low river levels in July/August younger kids down to 6 years would be okay on trips, Amundson says. The bulk of those runs take place from Leavenworth to Cashmere, one of the prime apple producing areas in the world.

THE LEAVENWORTH TO CASHMERE RUN. The Wenatchee is just as popular with the private rafters as it is with commercial operators. Trips on the Leavenworth to Cashmere section begin at a developed launch site just upstream from the Highway 2 bridge that crosses the river on the outskirts of town.

Turn left before crossing the bridge and follow East Leavenworth Road for approximately .06 of a mile according to Jeff Bennett’s A Guide to the Whitewater River of Washington. Look for a fishing access to the right. The launch has a boat ramp that can accommodate large rafts.

The fun comes right within the first mile with Boulder Bend, a sweeping right curve in the river that at higher flows if chock full of boat-eating holes. One of those, according to Coeur d’Alene rafter Larry Gaddis, is called O’Geary’s hole. He flipped there a few years ago and had a long and memorable swim at 15 to 16,000 cfs. Not only was Gaddis, a 25-year rafting vet trying to survive in the cold Memorial Weekend water but trying to keep his swim trunks up and his life jacket attached to his body. He was successful on both challenges. The river mellows for the next 3.5 miles before reaching Peshastin. A mile and a half downstream from Peshastin comes the next set of rapids, Rock and Roll, a big and lively wave-train. According to Bennett, the best-and safest-run is along river left, avoiding Satan’s Eyeball, a gigantic hole that develops at center-right.

It isn’t long until you see Peshastin Creek entering from the right. Peshastin Creek itself a challenging expert run in kayaks and small catarafts when the Wenatchee is at 10,000 cfs. “Fresh Squeezed” is the perfect name for one of the key rapids on the run.

Just down from Peshastin Creek exit the river in order to portage the diversion dam. The L-shaped structure is sometimes run on the left but it is really not recommended. There is a surprisingly powerful reversal on the right side or main face of the dam. According to Larry Gaddis he’s watched a commercial paddle raft portage the dam, yet get pulled back into the dangerous water and flip, spilling its passengers for a long down-stream swim. A dolly is available to help wheel heavy rafts across the parking lot and back to the water.

It is possible to sometimes put in at the dam but never count on it. The Wenatchee’s best water really lies ahead with the rapid to river mile ratio increasing greatly.

Gorilla Falls just under the Highway 2 bridge below the dam is the first notable rapid, found amidst the tangle of bridge piers. Next up is one of the Wenatchee’s most popular spots, a surf wave that is routinely populated by dozens of kayakers. That population increases significantly at Wenatchee River Fest, a kayaking and rafting competition this year set for June 9 – 10. The wave that forms here grows with the flow, reaching three feet when the river hits 14,000 cfs.

Not far below the play wave is Drunkards Drop. You’ll notice it as the river makes a sweeping right bend before breaking back left as it scrapes past a large dirt cliff. The rapid can be skirted to the right if you are not into tempting fate with a run down the gut. Mellow water follows until you begin to approach Cashmere. Then the Wenatchee finishes with a big bang.

Snowblind is appropriately named. In higher water it is a series of mesmerizing waves and holes. If you’re rowing you’ve got to be on your toes and ready to move quickly. As a paddle captain, you’re just as likely to be dragging swimmers into your boat as well as barking out commands to keep the boat upright. If you’re swimming here, you might be in the water ’til the end as Granny’s Rapid, a string of big waves-and at high flows some flipper waves-follows Snowblind. Just past the Cashmere bridge comes the take-out ramp on river right. This can be a real traffic jam as it is the only place to exit the river unless you flow on down a few miles to Monitor, which you don’t want to do because it costs to use the ramp.

The Cashmere’s Riverside Park is a great place to get the gear sorted out and relax while you await your shuttle. Inside the park pavilion you will find refreshments and souvenirs, including those photos that were snapped as you ran, swam or were catapulted through Drunkard’s Drop.
This is also the place where much of the activity takes place at the Wenatchee River Festival.

The park is reached by taking the Cashmere/Division Street exit off of Highway 2. Turn left onto Pleasant after crossing the river, right on Woodring and left on Riverside with the park just ahead.
With the city of Wenatchee ten or so miles downstream, and the Bavarian clone of Leavenworth 13 miles upstream, the area boasts accommodations for every taste and budget. In addition, camping is both plentiful-and beautiful-up along Icicle Creek, west of Leavenworth. Icicle Creek rivals, and in some ways surpasses the run in Tumwater Canyon. It contains steep, car-size boulder-choked drops that should only be attempted by the best of the best in the boating community.
The Wenatchee as noted is just one of many notable rafting rivers in Washington State. And then there’s Idaho, and that’s another story.

Paul Delaney has been an avid whitewater rafter since 1980. Paul helped found and is currently president of the Northwest Whitewater Association (www.northwestwhitewater.org), a Spokane-based club for self-outfitted river
rafters. He runs river all over the northwest, including the Wenatchee.

For further information on Washington whitewater: http://www.gonorthwest.com/Washington/Activities/rafting/rafting.htm.

Following are commercial outfitters that run rafting trips on the Wenatchee River:

BLUE SKY OUTFITTERS:
P.O. Box 717, Peshastin, WA 98847. Info: (800) 228-RAFT or rafting@blueskyoutfitters.com

OSPREY RAFTING COMPANY:
4342 Icicle Road, P. O. Box 668, Leavenworth, WA 98826. Info: (800) 743-6269 or
reservations@ospreyrafting.com

ALPINE ADVENTURES:
894 US Highway 2, P.O. Box 253, Leavenworth, WA 98826. Info: (800) 926-7238.

ENCHANTED WATER TOURS:
P.O. Box 611, Leavenworth, WA 98826. Info: (888) 723-8987 or
ewtours@enchantedwatertours.com

GO BIG WHITEWATER, LLC:
P.O. Box 365, Leavenworth, WA 98826. Info: (888) 979-9600 or dan@gobigwhitewater.com

LEAVENWORTH OUTFITTERS OUTDOOR CENTER:
21312 Hwy 207, Leavenworth, WA 98826. Info: (800) 347-7934.

NORTH CASCADES RIVER EXPEDITIONS:
P. O. Box 116, Arlington, WA 98223. Info: (800) 634-8433 or rafting@cftinet.com

RIVER RECREATION:
P.O. Box 2124, Bothell, WA 98041. (800) 464-5899 or office@riverrecreation.com

RIVER RIDERS:
P.O. Box 666, Leavenworth, WA 98826. Info: (800) 448-RAFT or info@riverrider.com

ORION EXPEDITIONS, INC.
12681 Wilson Street, Leavenworth, WA 98826. Info: (800) 553-7466 or info@orionexp.com

WAVE TREK, INC:
P.O. Box 236, Index, WA 98256. Info: (800) 543-7971 or info@wavetrek.com

WILDWATER RIVER TOURS, INC:
P.O. Box 3623, Federal Way, WA 98063-3623. Info: (800) 522-WILD (9453) or
info@wildwater-river.com

Other NW Rivers

METHOW:
The commercially rafted part of the river is a Class III to IV section, usually the last 15 miles or so of the river before it flows into the Columbia River at Patreos. It’s a great stretch for beginning to intermediate rafters. Most trips start off in calmer water with mostly Class I and II rapids, making for a good warm up. The real action starts with Engle’s Slide, a Class III rapid. The most challenging section of the river is next, a Class IV drop named Black Canyon. Here Black Canyon Creek flows into the Methow and the river narrows within the canyon while dropping quickly in elevation, creating fantastic waves and The Black Hole. Directly following is the ledges of Staircase with its powerful waves. The action continues with Corner Rapids and Another Roadside Attraction.

SKYKOMISH:
Just an hour from Seattle, the Skykomish River is considered the most challenging commercially run river in Washington State. The “Sky,” as it’s called by those that frequent this river, provides plenty of heart-pumping action for even the most seasoned rafting pro.

While most of this river is Class III to III+, the highlight of the trip and the draw for adrenaline-seekers, Boulder Drop, a Class IV+ rapid. This rapid contains house-sized boulders and requires intricate and precise maneuvering to navigate and make it through. While there are many other rivers in the state where rafters wear helmets for safety, this is the only one that the State of Washington steps in and requires helmets by law.

TIETON:
The Tieton River is located on the east side of White Pass, near Naches, just 45 minutes from Yakima. Rimrock Lake Reservoir is the main source for the Tieton’s water. The Tieton has very little water for most of the year, but once September comes around, the gates to Rimrock Dam are opened and, for the month of September, the Tieton has the best whitewater in the state. And, to make this river even better, the water from Rimrock Lake has spent the entire summer warming up, making the Tieton’s water the warmest in Washington.

With an average drop in elevation of 55 feet per mile, the Tieton also claims the “fastest” whitewater in Washington State. Volcanic basalt cliffs surround the river making for awesome rock climbing among elite climbers.

This river is considered the last “official” trip of the rafting season and rafters from all over Washington make their annual pilgrimage to the Tieton in September.

WHITE SALMON:
Federally protected as a Wild & Scenic River, the White Salmon River is one of the most beautiful rivers in Washington State. The water in this river is provided by melting glaciers and underground springs, supplying the White Salmon with some of the cleanest water in the country. Lush greenery and trees complete this picturesque river.

Most trips start out in BZ Corner, a little town whose recognition is known for its access to the White Salmon River. The excitement of the White Salmon begins right away as the BZ Corner put in is actually in the middle of Top Drop, a Class IV rapid! The river continues in a “pool and drop” pattern, with exciting rapids that drop down into calm pools, like Corkscrew and Waterspout. Stairsteps is a favorite, with a series of one to three-foot ledges like a set of long, wide stairs.

About two thirds into the trip is Class IV+ Husum Falls, a 14-foot waterfall. On most trips, rafters get out here to stretch their legs, view the falls, and watch the boats as they’re “lined” (floated empty at the end of a long line of rope) over the falls. Only a few outfitters are permitted to actually run the falls and for rafters on those trips, running the falls is an unforgettable thrill. From the bottom of the falls, the river finishes its journey to Northwestern Lake with Class II and III rapids.
(Courtesy of Blue Sky Outfitters)

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