LEAVENWORTH, WASHINGTON
Summer Trails in Leavenworth
The Greater Leavenworth area has seventeen hikes and five rides, sorted by how much adventure you signed up for – from riverside strolls to schnitzel-earning epics.
PICK BY FEEL
What kind of day are we having?
Pick your pace — every trail below is grouped by how long it takes.
Easy · 1-3 Hours ↓Half-Day · 4-6 Hours ↓Big Days · 7-9 Hours ↓Mountain Biking ↓
Every card expands to details, directions, and a tap-to-zoom illustrated trail map.
1-3 HOURS
Easy Strolls & Leg-Stretchers
Minimal suffering, maximum bragging. Coffee and strudel are basically on the way home.
Icicle River Nature Trail
Flat, stroller-friendly hatchery loop – a million baby salmon can’t be wrong.
1 mi~1 hrEasyFish Hatchery
A gentle interpretive loop through the Icicle Valley and the National Fish Hatchery — grab the brochure at the trailhead and let the kids play junior biologist. Wide, level paths mean strollers (and tired legs) roll along just fine.
Dogs on leash · Free in summer
Ski Hill Hiking Trails
Six miles of looping forest roads with peekaboo views of town – choose your own workout.
1-6 mi1+ hrsEasySki Hill
About six miles of looping double-track through Forest Service woods, rolling gently uphill to a few nice views over Leavenworth. Perfect for a walk that feels like a hike without the commitment.
Dogs on leash · Free in summer
Waterfront Park Trail
Riverbank forest, swim beaches, and Blackbird Island – straight from downtown.
2 mi~1 hrEasyDowntown
One of Leavenworth’s best-kept secrets: quiet riverbank forest paths along the Wenatchee River, with benches for sitting and interpretive signs telling the area’s natural and cultural story — steps from downtown.
Dogs allowed · No pass needed
Hidden Lake
A short M&M-bribe of a trail to a swimmable forest lake under giant ponderosas.
1.5 mi~1 hrEasyLake Wenatchee
Pack enough M&Ms and you can coax the kids up this short forest trail to a lake ringed by thick woods and massive, breath-stealing Ponderosa pines. No big views — just summer swimmers and people pretending to catch fish.
Dogs on leash · NW Forest Pass
Bygone Byways
Flat, well-marked interpretive stroll along the old Great Northern Railway route.
1.3 mi~1 hrEasyStevens Pass
A short, flat interpretive loop tracing the original route of the Great Northern Railway along Nason Creek. Grab a brochure at the kiosk and time-travel through the area’s natural and cultural history.
Dogs on leash · No pass needed
Penstock Trail
Walk the historic pipeline route above the raging Wenatchee River.
2.4 mi~1 hrEasyTumwater Canyon
Walk the line of the historic Penstock — a huge water pipe, now on the National Historical Register, that once powered the electric engines pulling trains through the Cascade Tunnel. Easy grades, big history.
Dogs on leash · NW Forest Pass
Icicle Gorge Loop
A gentle creekside loop with a mid-hike bridge over roaring, surprisingly powerful water.
3.9 mi~2 hrsEasyIcicle Canyon
A gentle loop crossing both banks of the Icicle River — all the magic of the Icicle Valley without grunting up serious elevation. One bank is dry and open, the other shady canopied forest; guess which one faces south.
Dogs on leash · NW Forest Pass
Lanham Lake
Short, steepish jaunt to a quiet forested lake – pack water and snack bribes.
3.2 mi~2 hrsEasyStevens Pass
A fun family jaunt to a forested lake, passing under power lines that sizzle like frying bacon (really). It’s steep and hot in stretches, so pack water — and a healthy supply of summit treats for the kids.
Dogs on leash · NW Forest Pass
Icicle Ridge
Straight up out of town to a lunch spot with splendid valley views. Icy Hot optional.
6 mi~3 hrsDifficultEdge of town
This trail goes one way: up. Hike as far as you like — the natural turnaround is a flat ridgetop perch two miles in, perfect for lunch, big valley views, and a little Icy Hot on the thighs.
Dogs on leash · No pass needed
4-6 HOURS
Half-Day Hikes
Real climbs, real views – and still home in time for dinner downtown.
Merritt Lake
An alpine lake ringed by steep peaks and whistling marmots.
5.5 mi~4 hrsModerateColes Corner
A delightful alpine lake ringed by steep mountains and meadows full of whistling (if occasionally shy) marmots. The climb is steep and dry with exposed stretches — bring water, sunscreen, and bug juice for the lakeshore.
Dogs on leash · No pass needed
Alpine Lookout
A working fire lookout with Stuart Range views – and resident mountain goats.
10.5 mi~5 hrsDifficultColes Corner
Splendid views of Nason Ridge, the Stuart Range, and Dirtyface Peak, best enjoyed from the active, staffed fire lookout at the top. You don’t even have to work that hard for them — comparatively speaking, of course.
Dogs on leash · NW Forest Pass
Lake Minotaur
One direction: up. A thigh-thumping climb to a stark, rocky lake.
3.5 mi3-4 hrsDifficultStevens Pass
One way only: up! Your thighs will thump their way to better and better views before you top out at one of the most scenic alpine lakes a day’s climb can buy.
Dogs on leash · No pass needed
Ingalls Creek
A gentle creekside ramble beneath the Stuart Range — and one of the valley’s great spring wildflower shows.
11 mi~5–6 hrsModerateSpring wildflowers
Trail #1215 follows Ingalls Creek into the Alpine Lakes Wilderness on a famously gentle grade — big pines, boulder fields, granite cliffs and uncommon wildflowers each late spring. A favorite turnaround is the Falls Creek gravel bar 5.5 miles in; the full valley runs 15.5 miles one-way to Stuart Pass.
Dogs on leash · NW Forest Pass + free self-issue wilderness permit
7-9 HOURS
Big Days
Start early, pack lunch, bring the headlamp you think you will not need. Yes, you have earned the schnitzel.
Dirty Face Peak
A relentless climb with Lake Wenatchee and the Glacier Peak Wilderness at your feet.
9.5 mi~7 hrsDifficultLake Wenatchee
Wonderful views over Lake Wenatchee and the Glacier Peak Wilderness, earned the hard way: 4,000 feet in 4 miles over some 90 switchbacks — steep, dry, and hot. Eat your Wheaties and don’t forget the camera.
Dogs on leash · NW Forest Pass
Hatchery Creek
A steady, crowd-free climb with big Wenatchee River views.
13 mi~8 hrsDifficultTumwater Canyon
A steady uphill grind that pays out big views of the Wenatchee River and the surrounding mountains, topping out in alpine meadows around 5.5 miles — with the Icicle Ridge junction a mile beyond for overachievers.
Dogs on leash · No pass needed
Spider Meadows
One of the Northwest’s most spectacular high alpine meadow walks.
12.5 mi~8 hrsDifficultChiwawa Valley
Perhaps the most spectacular high-alpine meadow hike in the Northwest — honestly, the hardest part may be the long drive to the trailhead. The views up-valley feel straight out of the Alps.
Dogs on leash · No pass needed
4th of July Creek
A leg-burning ascent with front-row seats to the Stuart Range.
12 mi~9 hrsDifficultIcicle Canyon
Craving front-row views of the Stuart Range? This long, dry, steady uphill grunt delivers — and if you bail early, there are still fine views about two miles in.
Dogs on leash · No pass needed
PERMITS REQUIRED
Hiking the Enchantments
The Enchantments are the crown jewel of the Alpine Lakes Wilderness — a chain of granite-cradled alpine lakes high above Leavenworth, and one of the most sought-after hikes in the country.
Access is limited to protect it: day hikers self-issue a wilderness permit at the trailhead, and overnight stays from May 15 to October 31 are awarded through the recreation.gov permit lottery.
This is fragile alpine terrain, so travel gently — stay on trail, pack everything out, and follow Leave No Trace.
DAY HIKES IN THE PERMIT AREA
Colchuck Lake
9 mi round trip PERMIT AREAStuart Lake
9 mi round trip PERMIT AREAEightmile Lake
7 mi round trip PERMIT AREA
KNOBBY TIRES
Mountain Biking & Cycling
From volunteer-built flow trails above town to brake-burning ridge rides.
Ski Hill MTB Trails
15+ years of volunteer-built singletrack and flow trails right above town.
1-18 mi1+ hrsAll levelsSki Hill
Fifteen-plus years of volunteer trail building stacked into progressive loops — green circles to black diamonds — built by Evergreen Mountain Bike Alliance with the Forest Service. Climb the ladder as far as your nerve holds.
Dogs on leash · Free in summer
Freund Canyon Loop
The area’s classic singletrack loop and a beloved local lunch lap.
8.3 mi~2 hrsDifficultFreund Canyon
One of the best single-tracks in the area: skinny switchbacks straight up, then straight down through a run of fun, jumpy berms. Pause at the top for panoramic views before gravity takes over.
Dogs on leash · No pass needed
Nason Ridge
A thigh-pumping, brake-burning ridge ride with awe-inspiring views.
18 mi~3 hrsDifficultLake Wenatchee
A thigh-pumping, brake-burning ride no sane person would attempt — if not for the awe-inspiring views at the top. Dry and hot up there, so load up on water and carbs.
Dogs on leash · No pass needed
Devil’s Gulch
Rock and roll on the area’s most exciting singletrack descent.
17.8 mi~5 hrsDifficultCashmere
Rock and roll on one of the area’s most exciting single-tracks: blood-curdling downhill, thigh-burning climbs, grandiose views. The classic route climbs Devils Gulch #1220 and loops back on Mission Ridge #1201.
Dogs on leash · NW Forest Pass
Mountain Home Road
Dirt-road climbing above town – make it as short or as long as you like.
13 mi~5 hrsDifficultAbove town
Make it as short or as long as you like — the main loop climbs Mountain Home Road to a saddle with great views of Wedge Mountain and the Enchantments, through country still telling the story of an immense forest fire.
Dogs on leash · No pass needed
KNOW BEFORE YOU GO
Three things the mountains want you to know
PASSES & PARKING
Most Forest Service trailheads want a Northwest Forest Pass on the dash. In-town, Waterfront Park, and Ski Hill trails are free all summer. Enchantments trails add a self-issued day-use permit at the trailhead.
TICKS & CRITTERS
Spring into early summer is tick season on sunny, brushy slopes – do a quick check after your hike. This is also bear country: keep food stowed and dogs leashed where allowed.
WATER & SNOW
Rivers run high and cold with snowmelt into July, and high routes hold snow well into summer. Check conditions with the Wenatchee River Ranger District (509-548-2550) or the Forest Service recreation report before a big day.
GOOD QUESTIONS
Trail FAQs
Waterfront Park Trail starts right downtown and wanders the Wenatchee River to Blackbird Island. The Icicle River Nature Trail at the fish hatchery is a flat, stroller-friendly interpretive loop, and the Penstock Trail in Tumwater Canyon adds a dose of railroad history. All are an hour or two, round trip.
In-town and Ski Hill trails are free. Most Forest Service trailheads require a Northwest Forest Pass to park. Trails into the Enchantments area – Colchuck Lake, Stuart Lake, and Eightmile Lake – also require a free self-issued wilderness permit for day trips and a lottery permit from recreation.gov for overnight stays.
Leashed dogs are welcome on most trails around Leavenworth. Dogs are not allowed on Enchantments-area trails, including Colchuck Lake, Stuart Lake, and Eightmile Lake.
Mid-July through early October. High routes like Colchuck Lake, Alpine Lookout, and Spider Meadows hold snow into July, and rivers run high with snowmelt in early summer. Call the Wenatchee River Ranger District at 509-548-2550 for current conditions.
Climb the first stretch of switchbacks on the Icicle Ridge Trail for a splendid overlook of town and the Leavenworth Valley, or wander the Ski Hill trails for gentler viewpoints just minutes from downtown.
