Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Spring through fall, there is rafting, hiking, mountain biking, and horseback rid-
ing, and, in winter, there is downhill and cross-country skiing and snowmobiling.
Twenty-five miles north of town you'll find
Lake Wenatchee,
a year-round
recreation area with hiking and cross-country ski trails, horseback riding, canoe
rentals, windsurfing, swimming, fishing, mountain biking, camping, and snow-
mobiling.
Lake Wenatchee State Park
(
&
509/763-3101
) is the center of
recreational activity here.
If you need to rent some gear, contact
Leavenworth Outfitters Outdoor Cen-
ter,
21312 Wash. 207 (
&
800/347-7934
or 509/763-3733; www.leavenworth
outfitters.com), which rents mountain bikes, cross-country skis, kayaks, and
canoes.
FISHING
Icicle Creek, which runs through Leavenworth, has a short summer
salmon season for fish headed upstream to the Leavenworth Fish Hatchery. Lake
Wenatchee, at 5 miles in length, is the biggest lake in the area and holds kokanee,
as well as Dolly Varden and rainbows. To fish for kokanee, you'll need a boat. Sev-
eral of the rivers and streams in the Leavenworth area are open to fly-fishing only.
GOLF
Golfers can play 18 holes at the
Leavenworth Golf Club,
9101 Icicle
Rd. (
&
509/548-7267;
www.leavenworthgolf.com), which charges $26 to $29
for a round of golf and is located on the outskirts of town, or north of Leaven-
worth near Lake Wenatchee at
Kahler Glen Golf Course,
20700 Clubhouse
Dr. (
&
509/763-4025;
www.kahlerglen.com), which charges $24 to $36 for
18 holes. However, the new
Highlander Golf Club,
2920 Eighth St., East
Wenatchee (
&
509/884-4653;
www.highlandergolfclub.com), with its Scottish
links styling and awesome big-sky views, is the hottest course in the region these
days. Greens fees range from $35 to $49 for 18 holes. If you want to practice
your putting, check out the
Enzian Falls Championship Putting Course
(
&
509/548-5269
), which is located across from the Enzian Motor Inn and is
a beautiful bent-grass 18-hole putting course (not to be confused with your
usual tacky miniature golf course).
HIKING
Right in town, you'll find a pleasant paved walking path in
Water-
front Park.
Out at the
fish hatchery
on Icicle Road, there is also a mile-long
interpretive trail with information on the hatchery. In winter, both of these areas
have cross-country ski trails. In Tumwater Canyon, the narrow gorge that serves
as something of a gateway to Leavenworth as you approach from the west,
there's an easy hiking trail along the banks of the Wenatchee River.
Just outside Leavenworth, in the
Alpine Lakes Wilderness
, lies some
of the most spectacular mountain scenery in the state, and the trails that lead
into this wilderness are among the most popular. They're so popular, in fact, that
backpackers must reserve camping permits months in advance to overnight in
such heavily visited areas as the Enchantment Lakes basin. Most of the trails in
the area are best suited for overnight trips because they climb steeply and steadily
for many miles before reaching the more scenic areas. For information on hik-
ing trails in Wenatchee National Forest, contact the
Leavenworth Ranger Sta-
tion,
600 Sherbourne St., Leavenworth, WA 98826 (
&
509/548-6977;
www.
fs.fed.us/r6/wenatchee). Reservations for backpacking permits are accepted
starting March 1; to apply call the ranger station or visit their website. Permits
go fast, so apply early.
HORSEBACK RIDING
If you'd like to go horseback riding, contact
Eagle
Creek Ranch
(
&
800/221-7433
or 509/548-7798; www.eaglecreek.ws), which
offers everything from 1
1
⁄
2
-hour-long rides ($26) to day trips ($100) and wagon
