Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
rides ($15 adults, $7.50 children); or
Icicle Outfitters & Guides
(
&
800/497-
3912
or 509/669-1518; www.icicleoutfitters.com), which offers a similar vari-
ety of rides and has stables both at Lake Wenatchee State Park and in Leaven-
worth on Icicle Road near the fish hatchery. A 1
1
⁄
2
-hour ride will cost you $37.
MOUNTAIN BIKING
From easy rides on meandering dirt roads to grueling
climbs to mountaintops with spectacular views, the Leavenworth area has some
of the best mountain-biking routes in the state. Mountain bikes can be rented
at
Der Sportsmann,
837 Front St. (
&
509/548-5623
), and
Das Rad Haus,
1207 Front St. (
&
509/548-5615;
www.dasradhaus.com). This latter shop is
only open April through October. Expect to pay $25 to $40 per day for a moun-
tain bike. Ask at either of these shops for ride recommendations. You can also
get a guide to area mountain biking from the Leavenworth Visitor Center.
ROCK CLIMBING
Two miles west of Cashmere on U.S. 2, you'll find
Peshastin Pinnacles State Park,
Washington's only state park created exclu-
sively for rock climbing. The
Snow Creek Wall,
which is located about a mile
up the trail to the Enchantment Lakes area, is another great climbing spot. The
trail head is located about 4 miles up Icicle Creek Road. Over on the west side
of Stevens Pass, the
Index Town Walls
outside the tiny community of Index are
the area's other great climbing site. For climbing gear and advice, stop by
Leav-
enworth Mountain Sports,
940 Wash. 2 (
&
509/548-7874
).
WHITE-WATER RAFTING
The Wenatchee River flows right through
Leavenworth and just downstream from town becomes one of the best white-
water rafting rivers in the state. Rafting season runs from April to July. If you're
interested, contact
Osprey Rafting Co.
(
&
800/743-6269
or 509/548-6800;
www.shoottherapids.com), or
River Riders
(
&
800/448-RAFT
or 206/448-
RAFT; www.riverrider.com). A half-day trip on the Wenatchee costs about $50
per person, and a full day $65 to $70.
WINTER SPORTS
Some of the best downhill skiing and snowboarding
in the state is available 40 miles west of Leavenworth at
Stevens Pass
(
&
206/812-4510
for general information, or 206/634-1645 for snow condi-
tions; www.stevenspass.com). Adult all-day lift tickets are $44 and night skiing
is $28. There are plenty of intermediate and advanced runs here, but not much
in the way of beginner runs. Looking for steep, deep, untracked snow? Head out
for some snowcat skiing with
Leavenworth Snowcat Skiing
(
&
866/500-
1514;
www.leavenworthsnowcat.com), which charges $210 to $225 for a day of
skiing that might include 3-mile-long runs and up to 20,000 vertical feet of ski-
ing each day.
Head down the valley from Leavenworth and then up into the hills outside
Wenatchee, and you'll find
Mission Ridge
ski area (
&
509/663-3200
for
snow reports, or 509/663-6543; www.missionridge.com), which is known for its
powder snow (a rarity in the Cascades) and its sunny weather. Lift ticket prices
for adults are $37.
Cross-country skiers can find plenty of groomed trails in the area.
Stevens
Pass Nordic Center
(
&
360/812-4510;
www.stevenspass.com/crosscountry)
has mostly intermediate and expert level trails. These trails are open Friday
through Sunday and on holidays, and a trail pass costs $14 for adults. The
Leav-
enworth Winter Sports Club
(
&
509/548-5477;
www.skileavenworth.com)
maintains 15 miles of groomed trails (including 3 miles of lighted trails for night
skiing) at several locations around Leavenworth. A trail pass runs $10 per day.
