Where to hike in Leavenworth, WA

Some places are made for hiking. The Bavarian town of Leavenworth is one of them. Strategically located amidst stunning alpine mountains and lakes, this amazing place is simply the best for day hikes.

So take out your hiking shoes and backpack, prepare trail food and water, and go hiking in Leavenworth. Here are some of the best places to go.

The Enchantments

This favorite year-round hiking destination is for the brave and the persistent. It runs for 18 miles one-way across crystal-clear lakes, glacier-covered granite cliffs and many jaw-dropping views. Its highest point stands at 7,800 feet, and with at least 4,500 feet of elevation gain, be prepared to take several breaks while navigating this alpine paradise.

Icicle Gorge Nature Loop

This well-known, easily accessed trail runs through stunning Icicle Creek Valley. Nice and relatively flat, this nature trail with a 4.2 mile-loop runs across many wooden bridges and winds through Boggy, Jack and Tout Creeks. Rock Creek Campground’s picnic benches and restrooms lie halfway through the trail. Find more information here.

Blackbird Island

Located in Waterfront Park near Leavenworth, Blackbird Island offers a short 2.0-mile roundtrip hike along Wenatchee River. It can take you under an hour to finish, and in that short time, you will have plenty of bird-watching opportunities. The trail is open year-round; skiing becomes the best way to explore the area in the winter. Blackbird Island is pet-friendly.

Eightmile Lake

This trail goes deep into the Alpine Lakes Wilderness Area, which spans over 390,000 acres of pristine land. Traversing the entire loop covers a distance of 6.6 miles, and on the way, you’ll gain up to 1,300 feet in elevation. No worries, though— although it requires a steep uphill climb, the rest of the way is relatively mild. You’ll go through a few small creeks, meadows, evergreen stands, and a burnt forest packed with wildflowers. A three-mile hike then takes you to Little Eightmile Lake, a boulder field, and Eightmile Creek.

Mt. McCausland

The journey to Mt. Causland starts at Smithbrook trail, which is marked by a tall fireweed and a switchback climb uphill. Moderate switchbacks make the uphill climb easy. Hikers also get a good view of Glacier Peak. Hikers who make it at the top of the hill are rewarded with fantastic views of the valley and rocky walls. Lake Valhalla appears at the end of the climb.

Fourth of July Creek

This challenging trail which overlooks mountains around it blooms with colorful wildflowers in spring. Hikers who successfully negotiate the steep climb are rewarded with an explosion of lupine, penstemon, paintbrush, and glacier lilies all around them.

Lake Valhalla

This well-maintained hiking trail along Pacific Crest Trail (PCT) has a gentle grade. It starts with a gentle descent and goes through a dense forest, then takes hikers down to the lakeshore, where they can pause for lunch near the sandy beach and the calm alpine lake. Thru-hikers traveling from the Mexican to the Canadian border pass through the trail in August and September.

Living in Leavenworth puts you closer to these trails

Coldwell Banker Cascade Real Estate can help you find your ideal home in this part of the Cascades. Call today 509.888.8887 or send an email to start.