The 12 Best Things To Do in Leavenworth, Washington

One of my favorite towns in Washington is Leavenworth. Just 2.5 hours outside of Seattle, it’s a perfect place to get away. With so many things to do in Leavenworth, you can spend a long weekend or even a week in this beautiful mountainous town and still feel the urge to return again and again.

Since the 1960s, this town has had a Bavarian theme, transforming the small downtown area in the Pacific Northwest into a slice of authentic Bavaria. And it’s incredibly accurate and realistic.

It’s also an incredibly family-friendly place. Yes, there are a lot of beer and wine spots, but there’s also plenty of hiking, places to walk around and let kids run, parks, and other areas for visitors of all ages.

So, no matter if this is your first time visiting or your fifth, you’ll have an amazing time exploring the Leavenworth area.

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Best Things to Do in Leavenworth, Washington

1. Go Hiking in the Cascades

As a big-time hiker, this region of the Washington Cascades is one of the most stunning areas our state offers. The Enchantments get the fame and glory – rightfully so – but there are plenty of other hikes in the region that offer beautiful views and plenty of miles to tackle.

Enchantments

I’ve done the full Enchantments backpacking trip twice, with two additional trips up to Colchuck Lake. It 100% lives up to the hype! It’s insanely popular, so going on a weekday is advised, or starting your hike at sunrise or in the late afternoon.

There’s a reason it’s at the very top of the things to do in Leavenworth: it’s that spectacular.

Icicle Ridge

Looking to avoid the craziness of the Enchantments but still want a challenging hike? Head up the Icicle Ridge Trail. In spring, you’ll have superb wildflowers and views of snowcapped peaks.

Icicle Gorge

Just 20 minutes up the road from Leavenworth is the Icicle Gorge Loop Trail. It’s predominately flat and allows you to walk along Icicle Creek. In the springtime, this is roaring with snowmelt.

It’s a beautiful hike that I did with my parents a couple of years back. At only four miles, it should take you 2-4 hours, depending on how fast you hike.

This is one of the better family-friendly hikes in the area and a must for things to do in Leavenworth.

Castle Rock

Castle Rock Trailhead is a shorter hike off Highway 2 just before you reach the Leavenworth city limits. It’s a steep trail that gets you above the highway with nice views of the Wenatchee River.

While there’s a pull-off area at the trailhead, parking is limited.

Blewett Pass Region

Half an hour from Leavenworth is Blewett Pass. This region is far less popular than Leavenworth, allowing you a little more solitude as you weave your way through the deciduous conifers and Douglas Firs.

I’ve only done snowshoeing in this area on the Wenatchee Crest Trail, and it was nice. But the true beauty comes in falls when the larches turn a golden yellow and blanket the landscapes with their vibrant needles.

This is a winding road with little cell service, so make sure to drive with caution and download your maps and hikes before you set off.

2. Explore Lake Wenatchee State Park

gorgeous sunset at lake wenatchee state park — Photo Credit: Alec Sills-Trausch

This is one of the best state parks in Washington. The views are friggin beautiful in the summer and winter. In summer, brave souls swim in the chilly lakes, while others enjoy camping, picnic dinners, and kayaking/SUPing.

For winter, snowshoeing and cross-country skiing reign supreme, with a number of trails to enjoy. Most individuals go to the South side (which is where the bathrooms and convenience store are), but the North side is worth the trip, too.

3. Drink German Beer

If you like beer, you’ll LOVE Leavenworth. With breweries overflowing with German beer, it’s one of my favorite places to visit as I love me a Hefeweizen! No matter what you enjoy, there is a beer for you and your friends waiting at any of the spots in the downtown area.

Check out these spots:

Icicle Brewing Company
Munchen Haus
Stein
Doghaus Brewery
Blewett Brewing
Leavenworth Sausage Garten
Bushel and Bee Taproom
Leavenworth Cider House

4. Go Wine Tasting

If you thought there were a lot of breweries, hold onto your seats for the wine-tasting spots! Many may not realize that Washington is a major player in the wine industry. But they are. The eastern side of the state is famous for wine, with most of it coming from the Walla Walla, Yakima, and Wenatchee regions.

There are nearly a dozen wine-tasting locations in the Leavenworth area. While I haven’t tasted them all, the ones I have tried have been fantastic.

Chateau Faire Le Pont Winery
Water from Wine
Milbrandt Vineyards
Winegirl Wines
Icicle Ridge Winery
Boudreaux Cellars
Hard Row to Hoe
Patterson Cellars
Bergdorf Cellars
Goose Ridge Estate
Rocky Pond Estate

Book wine tours in Leavenworth

5. Play Golf

Once the snow melts, it’s time to bring out the golf clubs. There are at least golf courses close by – with even more in the surrounding area. The Leavenworth Golf Club is in town, while the Kahler Mountain Club is 30 minutes north. I haven’t played either, though they look to be fantastic courses.

Another, the Mt. Cashmere Golf Course, is 15 minutes to the east. If you’re okay driving some, you’ll find a handful of other courses near Wenatchee and the Columbia River that have some striking views.

I know Washington isn’t exactly known for golf courses, but once you get away from the mountains, the state has some gorgeous golfing available.

6. Spend a weekend camping

Among the things to do in Leavenworth are an abundance of camping options. Along Icicle Road, you’ll find plenty of campgrounds to choose from. Some of them have reservations, but most are first come, first serve. If you arrive on a Thursday, you’re golden. If you arrive past 3pm on a Friday, you’re cutting it close.

There are also campgrounds at Lake Wenatchee State Park and in the national forest, which gives you far more privacy than in large campgrounds.

7. Leavenworth Adventure Park

A newer addition to the Leavenworth area. The Adventure Park consists of an Alpine Coaster (the main attraction), a climbing wall, and a mining sluice.

We considered this, but with prices at $36 per person for two rides, it didn’t seem worth it. But if you do want to check it out, reservations are recommended.

8. Leavenworth Reindeer Farm

Of all the things to do in Leavenworth, this is likely the most family-friendly. It’s an opportunity to spend time with Reindeer on a local farm just a mile north of the city center. Tickets are $35 for adults and $20 for kids.

According to their calendar, they are not open Tuesday through Thursday.

9. Go Ziplining

You’ll have to drive a bit out of town to do this fun activity, but if you’re into ziplining, it’ll be worth it! It doesn’t look to be a one-and-done type of thing; instead, it is more of a ropes course experience.

There are two tours, five ropes ($99) and nine ropes ($139), which looks to be a pretty sweet time!

10. White Water Rafting

The Wenatchee River is a top river to white water raft thanks to the immense snow melt we get in the PNW. With rivers running high and tons of white water to go around, you’ll have an incredible time. Unfortunately, I’ve never done it here, but I have seen the river flowing mightily, and it looks to be an amazing time.

Take a look at these companies to book some trips:

11. Village of Lights, Christmas town

Once the snow starts falling, the magic hits Leavenworth. Visiting this area for the holidays and winter festivities is one of the best things to do in Leavenworth. Yes, it’s incredibly crowded and slightly chaotic on weekends, but it’s beautiful. (Pro tip: Visit in January when the lights are still up but the crowds are thin!)

There are thousands of lights, everyone’s chipper, and if it’s snowing, you honestly feel like you’re in a snow globe!

One thing to note is that Leavenworth can be FAR colder than on the other side of the pass. We had one trip where it was 19 degrees on this side and mid-thirties once we reached Stevens Pass. So, if you do visit during the winter, bring plenty of clothes, and keep an eye on weather and road conditions.

You ideally will have a vehicle with AWD/4×4 and/or carry chains.

12. Ski Mission Ridge in Wenatchee

a snowboarder heads down the mountain. — Photo Credit: Alec Sills-Trausch

Yes, this is a stretch, but if you’re staying in Leavenworth and want to hit the slopes, Mission Ridge, just outside of Wenatchee, is a great ski resort. It’s far less crowded than the big three near Seattle and offers pretty solid runs. Plus, it’s much drier snow than what Stevens, Snoqualmie, and Crystal Mountain receive.

We went for the first time in January 2025 and had a fantastic time with no lines and stunning views up top.

Things to do in Leavenworth: What to know about visiting

Is Leavenworth worth visiting?

Yes. Yes, it is. This is about as close to a no-brainer as you can get in the travel world. I absolutely love visiting Leavenworth (I think I’ve been 6-8 times) and can’t wait to get back!

How many days do I need?

When planning your trip to Leavenworth, you can do it in one day or spend a weekend here. I recommend spending at least one night so that you’re not doing the 2.5 – 3-hour drive home in the dark after a day of (likely) drinking.

This ensures you have a fun and safe trip with no incidents on the winding mountain roads back to Seattle.

Is Leavenworth walkable?

It most definitely is. Once you park near the downtown area, you can walk from brewery to brewery or wine tasting to wine tasting. You can also get down to the river to hang out or go to the Adventure Park just a bit down the road.

Leavenworth can be frigid and also sweltering

Leavenworth is in a unique location. Its proximity to the mountains and being so far north allows it to get snow and also see sub-freezing conditions for much of winter.

But because it is on the east side of the mountains, the cool air that keeps Seattle nice year-round doesn’t reach it, allowing it to heat up like an oven in the summer. If you visit during July and August, don’t be surprised that temperatures exceed 100F.

Highway 2 is a parking lot on Sunday afternoons

There are two routes to Leavenworth: Highway 2 over Steven’s Pass or Interstate 90 to Highway 93 to Highway 2. The first route is shorter, though you pass through smaller towns. The latter is longer but can be an easier drive.

On weekends, however, Highway 2 can turn into a parking lot thanks to a couple of stoplights in the small towns west of Skykomish. This area was not designed to accommodate the amount of people who now live in the Seattle metro area. And with how many people recreate in the area, it becomes too much for the infrastructure to handle

I strongly recommend people drive home via Blewett Pass if you’re looking to not be in bumper-to-bumper traffic.

How far is it from Seattle?

On a good day, you can anticipate it to take 2.5-3 hours to reach Leavenworth. If you leave mid-day, you’ll be on the faster end.

Those coming from Sea-Tac Airport will find it to be about 2.75 hours and you’ll want to take I-90.

When is the best time to visit Leavenworth?

In my mind, the best time to see Leavenworth is spring and early summer. You’ll have wildflowers blooming, rivers roaring, temperatures will be lovely, and you’ll have plenty of sunny skies.

It’s also when there will be slightly fewer people, giving you (hopefully) a slight reprieve from crowds and high prices.

Where to stay in and around Leavenworth

If you’re looking not to drive too far and stay directly in Leavenworth, take a look at these options:

However, if the prices are a bit steep, you have options such as Cashmere (20 minutes down the road) or Wenatchee (30 minutes away), which will have more affordable prices. See some places below:

That said, plenty of people come to Leavenworth to drink beer and wine. It’s far safer to simply leave your keys in the hotel room as you hang out in town instead of needing to drive home after a day in town.

Final Thoughts on the Best Things to Do in Leavenworth

As you can see in this article, there are so many amazing things to do in Leavenworth. You will love your time in this Bavarian mecca, from beautiful hiking to tasty beers and wines to thrilling activities.

You are in for a wonderful adventure to this mountain town, and I hope you leave with endless memories and a longing to come back again!

Until next time, adventurers, stay safe.

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12 Great Things To Do in Leavenworth, Washington