A Snowy, Adventure-Filled Winter Weekend in Wenatchee
If you’re tired of Seattle’s rainy, gloomy weather, winter in Wenatchee is a perfect escape. While temperatures may be colder, it’s drier, sunnier, and overall less chaotic than the big city life. To me, that’s an idyllic winter destination.
With lots to do in the Wenatchee area, like snowshoeing, snowboarding/skiing, and hitting the town, plus plenty to do on the way to and from, heading east over the mountain passes should be an annual ritual for those seeking snowy adventures in Washington.
Hopefully, you’ll see, just like I did, that Wenatchee in winter is a hidden gem, with so much to offer that you’ll be planning a trip back before you even head home!
Easy Booking: Expedia.com | Hotels.com | VRBO
Need Gear: Find it on REI.com
Find Awesome Tours: Viator.com or GetYourGuide.com
What we did on our trip to Wenatchee in Winter
Here are the things we did in Wenatchee.
Hit the slopes at Mission Ridge Ski and Board Resort
The main highlight of the trip was hitting the slopes at Mission Ridge. And just 30 minutes from downtown Wenatchee, it’s incredibly accessible and easy to navigate. Any time you can go from loading up your car to actively shredding down the slopes in under an hour is amazing!
With a base elevation of 4,600 feet, it’s the highest in Washington (higher than even Stevens Pass or Crystal). (Their summits are not the tallest, though.) They have four lifts, though only one that is more than a two-seater, so it’s somewhat a throwback to the olden days of skiing/snowboarding.
But the biggest win of the day was the lack of lines. We waited for the first lift for maybe three minutes, and after that, nothing. I was almost literally snowboarding to the front of the line before unstrapping.
As for difficulty, there are a lot of blues and blacks and then a handful of greens. We stuck to the blues and had a wonderful time. We spent most of the time doing laps from Midway to the Summit (which also offered superb views).
Wenatchee in Winter: Quick details on Mission Ridge
- Night Skiing Available
- Park and Shuttle Options Available ($119 for weekend)
- Midweek $89, Weekend $139
- Drier snow
- No lines
- Food/Drink available at Base and Midway
Total Stats: 12+ miles, 12,000+ feet of descent, 10 runs
Related: Roadtrip to Leavenworth and Lake Chelan
Snowshoe or Sled at Squilchuck State Park
Another fun activity to do during winter in Wenatchee is snowshoeing around Squilchuck State Park. On the same road, about halfway up to Mission Ridge, is the state park. The road up was snowcovered but groomed, and most vehicles shouldn’t have an issue getting to the main parking lot.
As for the snowshoeing, this was slightly more confusing. I looked a bit for snowshoeing details, and there’s not a lot online for what trails you should take. And there’s nothing on site telling you what to do. On AllTrails, there’s one four-mile loop trail that we wanted to do.
As you head away from the parking lot and towards the campground (closed in winter), you’ll find a defined snowshoeing path. It goes around the campground counterclockwise. At the back of the campground, we came to a junction. The trail to the right was more clearly marked, so we took it. It traversed up to a ridge above, offering some really pretty views.
I believe if we had continued left, it would have connected us to the loop trail we considered earlier on, but it hadn’t been walked on as much, and we weren’t entirely sure where it would go.
Overall, we did a little over two miles with 600 feet of gain, which was perfect for a quick winter outing near Wenatchee.
Sledding
If you’ve got younger kids, this area was teaming with people sledding. Simply park and walk into the open field and up the small hill. Then, BOOM! You’re golden.
Enjoy the Breweries and Wineries
For a city of 35,000, Wenatchee has a very nice drink scene.
For the hops people, there are seven breweries or taprooms to check out. We loved Pinnacle Beerworks and tried almost every beer/cider they made between us. (Don’t worry, we were using their small pours!)
Driving around, Jaimie’s keen eye spotted multiple tasting rooms for the wino’s. A quick look on Google Maps shows about eight tasting rooms in the downtown area. The Greater Wenatchee area is known for excellent wineries and is a great place to spend a weekend if you enjoy trying new wine.
Good Food
Regular readers will know I’m not a big foodie and don’t dedicate too much time to eating. But the food that we ate in Wenatchee was quite delicious. We did dinner at McGinnis Public House and got steaks – me the Ribeye and Jaimie the Flat Iron. We also split a glass of wine.
The total cost, including the tip, was $85, which, coming from Seattle, is quite reasonable considering our selections.
Spend an Evening Playing Games
After dinner, we went to Epoch Gaming without knowing what to expect. We ended up having a fantastic time. The place is full of board and video games, offering something for everyone.
Jaimie and I tried a few games before settling on Connect Four. It was a bad decision because she ended up crushing me far more than I ever expected!
Expected Weather During Winter in Wenatchee
Wenatchee, Washington, experiences a classic Pacific Northwest winter with cold temperatures and a dusting of snow that transforms the city into a winter wonderland.
From December through February, the average daily highs hover in the mid-30s, while nighttime lows dip into the 20s. January is often the chilliest month, with temperatures regularly falling below freezing, creating the perfect conditions for frosty mornings and snow-covered landscapes.
December is a standout month for snowfall, with an average of 9.3 inches blanketing the area. This makes it ideal for outdoor winter enthusiasts. Snow often dusts the nearby hills and orchards, adding a picturesque touch to Wenatchee’s already stunning scenery.
The city’s proximity to the Cascade Mountains means snowfall can be more pronounced in higher elevations, providing ample snowshoeing, skiing, and winter hiking opportunities. Despite the chill, Wenatchee’s winters are less harsh than those in other parts of Washington state due to its location in the Columbia River Valley.
Winter Hiking Gear I Recommend
I took a while to dive into these items and did my best to find high-quality gear that will keep you warm as you tackle your winter hikes. Ladies, I’m sorry if I missed the mark for some of these.
- Warm Puffy Jacket: Men’s & Women’s – Budget Option: Men’s – Women’s
- Hiking Pants: Men’s & Women’s
- Warm Leggings: Men’s & Women’s
- Wool Socks: Men’s & Women’s
- Beanie: Men’s & Women’s
- Gloves: Take a look
- Fleece: Men’s & Women’s
- Warm Baselayer: Men’s & Women’s
- Outer Shell: Men’s & Women’s – Budget Option: Men’s & Women’s
- Rain Pants: Men’s & Women’s
- Hiking Poles with Snow Baskets
- Waterproof Boots: Men’s & Women’s
- Winter Boots: Men’s & Women’s – Browse all options
- Sattelite Communications Device
- Warm Thermos
- Jet Boil to heat water – Coffee
- Emergency Blanket, Rumpl & Fleece Blanket
- Glacier/Snow Glasses
- Sunblock
Plan your trip to Wenatchee in Winter with this Itinerary
Arrival on Day 1
- Drive in from Seattle or elsewhere. Budget three hours.
- Explore downtown and check out a brewery (Pinnacles Beerworks) or restaurant near your hotel.
Hit the Slopes on Day 2
- Early morning, gearing up for a day on the slopes
- Grab breakfast and make the 30-minute drive to Mission Ridge
- Jump in the hot tub after a day on the slopes
- Head out downtown to a brewery or winery
- Dinner at McGinnis Public House
Snowshoe or Explore Town on Day 3
- Check out the Public Market, where you’ll have various breakfast/lunch options. Also, there are lots of artwork to browse.
- Go snowshoeing at Squilchuck State Park, walk the Apple Capital Recreational Loop along the river, or check out Confluence State Park.
- Grab a late lunch/early dinner before driving home at La Fuente
Lodging Options in Wenatchee
There are plenty of hotel options in wintry Wenatchee. And they are far more economical than nearby Leavenworth, which garners much attention in the beautiful valley east of the cascades.
That said, if you are planning to ski/snowboard, I recommend the Coast Wenatchee Hotel. They have two hot tubs (one inside, one outside), a grab-and-go breakfast/coffee, and are only 25 minutes from Mission Ridge Resort.
This was my first time there, but I met a guy in the elevator who said it was his fourth time staying there—mainly because of the hot tub.
How to get to Wenatchee in Winter
I have a Toyota 4Runner, so we weren’t too concerned about the mountain passes coming from Seattle. That said, no matter your vehicle, you must take the mountain passes seriously, as winter weather can cause havoc.
We didn’t encounter any storms for our drive, though the road was snowy at 4,000 feet, so it was generally a low-key drive. We chose to take Highway 2 (Steven’s Pass) on our drive to Wenatchee. I think only going over one pass at night was a bit easier than doing Snoqualmie and then Blewett Pass.
On our way home, we took Highway 97 (Blewett Pass) to Interstate 90 (Snoqualmie Pass), a faster, less scenic drive. Blewett Pass has no cell service and is a narrow and winding road for the entire mountain section.
If you’re going to Seattle proper, taking Highway 2 is about 3 hours and 10 minutes (unless you are coming back on a Sunday night like we were, you’ll encounter backups). Taking I-90 is about 2 hours, 45 minutes).
However you plan your trip to and from Wenatchee in winter, do it safely and have a great time!
Distances from other parts of Washington
- Distance from Leavenworth: 30 minutes
- Distance from Lake Chelan: 50 minutes
- Distance from Spokane: 2 hours 45 minutes
- Distance from Port Angeles: 5 hours
- Distance from Walla Walla: 3 hours
Final Thoughts on Exploring Wenatchee in Winter
Heading out to Wenatchee in winter was a gem, and we’re so glad we had the opportunity to explore this area. From tasty food and drinks to superb snow activities, I have only good things to say about the area.
Plus, on a clear day, the snowy mountains make for a stunning sight!
So, if you’re looking for a great weekend excursion from wet and gloomy Seattle, head over the mountains, and you’re in for a real treat.
Until next time, adventurers, stay safe.
Follow on social media: TikTok || Instagram || Facebook || Newsletter | YouTube
