Outdoors at your fingertips is one way to describe the Wenatchee area. Just ask Andy Dappen, content editor of www.wenatcheeoutdoors.org and former Seattle resident.
Wenatchee’s Apple Blossom Festival and an extensive collection of large Clovis points at the Wenatchee Valley Museum attract visitors, but for more physical action, the valley, rivers and nearby mountains and national forests are the magnets.
Sunny weather, central location and a variety of recreation opportunities drew Dappen.
“I can get to stuff right from the outskirts of town without getting into a car. If I’ve got a little nook of time, I can get a little adrenalin fix.”
Nearly nirvana for a man who climbs, skis, paddles and pedals.
“If you want to go rock climbing, you have to drive a little bit for it (but) some of the best climbing in the state is here. I can mountain bike from town, without getting in the car, and be in our foothills with first-class (rides),” he said.
Recreationally, some things have changed during the past decade, including the trail system just west of town.
“The foothills network of trails is the most visible change and the most delightful. A network has evolved so there are more trails although it’s still not a super- formalized trail system,” Dappen said.
“But it’s a lot more formalized than it was. There are designated trail heads now and more rules of the road in terms of using the trails (because) of different agencies and private involvement.”
Much of Dappen’s outdoors knowledge has been entered into www.wenatcheeoutdoors.org, the best resource for the area’s recreation because of its scope and the ability to update at any time.
At the site, use the “Guidebook” or “Index of Guidebooks” tabs to reach the details of each route, along with topographic maps.
Dappen made several recommendations for visitors but see the Web site for details.
Whitewater paddling: The Peshastin to Cashmere stretch of the Wenatchee River is the most popular run for thrills. It’s a wild Class III ride, but not as dangerous as more serious stretches such as Tumwater Canyon and the upper Icicle River. For tamer rides, Cashmere to Wenatchee (Class II) is suited to advanced-beginner kayakers.
Road biking: Ride through Wenatchee Valley’s beautiful orchards in late spring. Options include the Wenatchee-Monitor Long Loop, Wenatchee Heights Short or Long Loop (steeper), Badger Mountain Training Ride (great views, fast descent), Columbia Colockum for desert scenery, and the 10-mile-plus Apple Capital Loop Trail with several access points, including one in downtown Wenatchee.
Hiking: Flowers are still blooming in the hills. Choices include Sage Hills Horse Lake via Lone Fir Spur or the complete system of Sage Hills. Trails up Twin Peaks lead to wildflowers peaking in May. Nearer Leavenworth, the local favorite mountain in the spring is Sauer Mountain, which is a great wildflower walk.
Mountain biking: Again, the complete Sage Hills trail system, and the trails of Twin Peaks, Saddle Rock in Wenatchee and Freund Canyon out of Leavenworth.
Flatwater paddling: The Columbia River is the nearby place to paddle. Outings include the short paddle at the Wenatchee Confluence (Wenatchee and Columbia rivers), which is “amazingly wild given your location right by town,” Dappen said.
Other options: Columbia River Turtle Rock and Columbia River Pictograph paddles are fun routes with nice scenery. Columbia River’s Rock Island to Vantage is a two- to three-day trip and goes along a wilder part of the river.
If you go: Wenatchee Valley Visitors Bureau (800-572-7753, www.wenatcheevalley.org). Click the “brochures” icon for the pdf files about trips and trails.
Sharon Wootton may be reached at songandword@rockisland.com.
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