For a day filled with exciting outdoor adventures, from hiking to horseback riding, whitewater rafting to zooming down a track on a mountain coaster, you won’t find a more thrilling and appealing destination than Leavenworth, a tourist town tucked into a pocket in the Cascade Mountains, just over two hours from the lake house.

The journey to this mountain village is stunning. Highway 2 follows the course of the Skykomish River as it threads among cottonwoods before winding up into the mountains. Just past the town of Skykomish, you absolutely have to stop at Deception Falls National Recreation Area. The short loop trail here is like something out of a fairy tale. It meanders through a moss-cloaked fir forest with log footbridges, idyllic woodland pools and a river that slams into a rock wall before jutting off sideways. Plus, there’s a lovely waterfall.

Back in the car, you’ll climb up and over 4,062-foot Stevens Pass and shoot through a narrow gorge before popping out into a town that will make you think you’ve gone through a portal and emerged in Bavaria.

BAVARIAN FLAIR AND FUN

In the ‘60s, following decades of stagnation, Leavenworth’s community leaders looked for ways to save the town. Settling on the theme of “Bavaria,” Project Alpine was born, and the entire town went along with the plan, designing buildings with carved wooden beams, flower-bedecked balconies and murals of lederhosen-clad Alpine horn blowers. Even McDonald’s embraced the Bavarian theme, blending seamlessly with the town’s aesthetic.

Lots of people visit Leavenworth for the shopping. The town brims with boutiques offering everything from Bavarian trinkets such as beer steins and nutcrackers to high-quality outdoor clothing, imported French linens, jewelry, toys, books, sweets and much more.

Even more visitors come for the festivals. Leavenworth has festivals throughout the year that attract visitors by the tens of thousands. Its biggest festival, naturally, is Oktoberfest, when the entire town seems to turn into a massive beer hall, complete with oompah bands playing in the gazebo and waitresses in dirndls dispensing bratwurst and brews. The holiday season brings Christmastown—a festive wintertime spectacle with the entire town decked out in millions of colored lights, and music and merriment of all sorts. Spring brings Maifest…and the list goes on.

SADDLE UP FOR SCENIC ADVENTURES

Some might choose to spend all their time shopping, eating, drinking and exploring Leavenworth, which is totally valid. But the beauty of Leavenworth is that there is something here for everyone to enjoy, including those who are more outdoors-minded.

If your group includes a little person (or a big person!) who is into horses, Leavenworth is a dream destination. On a winter sleigh ride at Mountain Springs Lodge, the ringing of sleigh bells on the harnesses of Belgian draft horses pierced the crisp air as they leaned into the task, blowing puffs of steam. We glided through snowy meadows where frosted trees leaned over the ice-edged waters of Beaver Creek before warming ourselves from the inside out, with hot spiced cider by a river-rock fireplace. Sleigh rides can also be had at Eagle Creek Ranch, 8 miles from Leavenworth, which offers trail rides in the Wenatchee National Forest from spring through fall. We’ve heard great things from our guests who have saddled up here!

ALPINE THRILLS AND CHILLS

If you’re into whitewater rafting, you will be absolutely thrilled (and chilled) to ride the bucking Wenatchee River, which courses through town. It’s one of the most fun rivers I’ve rafted. I highly recommend Osprey Rafting Company, one of the oldest and most venerated operators, which focuses on safety.

On a ride down the Wenatchee, we shoved our raft off the rocks before rocketing down the narrow canyon, bouncing over breath-stealing rapids as we plunged our paddles into the foam—and sometimes thin air. Giant boulders created holes and back waves that we dug in hard to maneuver around. More bronco-busting rapids awaited around every bend. When we emerged from the gauntlet, our raft settled into quieter waters for a scenic float through groves of quivering aspens, while the sun warmed us up.

If you enjoy thrills—and aren’t afraid of heights—you’ll love Leavenworth Adventure Park’s alpine roller coaster. Just a short walk from downtown, this exciting attraction has drawn its share of fans. Starting on a clifftop, it goes up to 27 miles per hour along a 2,700-foot track that drops 234 feet as it navigates circles, drops and curves. The beauty of this contraption is that individual riders can control their German-engineered sled by using brakes to slow down and enjoy the views of the Wenatchee River rapids as they churn through Tumwater Canyon.

CANYON HIKING

Icicle Creek dashes through a canyon 15 minutes from downtown. Here you’ll find one of the most beautiful (and easy) hikes in the Cascades. The (4.2-mi. RT) Icicle Gorge Nature Loop winds through a fragrant pine forest before crossing the creek on a picturesque footbridge. You then traverse the opposite bank before crossing a log footbridge to return to where you started. (The access road is rough; take your time and drive carefully.) Make it a picnic! On your way there, stop in at O’Grady’s Pantry, just before it becomes a dirt road, for homestyle sandwiches with everything made in-house.

TOPPING IT OFF

Whatever you’ve spent the afternoon doing, be sure to drop by Whistlepunk Ice Cream for some of the most delicious hand-crafted ice cream you’ll find anywhere. I’m partial to their blackberry fool, with Northwest blackberries folded into vanilla bean ice cream and plopped into a still-warm house-made sugar cone. You will find yourself in a long line. But the line moves fairly quickly, and it’s worth it.

To really relax and bliss out, check out Leavenworth’s newest offering, hydrotherapy. The Springs just opened in late 2024, with hot pools, a cedar sauna, a cold plunge and fireside hangout spots.

When it’s time to call it a day, make it a loop drive—the timing is exactly the same! On the eastern outskirts of town, turn south onto Highway 97 and drive up and over Blewett Pass until the road meets up with Interstate-90 in a broad farming valley. From there, the drive over Snoqualmie Pass offers one last scenic stretch before descending back to Lake Sammamish, a perfect end to a day of adventure.