Visiting Leavenworth? Check out the best easy hikes in Leavenworth, Washington, and the surrounding area. These are all family-friendly and strikingly beautiful!
Leavenworth is a hub of outdoor activity in central Washington. It's more than just a Bavarian-style town; it has everything you could ever want, from skiing to hiking, rock climbing, and paddling.
While the town is perhaps best known for the nearby Enchantments region (where you can find hikes like Colchuck Lake and Little Annapurna), it is also home to a few really wonderful short, easy hikes that are family and dog friendly.
Want more hikes near Leavenworth? Check out Traverse the Pacific Northwest's 12 Best Trails and Hikes Near Leavenworth, WA, for harder and even more scenic treks.
List of the Best Easy Hikes Near Leavenworth
Blackbird Island Trail
Tumwater Pipeline Trail
Canyon Crest and Rat Creek Ridge
Lake Valhalla Trail
Peshastin Mill Trail
Chihuly Trail
Icicle Gorge Trail
Icicle Creek Trail
Leavenworth, Washington Sticker
8 Easy Hikes near Leavenworth, Washington
The very scenic Blackbird Island Trail is within Leavenworth, so it really couldn't be more convenient! It's very easy and very short.
Distance | Elevation Gain | Time Required | Difficulty |
|---|---|---|---|
2 miles | 50 feet | 1 hour | 1/10 |
It's well-suited for families and for those who want to explore Leavenworth a little bit more. Plus, you'll get some pretty fantastic views of the surrounding mountains (including Icicle Ridge!).
The trail starts just a couple of blocks from downtown Leavenworth and never strays far from the Leavenworth main street. So, if you're in a bit of a rush, you won't find yourself too far from your car. Along the trail, you'll also find a few different informational signs with facts about what's around you.
If you want to see a little more of the canyons around Leavenworth, check out the Tumwater Pipeline Trail. It starts just down Tumwater Canyon (on Highway 2) in the direction of Seattle.
Distance | Elevation Gain | Time Required | Difficulty |
|---|---|---|---|
2.4 miles | 100 feet | 1 hour | 1/10 |
The trail is kid and dog friendly. It's an out-and-back trail, meaning that you'll have to turn around at the end of the trail or whenever you want to. It's beautiful from start to finish! But, if you go far enough down the trail, you'll find views of Castle Rock on the other side of the river.
This less-commonly-visited trail is another easy hike near Leavenworth. It's about 40 mins from the city but is well worth the drive if you're willing to make it.
Distance | Elevation Gain | Time Required | Difficulty |
|---|---|---|---|
3.4 miles | 500 feet | 1.5 hours | 2/10 |
The trail is just over 3 miles long but only gains around 500 feet along its whole length. It's quite easy and won't present hikers with very many challenges. The trail starts on Mountain Home Road, which is very accessible from Leavenworth.
This is another great Leavenworth hike that does require a bit of driving away from the city. It's 45 minutes from Leavenworth, but the views are utterly gorgeous, so we highly recommend trying to make the time for it!
The Lake Valhalla Trail is also a popular snowshoeing destination if you're visiting during the winter season!
If you love Lake Valhalla and want to extend your hike, consider hiking up Mount McCausland. This is a much harder section of the trail that isn't going to be for everyone!
Peshastin Mill Trail
If you're staying in Peshastin or in Wenatchee, or if you just want to check out more of the area, we'd highly recommend driving into Peshastin to try out the Peshastin Mill Trail.
Distance | Elevation Gain | Time Required | Difficulty |
|---|---|---|---|
1.7 miles | 20 feet | 30 mins | 1/10 |
This family-friendly hike near Leavenworth is only 1.7 miles long. It gains almost no elevation (meaning it's completely flat), so kids of all ages should enjoy it.
Chihuly Trail
The Chihuly Trail near Leavenworth is another family-friendly option. It's not quite as easy as the other trails on this list because it does gain a bit of elevation right away. But it's only 0.6 miles long, so it might be worth it!
Distance | Elevation Gain | Time Required | Difficulty |
|---|---|---|---|
0.6 miles | 120 feet | 20 mins | 2/10 |
The trail should only take you about 20 minutes to finish, so it's pretty easy to fit into anyone's schedule. Keep your eyes open for seasonal road closures if you're thinking about going to this area. In the winter, roads around Leavenworth are shut down for the season due to snowfall.
Icicle Gorge Trail
The Icicle Gorge Trail near Leavenworth is a longer hike that gains almost 400 feet in elevation. This means that it may not be suited for young kids, but it is still quite easy.
Distance | Elevation Gain | Time Required | Difficulty |
|---|---|---|---|
4.5 miles | 400 feet | 2 hours | 3/10 |
The trail starts just outside of Leavenworth at the Icicle Gorge Trailhead. Keep in mind that, like other roads around Leavenworth, Icicle Road does close during the winter season.
Icicle Creek Trail
The Icicle Creek Trial is another good option if you want to hike for a long time but aren't a huge fan of walking uphill. It's pretty easy, despite being almost 10 miles long.
Distance | Elevation Gain | Time Required | Difficulty |
|---|---|---|---|
9.6 miles | 1,000 feet | 4 hours | 3/10 |
Most people don't do the trail in its entirety, choosing instead to turn around after 2 miles or so and walk back the way they came.
The trailhead is about 40 minutes from Leavenworth down Icicle Road and along Icicle Creek.