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Weekend in Leavenworth

Spending the weekend in Leavenworth reminded me of our honeymoon in Switzerland! It’s such a cute town with beautiful scenery and amazing food!! I could spend one weekend in Leavenworth every year, just to “get away” from it all. Leavenworth is the perfect destination for couples, families, or friends.

Getting There

The easiest way to get to Leavenworth is to fly into Seattle, rent a car, and drive. Leavenworth is about a 2.5 hour drive from the Seattle-Tacoma International Airport. You can drive straight to Leavenworth, but there are a few highlights I recommend checking out if you have the time.

Along the way to Leavenworth, I highly recommend making a quick stop at Snoqualmie Falls. It’ll take you about 30 minutes and I promise you won’t regret it! If you’re short on time, I recommend just viewing the falls from the upper observation deck. I just loved this view!! If you have extra time, then you could either hike down to the lower observation deck or drive to the lower falls parking lot and hike from there (saves time and energy). After Snoqualmie Falls be sure to check out Snoqualmie Brewery or Huxdotter Coffee (depending on the time of day your passing through).

Another stop to consider along the route to Leavenworth is Twin Falls Trail. It’s just off the highway and can easily be hiked in less than two hours. We stopped for photos, snacks, etc. and still finished the hike in 2 hours. There are so many waterfalls in Washington but Twin Falls are some of my favorite. We hiked all the way up the trail, but honestly the best views are from the Lower Twin Falls Viewpoint (large set of stairs you’ll see on the right side of the trail about 1.2 miles in).

Things To Do in Leavenworth

Once you’ve finally arrived in Leavenworth, spend some time walking around the pedestrian mall on Front Street and enjoy the wonderful culture of this small town. There are so many great shops and restaurants in the area, it’s such a great atmosphere!

The hiking in the Leavenworth area is amazing! There are sssoo many great opportunities but the one trail you absolutely must hike is Colchuck Lake via Stuart Lake Trail (All Trails Info Here). It’s about a 9 mile hike round trip and I would definitely consider it a “difficult trail”. It took us about 7 hours total but the views are 100% worth it!! Here are a few tips for hiking Colchuck Lake:

• Buy a pass before you head out on your adventure, it’ll save you time and stress. Visit the USDA Forest website for more info on annual and day passes.
• The parking lot can fill up, so arrive at the Stuart Lake Trailhead early.
• The trail is covered in snow a majority of the year, so plan your hike sometime between June and September. We hiked to Colchuck Lake mid-June and there was still snow on the ground.
• There are a few low water crossings that may require waterproof hiking shoes.
• The trail can be really muddy at times because of all of the snow melting. Bring good hiking shoes! Trekking poles are also super helpful for this hike!
• Layer up! I’d say about half of the people hiking this trail did not seem prepared for the cold weather. I normally take my layers off as the day warms up but I didn’t for this hike. I kept my layers on almost the entire time.
• Pack a picnic and enjoy a nice lunch along the banks of Colchuck Lake.

One of the things I recommend doing in Leavenworth is white water rafting the Wenatchee River! White water rafting is always such a fun adventure! The best time of the year to whitewater raft in Leavenworth is typically April through July. There are several local outfitters to consider for your white water adventure:

• River Riders
• Wenatchee River Rafting
• Blue Sky Outfitters
• Osprey Rafting
• Triad River Tours
• River Recreation
• Alpine Adventures

I recommend checking each outfitter for trip duration and scheduling options. Some outfitters only offer trips on certain days, so check all of your options and determine what works best for you and your group.

If you’re not in the mood for high adventure, then I recommend touring some of the local wineries and breweries in Leavenworth. There are several wineries and breweries in the pedestrian mall on Front Street, see the map below for more details:

To open this map in your google maps app, click on the star by “Leavenworth Guide”. Once you’ve clicked on the star, you’ll open your google maps app, click on “Saved”, then click on the “Maps” tab, and you should see the “Leavenworth Guide” map. Now you’ll be able to see your exact location compared to the map below (it’ll be easier to find the attractions/destinations this way).

Where to Eat

There are so many great restaurant options in Leavenworth!! You absolutely must get some German food while you’re in the area!! Enjoy a good schnitzel or brat after a long day of hiking!! Munchen Haus is a must try in my opinion, but here’s a map with a few other good restaurants as well (Andreas Keller, The Loft Bar & Grill, Baren Haus, Colchucks, Rudloofs Pizza Und Brats).

Where to Stay

I recommend staying close to the pedestrian mall on Front Street. There are several cute AirBnB’s in the area and a wide selection of hotels. We stayed in this cute little AirBnB just off Front Street. It was perfect for us, not as pricey as some of the other accommodations and the location was perfect!! We walked to dinner every night and truly enjoyed Leavenworth thanks to our AirBnB’s location. Location is key when picking your accommodations for Leavenworth, spend the extra $20 a night and stay close to the pedestrian mall!!

I hope you enjoy your stay in Leavenworth!! Hopefully you fall in love with this small town just as much as we did!! If you’re looking for another Washington adventure, I recommend checking out North Cascades National Park.