20 Things to do in Wenatchee

Wenatchee is in Chelan County in central Washington, around 2 hours 30 minutes from Seattle. There’s so much to do in Wenatchee it’s a great place for a stopover on your way to other destinations or to visit outright. From skiing to rock climbing and cider drinking there’s something for everyone in Wenatchee. There are plenty of year-round activities as well as seasonal specialities and summer sun. Check out these best 20 things to do in Wenatchee the next time you are in Washington.

Wenatchee, Washington

Things to do in Wenatchee

1- Discover Local History at the Wenatchee Valley Museum and Cultural Center

This museum and cultural centre have everything you need to understand and learn about the region’s history as well as Native American history and culture.

There are permanent and temporary exhibits, including the Ice Age, the 1930s Golden Age of Flight, Washington’s apple industry and the Great Northern Railway.

The museum is only open between Tuesday and Saturday, so be sure to visit on one of those days.

They also offer free admission on the first Friday of every month.

Wenatchee Valley Museum and Cultural Center is at 127 S Mission St, Wenatchee, WA 98801.

2- Eat and Shop at Pybus Public Market

Pybus Public Market is a restored factory that used to be owned by Pybus Steele Co.

The building even has a rail track going through the building.

This large venue is now the site of an indoor market that features 20 fantastic local businesses.

There’s a mix of shops, from cheesemongers to seafood, meat stalls, wineries, bakeries, coffee shops and more.

Whether you are picking up something for later or even as a gift or looking for a bite to eat for lunch then, Pybus Public Market has a ton of choices to offer.

Pybus Public Market is at 3 N Worthen St, Wenatchee, WA 98801.

3- Have Fun at Washington State Apple Blossom Festival

If you are visiting Wenatchee at the end of April or the start of May, then how about checking out the Washington State Apple Blossom Festival?

This festival has been a local tradition for more than 100 years.

It showcases and celebrates the local fruit industry.

The festival is held for around 11 days and draws more than 100,000 people each year.

There are food vendors, a beer garden, arts and craft vendors, a carnival, activities for the kids, live entertainment, and the highly anticipated Grand Parade.

It is a lively event that is perfect for the whole family.

Washington State Apple Blossom Festival is at 2 S Chelan Ave, Wenatchee, WA 98801.

4- Hike at the Lower Castle Rock Natural Area

Lower Castle Rock Natural Area is a 36.82 acre natural area west of Wenatchee.

It is a great place to hike, as the natural area has beautiful views of Wenatchee.

A moderate loop trail has plenty of picnic shelters along the way.

Lower Castle Rock Natural Area is at 1963 Castle Rock Avenue, Wenatchee, WA 98801.

5- Take on the Apple Capital Loop Trail

A fantastic activity for walkers and bikers is to take on the Apple Capital Recreation Loop Trail.

This is a 10-mile (16 km) paved loop trail on both sides of the Columbia River.

It’s a picturesque waterfront trail with plenty of wildlife viewing opportunities.

The trail is accessible year-round, even in winter.

When the snow comes, you can cross-country ski and snowshoe to your heart’s content.

The trail starts in Lincoln Rock State Park and heads south along the river.

Lincoln Rock State Park is at 13253 US-2, East Wenatchee, WA 98802.

6- Ski at Mission Ridge

Mission Ridge Ski & Board Resort is an excellent place to enjoy the Washington snowfall.

This ski area is built in a 2,000-acre basin where the snow is light and powdery, perfect for skiing and snowboarding.

Mission Ridge is just 12 miles (19 km) from Wenatchee on the east side of the Cascade Mountains.

Mission Ridge has 53 runs, night skiing and seven chair lifts.

Mission Ridge Ski & Board Resort is at 7500 Mission Ridge Rd, Wenatchee, WA 98801.

7- Mountain Bike at Saddle Rock

Saddle Rock is an iconic pinnacle in Wenatchee with jutting-out edges that make it an interesting natural feature.

If you are into mountain biking and want to find a fantastic spot that is still close to the city, then there’s no place better than Saddle Rock.

The trailhead is just a seven-minute drive from downtown.

Saddle Rock is a moderate climb but has super rewarding views of the Wenatchee Valley.

Saddle Rock is a wonderful place to start your Wenatchee mountain bike experience, but there are wonderful places to visit, including Sage Hills in the mountains above Saddle Rock.

The Saddle Rock Trailhead is at 1130 Circle St, Wenatchee, WA 98801.

8- Have Fun on the Columbia River

Head to Wenatchee in the warmer months, and the Columbia River is an ideal location for waterfront fun.

There are plenty of activities to try on the Columbia River.

From paddleboarding to kayaking and canoeing, there’s fun on the Columbia River with plenty of rental places if you aren’t going to bring your equipment.

You can also try jet skiing, water skiing and fishing.

There are a couple of great boat launching spots in Wenatchee.

Try Wenatchee Confluence Park, or how about Wenatchee Riverfront Park?

Wenatchee Confluence Park is at 333 Olds Station Rd, Wenatchee, WA 98801.

Wenatchee Riverfront Park is at Apple Capital Recreational Loop Trail, Wenatchee, WA 98801.

9- Admire the Views at Ohme Gardens County Park

Ohme Gardens County Park is a nine-acre park that overlooks Wenatchee Wash.

The park sits atop a hilltop and provides visitors with magnificent views of the Columbia River.

The park is surrounded by lush greenery, with four small waterfalls and seven tranquil pools.

The alpine meadow is one of the most peaceful places in the park.

You can stroll along the evergreen pathways and follow the mile of pathways that intertwine around the beautiful Ohme Garden landscapes.

Be sure to bring your camera as this place is really beautiful.

Ohme Gardens County Park is at 3327 Ohme Rd, Wenatchee, WA 98801.

10- Hike Around the Jacobson Preserve

This trail is named after the Jacobson family, who donated 35 acres of shrub habitat in the foothills of Wenatchee to the Land Trust.

In 2018, a further 16.5 acres were added, making this an excellent outdoor space in Wenatchee.

There are a couple of different trails to hike at Jacobson Preserve.

The longest trail is the 1.3 mile (2.09 km) loop, which has amazing views, especially when the spring flowers are in bloom.

There’s also the 1 mile (1.6 km) multi-purpose trail, which is ideal for a quick walk, run or bike ride.

Jacobson Preserve is at 1811 Skyline Dr, Wenatchee, WA 98801.

11- Visit Wenatchee Confluence State Park

The beautiful Wenatchee Confluence State Park is just 10 minutes’ drive from downtown Wenatchee.

This Washington state park is at the confluence of the Columbia and Wenatchee rivers.

The 194-acre park is an awesome place for boating, hiking and cycling.

No matter what season you visit in, there’s always a good view to see and something fun to do.

There’s a designated swimming area, sports fields, a wetland nature preserve and even the longest loop trail (the Apple Capital Loop Trail, 10 miles 16 km) in the entire state!

You can camp at their 52 full hook-up site campsites and there’s an area for boat launching.

There are other trails like the Rocky Reach trail, or you can use the park as your starting location before heading to Lincoln Rock State Park.

Wenatchee Confluence State Park is at 333 Olds Station Rd, Wenatchee, WA 98801.

12- Feel Happy on a Brewery Crawl

Wenatchee has Brewers Row and if you like amazing craft beer you should definitely check out this area of the city.

Three local breweries have grouped together to form Brewers Row in Wenatchee’s Brewing District.

These breweries are linked by the Apple Capital Loop Trail along the Columbia River.

There’s Badger Mountain Brewing which is the largest craft brewery in Wenatchee.

Owner Dave has more than 20 years of experience in homebrewing.

They have 24 taps and serve food as well.

There’s also Columbia Valley Brewing Company, where the atmosphere is always buzzing inside and their beers are well worth a try too.

Finally, there’s the Wenatchee Valley Brewing Company, which is family-owned and operated.

They have an excellent “hoppy hour” menu with plenty of beers and ciders.

• Badger Mountain Brewing is at 1 Orondo Ave, Wenatchee, WA 9880.
• Columbia Valley Brewing Company is at 538 Riverside Dr, Wenatchee, WA 98801.
• Wenatchee Valley Brewing Company is at 108 E Island View St, Wenatchee, WA 98801.

13- Go Hiking in the Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest

The Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest is a wonderful place to appreciate Wenatchee and Washington’s beautiful natural scenery.

This national forest is large, it covers 3.8 million acres on the eastern side of the Cascade Range north of Wenatchee.

The Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest is vast with more than 2,500 miles (4,023 km) of trails.

Spend a week just visiting the forest and you won’t have even touched the surface of what there is to see.

Some of the best most popular hikes in the area are the 2.8 mile (4.5km) roundtrip around Clara Lake or the 4.5-mile (7.2 km) roundtrip that leads up to the big viewpoint.

Other great hikes include Ingalls Lake (8 miles / 12.8 km) and Beehive Mountain (1.4 miles / 2.25 km).

Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest is at Wenatchee, WA 98807.

14- Watch a Wenatchee Wild Hockey Game

If you are visiting Wenatchee in winter then why not head to one of the local team’s ice hockey games.

The Wenatchee Wild Hockey team plays in the British Columbia Hockey League.

Their season runs between September and February.

No matter what game you go to there’s always a good atmosphere, especially if the home team is winning.

During the rest of the year the newly instated Wenatchee Valley Skyhawks play not on the ice but on the arena’s football pitch.

Wenatchee Wild Hockey play at Town Toyota Center at 1300 Walla Walla Ave, Wenatchee, WA 98801.

15- Stroll Around Walla Walla Point Park

Walla Walla Point Park is a park on the Columbia River just five minutes north of Wenatchee’s downtown.

If you are searching for mountain views then Walla Walla Point Park is the place to be.

There is only around one mile of trails (1.6 km) but it’s a great place for a leisurely stroll.

If you plan on hiking the famous Apple Capital Recreation Loop Trail then you will pass through Walla Walla Point Park.

Walla Walla Point Park is at 1351 Walla Walla Ave, Wenatchee, WA 98801.

16- Go Rock Climbing at Frenchman Coulee

Technically, not in Wenatchee, but if you are a climbing enthusiast looking for an excellent place not far from the city, head to Frenchman Coulee.

It also makes its way onto this list as it offers some of the best rock climbing in the whole of Washington.

The tall basalt spires were formed long ago by glaciers.

This climbing site has more than 700 named routes and it doesn’t matter if you are a beginner or looking for more challenging routes there’s something for everyone at Coulee.

Frenchman Coulee is at Old Vantage Hwy, Quincy, WA 98848.

17- Hike, Run or Bike the Sage Hills

The Sage Hills are excellent for hiking, running and mountain biking.

These rolling lush hills provide excellent Wenatchee, Columbia River views and even the North Cascades.

Though you can visit the trail year-round, it is wonderful to visit during spring when wildflowers bring color to the area, and there’s wild sage growing and purple lupine in abundance.

The trails north of 5th Street are closed between December 1st and April 1st but the trails south of 5th Street are open year-round.

The Sage Hills Trailhead is at 525-521, Sage Hills Dr, Wenatchee, WA 98801.

18- Meander Around Porters Pond

Porters Pond is in East Wenatchee, less than 10 minutes’ drive from downtown Wenatchee.

If you are into bird watching, then head to Porters Pond.

This beautiful pond has clear waters and a ¼ mile (0.4 km) shoreline.

In summer, it’s an ideal place for relaxing and even sunbathing.

You can swim, fish, kayak and paddleboard at the park.

There are also bathrooms and picnic areas, so you can easily spend a leisurely day here if you bring your food.

Porters Pond is at East Wenatchee, WA 98802.

19- Go Ice Skating

The perfect winter activity for people of all ages has got to be ice skating.

If you are looking for good things to do in Wenatchee with kids then ice skating is a great shout!

The best place to ice skate in Wenatchee is the Town Toyota Center, where the Wenatchee Wild Hockey team play their games.

They usually have three public skating sessions every day.

There are also other activities like stick and puck hockey classes!

The Town Toyota Center is at 1300 Walla Walla Ave, Wenatchee, WA 98801.

20- Relax With a Glass or Two of Wine

There are more than just apples in Wenatchee.

There is also a new wine industry emerging.

The area now has more than a dozen wineries and tasting rooms to experience.

You can use Wenatchee as your base and then venture off to as many of the local wineries as you fancy.

After a long day of hiking, there’s no better way to relax.

Some local wineries include Chateau Faire Le Pont Winery, Malaga Springs Winery and Stemilt Creek Winery.

Chateau Faire Le Pont Winery is at 1 Vineyard Way, Wenatchee, WA 98801.

Malaga Springs Winery is at Malaga Springs, 3450 Cathedral Rock Rd, Malaga, WA 98828.

Stemilt Creek Winery is at 3 N Worthen St, Wenatchee, WA 98801.