Sledding and Snowshoeing at Lake Wenatchee State Park, Washington

Looking for more things to do along Stevens Pass once the snow melts?
Time to hike! Check out Heybrook Lookout, Bridal Veil Falls, or the fascinating Iron Goat Trail.

CURRENT INFO

For general information and updates about Lake Wenatchee State Park, visit the Washington State Parks website. Information about Washington State Park winter recreation opportunities, including fees, trail etiquette, and trail maps, is also available.

GOOD TO KNOW

• A Washington State Sno-Park permit is required to park at Lake Wenatchee State Park and use the trails and sledding hill. A single day permit costs $25 per vehicle.
• Please note that the Washington State Parks Discover Pass does not cover the cost of Sno-Park permits and related fees.
• If you plan to make additional Sno-Park visits, a seasonal pass costs $50. Certain parks, including Lake Wenatchee, also require a $70 seasonal groomed trails permit, which must be used in conjunction with the seasonal Sno-Park pass.
• Sno-Park permits and passes can be purchased online or from the automated machines at the parking lots at Lake Wenatchee State Park.
• For sledding, park at the lakeshore parking lot near the camp store and South Campground.
• For snowshoeing, park either at the lakeshore or at the north entrance parking lot.
• Snowshoeing is not allowed on groomed trails, which are are for Nordic skiing only. Please follow the trail markers and signs to stay on the correct path.
• Trail maps are available on the Washington State Parks website.

• Check snow and road conditions before you go. Highway 2 along Stevens Pass can be treacherous during winter storms. At other times, low snowfall or higher temperatures may mean there’s not enough snow for snowshoeing or sledding.
• A small camp store near the the lake sells hot drinks and a small selection of snacks, camp supplies, and winter gear — including sleds. Of course, I recommend bringing your own sled if you have one. Store hours may vary, and it wasn’t always open on previous visits.
• Need snowshoes? The Plain Hardware Store offers snowshoes for rent as well as cross country skis.
• Layer up! This may go without saying, but bring appropriate winter clothing. It’s always better to have too many layers rather than too few. Waterproof outer layers and wool blend base layers are ideal.
• Take time to appreciate the warming hut. This simple hut near the camp store and South Campground includes benches and a wood stove. Light a fire and enjoy a cup of hot coffee or cocoa while taking a break from the cold.
• Restrooms are available near the camp store next to the South Campground. Other restrooms may be closed in winter.
• Pets on leash are allowed at Lake Wenatchee State Park except on groomed trails.
• Always follow Leave No Trace principles.

LOOKING FOR A FREE PLACE TO SLED?

• The Nordic Center at Stevens Pass offers free parking and a small sledding hill. It’s located along Highway 2, six miles east of the Steves Pass Ski Resort.
• Groomed cross country ski trails are available at the Nordic Center, but you must purchse a day pass to use them.
• Cross country skis and snowshoes are available for rent at the Nordic Center.
• A small cafe selling hot drinks and snacks is located in the same building as the ski rental.
• A port-a-potty is available in the parking lot near the sled hill.

HIGHLIGHTS

For relaxing winter fun near a beautiful mountain lake, look no further than Lake Wenatchee. This gorgeous lake sits in the heart of Washington’s Cascade Mountains, and is filled with winter recreation opportunities. Whether you’re looking to sled, snowshoe, cross country ski, or even camp, Lake Wenatchee has you covered. Of course, winter weather is unpredictable, but regardless of whether skies are blue or grey, it’s a beautiful place to while away a winter’s day.

THE KIDS’ TAKE

Our kids love our annual winter visits to Lake Wenatchee (annual, that is, with a few years off during the Covid pandemic). Together with others from our church, we spend a couple nights at a retreat center in the nearby hamlet of Plain, giving us time to leisurely explore the surrounding area. The sled hills at both the Stevens Pass Nordic Center and Lake Wenatchee State Park are always a hit. Kids may not have the attention span for a long snowshoe hike, but the short trails at Lake Wenatchee are the perfect place to give it a try before breaking for hot cocoa.

Lake Wenatchee State Park is a manageable day trip from Seattle, so you don’t have to spend the night. Stop by the sled hill at Sevens Pass on your way out, then head for the trails at Lake Wenatchee before winding down in the warming hut. It’s a snow day for all ages!

WHILE YOU’RE HERE

Lake Wenatchee State Park is a worthy destination in its own right, but it also makes a great stop en route to or from Leavenworth. Washington’s favorite faux-Bavarian village lies just 20 miles south of Lake Wenatchee along Highway 2, and offers a plethora of year-round activities and festivals. Twenty-five mils east of Lake Wenatchee, Stevens Pass Ski Resort offers both downhill and Nordic skiing. As mentioned above, the Nordic Center at Stevens Pass even has a free sled hill located just off Highway 2.

Even closer to Lake Wenatchee, check out the tiny town of Plain, which offers its own groomed trails for skiing and snowshoeing. You can rent skis and snowshoes from Plain Hardware, do a little wine tasting at Plain Cellars, or book an overnight cabin stay. Speaking of overnight, did you know you can camp at Lake Wenatchee State Park year round? Yep, brave souls can nab a site at the South Campground, conveniently close to the sled hill, camp store, restrooms, and warming hut.

For a fun place to eat, check out the classic 59er Diner, located five miles south of Lake Wenatchee at the intersection between Highway 2 and Highway 207.

It’s a tradition for our family to spend President’s Day weekend at a retreat center down the road from Lake Wenatchee State Park. The chance to get away from it all in the midst of winter, even for a few days, is always welcome.

This year, my younger son was feeling out of sorts (new molars coming in), so we decided to take it easy and stick with the sledding hill. Although the snow was icy, this was a pretty popular place. Families with young children gathered at the top of the hill to push their little ones off. Naturally, a few of the adults joined in the fun, too.

My older son now finds the sled hill a bit tame, not to mention crowded (by his standards — he prefers having the place all to himself). He and his friend wandered into the nearby woods to seek out a more daring run. They found it, and were soon bumping down the hillside over pine cones and twigs, narrowly missing tree trunks as they flew by. They’ve been sledding together for years now, and it doesn’t look like the tradition is slowing down.

Personally, I enjoy snowshoeing more than sledding these days. On this last visit, the quality of snow wasn’t ideal for snowshoes or skis, but a number of people still managed to hit the trails. If, on the other hand, you visit when fresh, powdery snow blankets the park, you are in for a treat. The trails at Lake Wenatchee are easy enough for beginners, but engaging enough for more experienced snowshoers as well. As you loop through the forest, you may not always know exactly where you are, but it’s hard to get lost. Bring a few tasty goodies, and no one will complain when you offer them a snack break by the lakeshore.

This year, we decided to give the warming hut a try. When it was clear that 7-year-old T was no longer interested in sledding, my friend, Katie, and I, together with T, walked down to the small hut near the camp store, where we found a box of firewood, but no matches. Since we hadn’t come prepared, I was thankful for the store next door, where I purchased a box of matches for 25 cents. They also sell firewood, in case you don’t find a stash waiting inside the hut.

Getting the fire going wasn’t as easy as we expected, but thanks to Katie’s enduring patience, we finally met with success. Before long, the rest of our party joined us, and we gratefully gathered around the small fire nursing cups of hot cocoa and coffee.

When it was time to go, I took a last look across the lake. Clouds shrouded the mountain peaks of the opposite shore, lending the scene a subdued beauty. Even without the snow at its best, Lake Wenatchee is well worth a lingering visit, whether sledding, snowshoeing, or simply enjoying time well spent with friends.