Peshastin Mill Trail

If you’re in the Leavenworth area and want to stretch your legs or hang out by the river but not deal with the fake-Bavaria bustle, this trail is a nice alternative.

The trail starts at a gated gravel road behind the fruit warehouses in Peshastin. Past the gate, follow the gravel road for about a quarter mile and look for a trail heading left, which gets you closer to the river.

The trail rolls and dips gently through open Ponderosa groves. There’s a lovely carpet of wildflowers in the spring. A couple short side trails offer access to the water.

Once the water level drops (late spring to mid summer) these sandy beaches are nice spots to hang out and cool off. The ends at a fenced orchard, and from there you can either head back the way you came or cut back over to the road grade, which stays more out in the open.

WTA Pro Tip: If you live in the area or are staying nearby, consider biking or taking the bus to this trail! Public transit in Chelan County is free and pretty convenient. If you have a bike, North Road is a really nice back-road route between Peshastin and Leavenworth.

History

There used to be a lumber mill here, (hence the name) but the mill property was cleaned up and purchased by a coalition of local private donors in 2016, and is now managed by the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife.