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Sage Hills

Central Washington > Wenatchee
47.4480, -120.3628 Map & Directions
Length
5.5 miles, roundtrip
Elevation Gain
650 feet
Highest Point
800 feet
Calculated Difficulty About Calculated Difficulty
Moderate
Sagebrush hills bloom. Photo courtesy of the Chelan-Douglas Land Trust. Full-size image
  • Dogs allowed on leash
  • Good for kids
  • Mountain views
  • Wildflowers/Meadows
  • Wildlife

Parking Pass/Entry Fee

None
Saved to My Backpack

Just adjacent to the equally popular Horse Lake Reserve, the Sage Hills is home to great trails for hiking, running, or mountain biking. The rolling hills found at Sage Hills offer wonderful views of the Columbia River, the Wenatchee Valley and the North Cascades. Springtime brings vibrant color to the area with wild sage, yellow arrowleaf balsamroot, Indian paintbrush and purple lupine abound. Continue reading

Rating
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Hiking Sage Hills

Just adjacent to the equally popular Horse Lake Reserve, the Sage Hills is home to great trails for hiking, running, or mountain biking. The rolling hills found at Sage Hills offer wonderful views of the Columbia River, the Wenatchee Valley and the North Cascades. Springtime brings vibrant color to the area with wild sage, yellow arrowleaf balsamroot, Indian paintbrush and purple lupine abound. Single-track dirt trails lead over, around and through beautiful rolling hills. 

Trails in this area are closed from Dec. 1 through April 1 to protect winter mule deer habitat. Trails south of 5th Street — including Castle Rock, Jacobson Preserve and Saddle Rock — are open year-round. Leashed dogs are welcome on all the foothills trails. Please be a good steward and pick up after your dog. Stay off muddy trails as foot tracks in the mud accelerate erosion.

When you visit, be sure to consider other vehicles since the Sage Hills parking area is quite small. The driving directions below outline several other ways to access the Sage Hills area. Note that vehicles parked in no parking zones will be ticketed.

Additionally, keep in mind the summer heat; if you're visiting in the summer, consider coming in the morning or evening to avoid extreme heat.

There are no fees or passes required at Sage Hills but plan ahead. Kenzie's Landing is the only trailhead with facilities and water. 

Toilet Information

  • Toilet at trailhead
  • No toilet at trailhead

More information about toilets

Hike Description Written by
Multiple authors contributed to this report, WTA Community

Sage Hills

Map & Directions

Trailhead
Co-ordinates: 47.4480, -120.3628 Open in Google Maps

Before You Go

Parking is extremely limited at the Sage Hills Gateway Trail Access. Please head to one of the three other access points listed in the driving directions below if the trailhead lot is full.

This trail is closed between Dec 1 and April 1 each year to protect mule deer and other wildlife.

See weather forecast

Parking Pass/Entry Fee

None

WTA Pro Tip: Save a copy of our directions before you leave! App-based driving directions aren't always accurate and data connections may be unreliable as you drive to the trailhead.

Getting There

The public access points have limited or no amenities, and limited maintenance keeping them clean. Please be respectful of neighbors, keep your dogs leashed, pick up after them, and pack out all your trash. Kenzie's Landing is the only one with a toilet (vault toilet).

Kenzie's Landing

At the intersection of SR 285 and Maiden Lane in north Wenatchee, turn west at the Walmart and follow Maiden Lane up the hill to its gravel end (keep right where it intersects with N Western Ave at the cemetery). The road goes through the local neighborhood, so keep an eye out for children and dogs.

The parking lot has a vault toilet, picnic tables, bike racks and water and electric charging stations. There is space for 8 cars. Maps of the trail system are available at the trailhead.

Balsamroot Trail Access

You can also reach the Sage Hills Trail via the Balsamroot Trail. Follow Horse Lake Road to the end of the pavement and park in the gravel pullout on the north side of the road. Walk another 50 feet or so west to the beginning of Balsamroot Trail next to a power pole on the south side of the road – you will see a small kiosk. Head southwest on the Balsamroot Trail, climbing gradually along steep slopes. Meet the Sage Hills Trail after 2.5 miles.

Sage Hills Gateway Trail Access

Drive west (uphill) on Fifth Street past its intersection with Western Avenue. In 0.7 miles, the road hooks hard to the left (south) and becomes Number One Canyon Road. Go another 0.4 miles to the junction with Sage Hills Dr. There is a small gravel pull-off that can accommodate 7 or 8 cars if users park efficiently on the right (north) side of Number One Canyon Road. After parking, walk north along Sage Hills Drive the remaining 0.2 miles to the trail, staying to the right at the junction with Austin Ct.

If this small lot is full, do not park along any of the residential streets (Sage Hills Dr., Number One Canyon).  Instead, return to 5th St. to the designated striped parking areas (east of N. Surry Ave intersection) and walk to  the trailhead. Parking on residential side streets in not allowed and violators may be ticketed.

Day Drive Trailhead Access

Drive west (uphill) on Fifth Street 0.6 mile past its intersection with Western Avenue. Turn right on N Surry Ave and, after 150 yards, take the first left onto Lester Road. Drive west (uphill) about 300 yards and take the first right on Day ROAD N. After about 100 yards, take the first left on Day DRIVE N, which curves to the right (north) after about 150 yards. Just before the pavement ends, 50 yards from the curve, enter a small parking lot on the left owned and maintained by the City of Wenatchee in partnership with the  Chelan-Douglas Land Trust.

Note that this parking lot has an automatic gate that is closed by a timer at 7 pm. If this small lot is full, do not  park along any of the residential side streets (Day Dr., Lester Rd, Surry). Instead, return to Fifth Street and park in the designated striped parking areas and walk to the trailhead. Parking on residential side streets in not  allowed and violators may be ticketed.

More Hike Details

Trailhead

Central Washington > Wenatchee

Chelan-Douglas Land Trust

Guidebooks & Maps

https://www.cdlandtrust.org/trails-access/trails/wenatchee-foothills-trails/sage-hills-trails

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Sage Hills

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