Sage Hills

Central Washington

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. These open to the public April 1, after the worst of the winter rains are over in order to prevent erosion and protect winter wildlife habitat. This is because Sage Hills is part of The Foothills, an area of shrub-steppe located just outside of the Wenatchee city limits, and managed by the Chelan-Douglas Land Trust. Trails in The Foothills north of 5th Street are closed from December 1 - April 1, while trails south of 5th Street are open year round.

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

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

There are no fees or passes required at Sage Hills, but plan ahead. There are no facilities at the trailhead, and no opportunities to hide should you need to relieve yourself while hiking. Keep your pets leashed and clean up after them. Stay off muddy trails as foot tracks in the mud accelerate erosion.

Sage Hills

Map & Directions

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. The Horse Lake Trailhead is the only one with a toilet (vault toilet).

Horse Lake Reserve Trailhead: From the intersection of Wenatchee Avenue and Horselake Road at the north end of Wenatchee, drive west (uphill) on Horselake Road. Follow the road for one mile (please drive slow and be respectful of the residential neighborhoods); the pavement ends where the Balsamroot trail access parking is.

Continue to drive another 2.4 miles up the primitive portion of Horselake Road and park in the parking lot on the right, or just past there along the side of the road if the parking lot is full. The gravel road to the trailhead has tight switchbacks, is prone to washboard, and is extremely dangerous in wet weather – please use caution and drive carefully (watch out for bicyclists!). The parking lot has a vault toilet, picnic tables, and kiosk with a trail map. The Sage Hills trail begins directly south of the trailhead parking, next to the basalt columns, and connects all the way to the Sage Hills Gateway access point. The parking lot and the vault toilet here were built by the Land Trust in 2009.

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.