Icicle Ridge — Saturday, Oct. 22, 2016

Central Cascades > Leavenworth Area

I usually do this trail as a spring conditioning hike, but heading to Leavenworth on Friday I pulled off onto the Tumwater Pipeline trailhead to check out the fall colors along the Wenatchee river and slopes of Icicle Ridge. I remembered seeing the old bridge and river from the viewpoint along the Icicle Ridge trail. I opted to do this hike instead of Colchuck Lake since it was shorter and had some fall color on Saturday. First one to the trailhead this morning, the valley was draped in fog and a chilly 38 degrees. But I knew I would warm up as I climbed up. About halfway up I was above the valley fog. I turned off the Icicle Ridge trail after the two mile mark to walk up to the highway 2 and town view points. Views west were clear and the fog was drawing up the valley from Leavenworth. After a short break I headed down. By then there were many people heading up the trail and by the time I got back to the trailhead the roundabout was full.