A complete guide to camping in Leavenworth

Leavenworth sits at 1,165 feet in a narrow valley along the Wenatchee River on the dry eastern slope of the Cascades. The town rebuilt itself as a Bavarian-themed village in the 1960s, and the alpine architecture now draws year-round visitors to a setting that genuinely resembles the European Alps, with granite peaks rising above the valley on three sides. The Icicle Creek corridor south of town provides the primary camping access into the surrounding Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest.
Icicle River RV Park sits along Icicle Creek closest to town with full-hookup sites. Alpine RV Park and Campground provides another in-town option. Leavenworth/Pine Village KOA Holiday offers the resort campground experience with pool and organized activities. Eightmile Campground up the Icicle Creek road is a Forest Service campground in pine forest along the creek, providing a more natural setting.
Lake Wenatchee State Park (25 minutes north) is the largest public campground in the area with sites on both the north and south shores of a glacial lake fed by the White River from Glacier Peak wilderness. Lake Wenatchee RV Resort nearby adds a private option. Soda Springs Campground along the Little Wenatchee River extends the camping corridor deeper into the forest. The Enchantments wilderness area above Leavenworth holds some of the most competitive backcountry permits in the country.
Best months: June through September
Leavenworth's east-side Cascade location delivers drier, sunnier summers than the western side of the mountains. July highs reach the mid-80s in the valley with cool nights in the 50s. The Icicle Creek corridor runs cooler than town. Fall brings golden larch in the Enchantments and surrounding peaks through October. Winter transforms the town into a snow-covered Bavarian village with cross-country skiing and the famous Christmas lighting festival. Lake Wenatchee freezes. Spring snowmelt limits mountain access through May.
| Season | Months | Avg High | Avg Low | Conditions |
|---|
| Spring | Mar-May | 55°F | 43°F | Spring snowmelt limits mountain access through May. |
| Summer | Jun-Aug | 74°F | 62°F | Leavenworth's east-side Cascade location delivers drier, sunnier summers than the western side of the mountains. |
| Fall | Sep-Nov | 55°F | 43°F | Fall brings golden larch in the Enchantments and surrounding peaks through October. |
| Winter | Dec-Feb | 36°F | 24°F | Winter transforms the town into a snow-covered Bavarian village with cross-country skiing and the famous Christmas lighting festival. |
Source: NOAA 30-Year Climate Normals

A chain of alpine lakes in the Stuart Range above Leavenworth at 7,000 to 7,800 feet. The area is famous for granite peaks, larch trees that turn gold in October, and mountain goats. Overnight permits are allocated by lottery (apply in February). Day hikes to Colchuck Lake do not require the overnight permit but do need a day-use reservation during peak season.
Icicle River RV Park and Alpine RV Park sit closest to the Bavarian village, within walking or biking distance of Front Street restaurants and shops. Pine Village KOA is slightly further but has resort amenities. Eightmile Campground up the Icicle road trades town access for a forest-and-creek setting.
Larch turn gold in the Enchantments and surrounding high country from late September through mid-October. Peak color varies by a week depending on temperature. The overnight permit lottery allocates October dates. Day hiking to Colchuck Lake provides larch viewing without the overnight permit.
Icicle River RV Park provides full-hookup sites closest to town. Lake Wenatchee RV Resort serves the lake area 25 minutes north. Pine Village KOA has pull-through sites with resort amenities. Alpine RV Park offers another in-town option. Forest Service campgrounds along Icicle Creek have size limits for larger rigs.
Lake Wenatchee State Park has campgrounds on both shores of a glacial lake with swimming, kayaking, and fishing. The lake is backed by Cascade peaks and Glacier Peak wilderness. Water warms for swimming by late July. The state park fills on summer weekends. Reservations open nine months ahead.