Icicle Creek- Leavenworth National Fish Hatchery
Trail Use: Hiking
Difficulty: Easy
Round trip distance: 1.00 miles
Round trip time: 1 hour
Permit Details: No permits required.
Region: Leavenworth Area
Directions to Trailhead
Follow US Highway 2 West through Leavenworth and go left at the end of town on Icicle Road (follow signs to the Leavenworth National Fish Hatchery, there is a large gas station at the corner). If you are traveling Eastbound on Highway 2 over Stevens Pass go right on Icicle Road when you first enter Leavenworth. Follow Icicle Road for 2 miles and go left into the Leavenworth National Fish Hatchery.This is a fun trail for walking and learning about the wonderful Icicle River Valley. Be sure to pick up the interpretive brochure before heading out on the trail, we did not take one with us. There are also interpretive plaques placed along the trail explaining what plant and wildlife are in the area. The Leavenworth National Fish Hatchery office serves as the trail head and parking area.
The hatchery releases over one million salmon per year. It's one of the best areas to learn about Northwest Salmon, river ecology, and the role of fish hatcheries in our state. The native name for Icicle Creek was Nasikelt. As pronounced this name sounds very similar to Icicle. Legend has it that early pioneers mistook the proper native name and interpreted it as Icicle. The name Icicle was established by USGS maps in the early 1900s.
Walk for Wildlife
The Icicle Creek Nature Trail is a one-mile loop trail that is fully accessible and offers an excellent opportunity to see fish and wildlife in their natural environment. This is a National Recreation Trail and part of the Cascade Loop of the Audubon Society's Great Washington State Birding Trail. It is an enjoyable non-strenuous walk for families and nature enthusiasts. It is mostly paved trail with some areas of easily walkable loose dirt areas. part of the nationally recognized "Watchable Wildlife" site program, it is also equipped with two wildlife viewing platforms, resting benches, interpretive signing, and birding opportunities.
Tour the Hatchery
Monika and I arrived late and were short on time so we did not take this tour but visitors are always welcome to tour the beautiful hatchery in the north Cascade Mountains.
The building is open every day of the year while staff are caring for the fish. A volunteer or employee is usually on hand to answer questions at the front of the main building from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. weekdays in winter, and every day in summer. Self-guided tour flyers are available. You are invited to talk to our hatchery staff, learn about fish species raised, and see thousands of young salmon in raceways and ponds. The hatchery grounds are always open to foot traffic. Feel free to walk the grounds and access the nature trail. Please park outside the main entry gate after 2 p.m. The hatcher office also has a small visitors/interpretive center as well. There are also restrooms inside.
Guided tours are offered for larger groups who call at least two weeks in advance. Please call 509-548-7641. Include a date, time, number of people expected, and general age of participants (for example: 5th grade, family reunion, college biology students, retirement facility, etc.). Tours are scheduled on a first come, first served basis.
so we took a shot of it anyway.
SUMMARY:
This is not a hike with epic views or a really difficult trail to conquer. It is a good break in the Leavenworth curio shop bop. If you have kids or pets that need to stretch those impatient legs and are driving you nuts grabbing everything in sight with the signs saying "you break it you buy it", this is a great detour.
It is a few short miles from the town center. It's walkable by all, pet friendly, as well as informational. All the information about this hike was obtained from the Leavenworth National Fish Hatchery website and other online resources.
Until the next one,
Scott and Monika
