Wenatchee Outdoors

WA Native Plant Society Walk at Echo Ridge Trails
2025-06-06 09:00 - 12:00 (America/Los_Angeles) | WA
Washington Native Plant Society
Leader: Stephen Easley
Trip Difficulty: Easy – 3 miles
Limit: 8
This walk will start at the Echo Ridge main parking lot and includes the Nuthatch, Chickadee, Morning Glory, and Upper & Lower Ridge View trails. It is easily walkable with minor changes in elevation, covering 3 miles in about 3 hours. We will be looking at pussy-toes, hawksbeards, rock cresses, blue umber lilies and death camas. The views of the surrounding valleys are spectacular from this hilltop location.
Wear sturdy shoes, bring a snack and plenty of water, and bring sufficient clothing to wear as the weather dictates. There is a pit toilet at the parking lot.
We will be following the Option #1 listed in the following plant list.
https://www.wnps.org/plant-lists/list?Echo_Ridge_Trails
Please contact Stephen Easley at seasley@nwi.net if you would like to participate.
A release of liability form and a sign-in form for all participants will be provided at the trailhead.
Directions: From Chelan, follow the Manson Hwy (SR-150) west for two miles, turn right onto Boyd Road, and continue to Cooper Gulch Road where you follow signs to the Echo Valley Ski Area. The paved county road ends at Echo Valley, transitioning into Forest Road 8021.1, a wide gravel all-season road that winds steeply uphill. Stay on Forest Road 8021.1 for the 2.4-mile distance that ends at the main parking lot. We’ll meet at the nearby trailhead. Travel time from Chelan is about 30 minutes.

Leave No Trace Pop-up Education & Clean up
2025-06-06 12:00 - 15:00 | WA
The Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest invites you to be a part of our Leave No Trace Spotlight events, scheduled from June 5 to June 7. These events are being co-hosted by the Wenatchee Bureau of Land Management and the Washington Trails Association. The Spotlight program creates opportunities for communities to be the solution to conservation issues. Be part of this on the ground action to protect and preserve public lands in Central Washington.

The weekend will include a combination of workshops, stewardship opportunities, and community outreach events. Let’s join together to strengthen our efforts to benefit these special resources.

The following is a list of stewardship projects, educational programs and outreach events that are open to the public. Your organization staff, partners, volunteers and members are encouraged to attend.

Program: Leave No Trace Pop-up Education & Clean up, Lake Cle Elum-Speelyi Beach, Cle Elum Ranger District
Date/Time: Friday, June 6, 12 pm – 3:00 pm

Program: Leave No Trace Trivia & Social Hour, Riverfront Rock Gym, Wenatchee, WA
Date/Time: Friday, June 6, 6 pm – 8 pm
RSVP is encouraged but not required: LNT.org/OWNF-Trivia

Program: Volunteer Stewardship Workday, BLM Liberty Campground
Date/Time: Saturday, June 7, 9 am -1 pm
RSVP is required: LNT.org/OWNF-Volunteer

Please visit https://lnt.org/event/leave-no-trace-spotlight-okanogan-wenatchee-national-forest/ for more information and to RSVP as required.

Leave No Trace Trivia & Social Hour
2025-06-06 18:00 - 20:00 | WA

Volunteer Stewardship Workday, BLM Liberty Campground
2025-06-07 09:00 - 13:00 | WA
The Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest invites you to be a part of our Leave No Trace Spotlight events, scheduled from June 5 to June 7. These events are being co-hosted by the Wenatchee Bureau of Land Management and the Washington Trails Association. The Spotlight program creates opportunities for communities to be the solution to conservation issues. Be part of this on the ground action to protect and preserve public lands in Central Washington.

The weekend will include a combination of workshops, stewardship opportunities, and community outreach events. Let’s join together to strengthen our efforts to benefit these special resources.

The following is a list of stewardship projects, educational programs and outreach events that are open to the public. Your organization staff, partners, volunteers and members are encouraged to attend.

Program: Volunteer Stewardship Workday, BLM Liberty Campground
Date/Time: Saturday, June 7, 9 am -1 pm
RSVP is required: LNT.org/OWNF-Volunteer

Please visit https://lnt.org/event/leave-no-trace-spotlight-okanogan-wenatchee-national-forest/ for more information and to RSVP as required.

Moses Coulee Preserve Plant Walk
2025-06-10 08:00 - 12:00 | WA
Who: Washington Native Plant Society-Wenatchee Chapter
Leaders: Tiffany Theden, Susan Ballinger
Difficulty Level: Easy to Moderate
Length of Walk: 2-5+ miles depending on interest and goals of the group
Limit: 20
Come join us on a plant walk at the spectacular Moses Coulee Preserve with Joe Veverka from the Nature Conservancy! The spectacular landforms of Moses Coulee reflect some of the most dramatic geological history on Earth – steep-walled coulees carved by Ice Age floods, pothole lakes, haystack boulders, waterfalls and scablands. We will start our walk heading up to a lithosol area up behind the field station. We will walk along an old 2-track road, covering ~200ft in elevation gain over a little more than half a mile. If we’re lucky, the bitterroot will be in full bloom! We are also likely to see an abundance of different buckwheat, penstemon, and milk-vetch species. We will then head over to gated Old Todora Rd. to see an area not typically accessible. If we have time and interest we can also head up to Dutch Henry Falls which has a short 0.9 mile (roundtrip) trail and some wetter areas.
From Cashmere, the drive to Moses Coulee takes a little over an hour. Since it might be getting pretty hot by mid-June, this walk will start earlier in the morning, with the aim of us being in the coulee at 8am. Be sure to bring sun protection, snacks, and lots of water. Long pants and hiking shoes are important, since we may travel off trail and some plants can be quite prickly. If people want to carpool, we can set that up once we have the list of attendees.
To see a plant list for the area, go to this link https://www.wnps.org/plant-lists/list?Moses_Coulee
Register for this workshop by sending an email to Tiffany Theden at the.myco.den@gmail.com

Leavenworth Ski Hill Walk - Orchids!
2025-06-10 12:00 - 16:00 | WA
Who: Washington Native Plant Society-Wenatchee Valley Chapter
Leader: Connie McCauley
Difficulty Level: Moderate – 3-5 miles
Limit: 15
Join Connie McCauley to explore the Ski Hill area, looking at late spring/early summer wildflowers, trees and shrubs, especially those native to our area. This 4 hour walk will explore ski trails and mountain bike trails specifically looking for 4 and possibly 5 different orchids, but other plants will be identified too! Plant lists and plant identification handouts will be available.
Connie has explored these hills for 40 years and enjoys sharing her local knowledge will all ages and backgrounds. Meet at the Ski Hill parking lot on 10701 Ski Hill Drive in Leavenworth. Wear hiking boots, bring water and snacks, and dress in layers for the weather. A plant list titled “Leavenworth Ski Hill Area”, is available at https://www.wnps.org/plant-lists/county?Chelan. RSVP by sending an email to Connie at ccmccauley@nwi.net

Wenatchee Run Club
2025-06-11 17:00 - 19:00, 2025-06-18 17:00 - 19:00, 2025-06-25 17:00 - 19:00, 2025-07-02 17:00 - 19:00 | Pybus, 3 N Worthen St, Wenatchee, WA, 98801, United States
This event is hosted by the Wenatchee Run Club

Event Summary: Wednesday night weekly

Description: Come join us from 5-7 pm at the Taproom by Hellbent at Pybus for check in. We will have a 5k group start run at 5:30pm or you can run on your own.
Stay and hang out! Hellbent will be offering 10% off after the run for all participants.
Location: The Taproom at Pybus
More Info: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61556162716960

WRI Wenatchee Bird Walk
2025-06-12 08:00 - 10:00 | WA
Go birding with staff from the Wenatchee River Institute by the Columbia River! All birding skill levels are welcome. Need binoculars? We have loaner binoculars that you can borrow.
We will enjoy birding this spring in Wenatchee on the second Thursday and in Leavenworth on the last Thursday of April, May, and June.
Trail difficulty level: beginner. Walk will be on paved and grassy level pathways. We will travel up to 1 mile round trip at an easy-going pace with frequent stops.
Bathrooms available at the start and end of the walk
Meet at Walla Walla Point Park at the North parking lot near the bathrooms at 8am and plan to be finished by 10am.
This is a FREE event and no registration is needed.
Event Link

CONTACT INFO
Virginia Shoup
vshoup@wenatcheeriverinstitute.org
509-548-0181 ext 5

WRI Weed Warriors
2025-06-13 09:00 - 11:00 | WA
Wenatchee River Institute Presents-
Do you love the beautiful natural areas and gardens at WRI?
Are you interested in learning about the native plants that grow here, and ways to protect them and the ecosystem they are a part of?
Then come join our newly revived Weed Warriors Volunteer Group!
You will learn all about the common invasive plant species that threaten the local plant and animal communities here in Leavenworth, all while helping to increase biodiversity at WRI.
Tools and gloves will be provided but bring your own if you have something special you prefer using. Dress is layers appropriate for the weather, bring your reusable water bottle, and get ready to get your hands dirty!
Weed Warriors will meet weekly during Spring on Tuesdays from 9am-11am. We will meet at the far end of the parking lot, at the top of the Native Plant Garden.
Stay for as little or as long as you like. Your help is greatly appreciated! The more hands the merrier when it comes to weeding!

Event Link

CONTACT INFO
Tiffa Theden
ttheden@wenatcheeriverinstitute.org
509-548-0181

Evergreen Mountain Bike Festival
2025-06-14 - 2025-06-15 | WA
Join Evergreen Mountain Bike Alliance this June for the Evergreen Mountain Bike Festival! We’ll be partying at Raging River again this year with over 30 miles of trails and 2,500′ feet of vertical. Get ready for demo bikes, group rides, bike shuttles, skills clinics, kids zones, food trucks, beer garden, tons of vendors and more. Bring your friends and family for a weekend full of all things mountain biking!
Interested in more information check out all the information at the Event Link.

WRI Grow Your Own Mushrooms Workshop (Again!)
2025-06-15 12:00 - 15:00 | WA
Wenatchee River Institute Presents-
Our previous offering of this workshop was wildly popular, so we are having it again! Since our last workshop filled quickly, those that weren’t able to attend last time now have another chance to experience the fun of learning about fungi.
Come learn how to grow your own mushrooms on logs, in containers, and in garden beds at this interactive workshop.
Our instructor, Seth Beu, has years of experience growing mushrooms for restaurants with his business Primordia Farms. He’s spent countless hours hanging out with various fungi in the forests and instructing workshops just like this one. Seth will bring this knowledge, and knowledge gained from Dr. Elaine Ingham’s Intensive Soil Food Web & Microscope course, to instruct you on growing your own edible mushrooms.
This course will be broken into 2 different sections.
The first section will be a lecture with free form Q&A throughout, and will cover:
– 3 different ways to grow mushrooms from start to finish
– Different growing substrates and field capacity
– How to create and use liquid culture, grain spawn, and inoculated straw
– How to pasteurize, sterilize, and avoid contamination
– Integrating mushrooms into the garden space
– What to do with your grow kit afterwards
The second section will be a hands-on, and will include:
– How to make a blue oyster mushroom and winecap mushroom kit to take home
– How to clone fungi you find in the forest
All supplies will be provided. If you prefer, you can bring your own reusable container, like a large, sterilized, lidded plastic container for your grow kit (a large yogurt container is perfect). Also, bring a notebook to take notes, there’s a lot of knowledge to learn!
This event will take place inside the Red Barn, a heated building. There is a wheelchair accessible path and bathrooms onsite.
Event Link

CONTACT INFO
Tiffa Theden
ttheden@wenatcheeriverinstitute.org
5095480181

Mission Peak Area Plant Walk
2025-06-16 08:00 - 15:00 | WA
Who: Washington Native Plant Society
Leaders: Tracy Maynard
Difficulty: Moderate, 6 miles with 1,400 ft of elevation gain
Limit: 10
The primary goal of this hike is to see Anemone patens, prairie-crocus, but there are many other plants to be seen as well. Although common throughout the Rockies and western Canada, A. patens in the Wenatchee Mountains is disjunct and is the only population in Washington. For over forty years it had not been seen but has recently been “rediscovered” in the Mission Peak area. It is usually found near the edges of the retreating snow in the spring.
Participants will meet at Pybus Market in parking lot located on south side of building to carpool to the trailhead, returning to cars about 3:00 PM. This hike is moderately difficult. About 6-7 miles round trip from the access off of Liberty-Beehive road. Minimum distance, 4 miles round trip if road conditions favorable. The elevation gain is around 1100′. Good fitness, food and water will be needed. Wear hiking boots and wear layers for the weather. Participants should bring trekking poles and/or micro spikes as we definitely will be encountering snow as we hike above 6300’. Gaiters are recommended if you have them. We will use the plant list from the WNPS site for Mission Ridge Ski Area.
https://www.wnps.org/plant-lists/list?Mission_Ridge_Ski_Area_including_Mission_Ridge If you are interested in joining this hike, please email Tracy at tracymayn52@gmail.com

Becoming A Better Photographer 4-Part Series
2025-06-17 18:30 - 20:00 | Foothills Middle School, 1410 Maple St, Wenatchee, 98801, United States
This is a WenOut MEMBER ONLY 4-part Educational Series. Become a member now.
Looking to level up your photography game?? We have an opportunity waiting for you to join a professional photographer and WenOut board member Thom Schroeder for a fun, hands-on series all about capturing the beauty of the outdoors.
Location: Foothills Middle School
Details: Photography is a lifelong journey, and the great news is that anyone can improve their craft. In this four-part series, we’ll explore the development of three essential skills while incorporating assignments to help you apply them in your own work. This might seem daunting, but it’s meant to be accessible. We’ll steer clear of overly technical discussions about cameras and software, as there are plenty of resources available for that. All you need for this series is a camera (even your phone works) and a willingness to improve. While bringing a laptop to share your work would be beneficial, it’s not a requirement.
Session One: Tuesday March 25 6:30-8:00

Observation (90 minutes, includes a take-home assignment) We’ll dive into the first skill of becoming a better photographer: the art of observation. This involves being aware of your surroundings and learning to anticipate light, timing, and movement to create captivating images.

Session Two: Tuesday April 22 6:30-8:00

Visualization (90 minutes, includes a take-home assignment) In this session, we’ll focus on visualization—imagining your final photograph before capturing it. This includes aspects of composition and post-processing, considering what to include or exclude from the frame, and how to edit to achieve your envisioned result.

Session Three: Tuesday May 20 6:30-8:00

Manipulation (90 minutes, includes a take-home assignment) Often referred to as post-processing, this session will explore editing techniques while revisiting the first two skills to understand how they all integrate.

Session Four: June 17 6:30-8:00

Critique (90 minutes) Feedback is invaluable in the learning process. In our final session, we’ll review the photographs we’ve created and discuss ways to continue refining these three skills as we strive to become better photographers.

About Thom Schroeder:
Thom is a professional photographer with experience shooting across the country and in our local area. He runs a media and creative agency, Woolley Creative, collaborating with clients both locally and nationally. Thom and his family relocated to Wenatchee in 2018.
Spaces is limited, please reserve your spots below. Come to as many as you would like, you will select the ones you can attend when you register. If spots fill up, we will have a waitlist.
Become a member
REGISTER HERE

Tronsen Ridge
2025-06-21 07:00 - 15:00 | WA
Who: Washington Native Plant Society
Leader: Ted Alway
Difficulty Level: Easy/Moderate; 3.5 miles with net elevation gain of 500’
Limit: 10
This walk showcases the great diversity of species found here, with many in flower that time of year. Expect to find over one hundred species, including many wild buckwheats, penstemons, phlox, paintbrushes, bitterroot and more. In addition, the views and geology on display are spectacular!
Participants will meet at the Peshastin Park-n-Ride to carpool to the trailhead near Haney Meadows, returning to the cars by 3pm. Bring snacks, lunch and water, wear sturdy footwear and dress in layers for the weather. Ted will email participants a plant list. If you are interested in joining this hike, please email Ted at alwaytedc@gmail.com

Buzzing for Pollinators: Celebrate With Us
2025-06-21 10:00 - 12:00 | WA
WSU Chelan Douglas Master Gardeners, Presented by our team from the pollinator garden in Leavenworth. This event directly precedes National Pollinator Week.
Event Link

Eightmile Lake
2025-06-24 08:00 - 16:00 | WA
Who: Washington Native Plant Society
Leaders: Don and Ann Schaechtel
Difficulty : Moderate, 7 miles with 1,400 ft of elevation gain
Limit: 8
The Eightmile Lake Trail is near the more popular Colchuck Lake trail, reached via the Icicle Road in Leavenworth. We will go midweek to avoid the crowds. There is good plant diversity due to moist and dry areas, serpentine soils, and of course, the lake itself. We will gain 1,400 feet of elevation in 3.3 miles on a good trail. Highlights include Shasta fern, black twinberry, scarlet paintbrush, and tiger lilies. A plant list is available at List (wnps.org). Sign up and receive more details by sending an email to don.safety@nwi.net

Birding by the River
2025-06-26 08:00 - 10:00 | WA
Go birding with staff from the Wenatchee River Institute at our campus by the Wenatchee River! All birding skill levels are welcome. Need binoculars? We have loaner binoculars that you can borrow.
We will enjoy birding this spring in Wenatchee on the second Thursday and in Leavenworth on the last Thursday of April, May, and June.
Trail difficulty level: beginner
Trail is wide enough for ADA access, but trails are gravel
Bathrooms available at the start and end of the walk
Meet outside the River Haus at 8am. This is a FREE event and no registration is needed.
Event Link

CONTACT INFO
Virginia Shoup
vshoup@wenatcheeriverinstitute.org
509-548-0181 ext 5

WRI Paint and Stroll
2025-06-27 13:30 - 14:30, 2025-07-03 13:30 - 14:30 | WA
Most Thursdays and Fridays at Village Art in the Park
Meet at the gazebo at 1:30pm. Paint and Stroll will last ~1hour
Free! Donations are appreciated
Get inspired by the amazing artists at the outdoor market, then join us for a short walk down to the river and take some creative time for yourself. Join the Wenatchee River Institute for this free program suitable for children and adults!
What’s provided?
-Guided nature walk to the Wenatchee River, 0.3 miles from the Front St Gazebo
-Simple supplies for drawing or watercolor painting
-Tips for beginners
-Time to create your own work of art!

CONTACT INFO
Virginia Shoup
vshoup@wenatcheeriverinstitute.org
509-548-0181, x5

RELATED LINKS

Village Art in the Park

Confluence Health Adaptive Cycling
2025-06-27 15:00 - 19:00 | WA
Confluence Health has four adaptive cycling events planned for this year! These events are FREE and open to everyone in our community ages 7 to 105+ with cognitive, physical, and/or sensory disabilities. Outdoors for All will be providing a variety of adaptive bikes including handcycles, trikes, recumbents and tandems for participants to ride on the Loop Trail at their leisure. We will not be scheduling specific appointments so participants can drop in and ride at any time during event hours.
Please come join us at Walla Walla Point Park in Wenatchee on:

Saturday, May 31, 11:00 to 3:00
Friday, June 27, 3:00 to 7:00

Saturday, August 23, 11:00 to 3:00

Saturday, September 27, 11:00 to 3:00

Please see the attached flyers and distribute to anyone that might be interested in joining us. You are also welcome to post flyers and share on social media to help us get the word out. If you are interested in volunteering at any of these events, please let me know.
Please note: events will be cancelled if the Air Quality Index is > 150 per airnow.gov.

These events are made possible by the generous donors to the Confluence Health Foundation.
2025 Community Events – English
2025 Community Events – Spanish

WRI River Discovery Tour
2025-06-27 17:00 - 19:30 | WA
Friday, June 27, 2025
5:00 pm-7:30 pm

Wenatchee River Institute
347 Division St.
Leavenworth, WA 98826

Join Wenatchee River Institute, in partnership with Leavenworth Outdoor Center, on a relaxing evening paddle down the Wenatchee River. This is a guided trip that will introduce you to the plants (flora) and animals (fauna) of our diverse river area (riparian zone). You will learn how to be a better observer of nature and be introduced to river safety and navigation. This is a great way to build your nature skills and confidence on the river.
Limit – 10 participants – registration required
Included – Kayak or paddle board, Life vest (PFD), transportation from WRI
Difficulty level – Beginner to intermediate, recommended you have basic swimming ability.
Ages – 8 and older, an adult must accompany anyone 15 and younger.
Accessibility – Tandem kayaks are available.
Cost – Pay What You Can:
We offer the Pay What You Can model in recognition that paying for education programs looks different for different people.
These price suggestions are based on the costs to WRI to put on this program. If you want to attend this program, we want you to be there.
$50/person
This option may be for you if you are excited to support WRI, and attending this program doesn’t put a strain on your weekly budget.
$35/person
This option may be for you if your budget is tight, but still really want to attend this program and support WRI.
$60/person
Additional donation option to add a little extra so others can attend at a lower cost.
Event Link

CONTACT INFO
Joshua Schaub
jschaub@wenatcheeriverinstitute.org
509-548-0181, x5

Dirt Abides MTB Series
2025-06-28 07:00 - 14:00, 2025-06-29 07:00 - 14:00 | WA
Central knows a “Dude” when it hears one — and the Dirt Abides series is making some serious noise. This year our chapter will help sponsor and support the Dirt Abides mountain bike race series when it visits Wenatchee on May 3rd and 4th, Squilchuck State Park on June 28th and Mission Ridge on June 29th. We are excited that Dirt Abides is bringing premier cross country mountain bike racing to Central Washington in a big way.
The Central Chapter will be providing meals for every racer in exchange for a donation, so the more riders who participate, the more funds will be raised for local projects!
Riders can find all the important details at https://dirtabides.com/. Get these dates on your calendar and join in the fun.

June 28th – Sizzler, Squilchuck State Park
June 29th – Bomber, Mission Ridge

Sustainability Trivia Night
2025-06-28 19:00 | WA
Sustainable NCW invites you to our upcoming Sustainability Trivia Night on Saturday, June 28 at 7:00 PM at Watercore Cider, 19 N. Wenatchee Ave., Wenatchee. It’s free to attend, easy to join, and a great excuse to have some fun while learning something new. Even if you don’t compete and just want to watch and have fun, that’s fine, too!

Here’s how it works: each organization can bring a “team” (that can be just one person or several), and we’ll all compete for the honor of being the 2025 Sustainability Trivia Champions. Teams sign up at the door by 7:00 PM, and then the games begin—30 questions, plenty of laughs, and probably a few surprises.
Beyond bragging rights, this is a chance to learn more about sustainability, connect with others in the community, and just enjoy a relaxed night out. Watercore Cider will be serving up delicious pot pies (vegan options included), desserts, cider (hard and soft), and beer. It’s the perfect setting for good conversation and a little friendly competition.
We hope you can make it. No need to RSVP—just show up, sign in, and bring your trivia brain power. If you have any questions, feel free to reach out.

Step Into Nature
2025-07-01 17:00 - 18:00, 2025-07-08 17:00 - 18:00 | WA
Do you want to take your family hiking or camping but feel unsure where to start, or wonder whether your family is even ready for outdoor adventures? Join friendly local experts from the Wenatchee River Institute & Wenatchee Outdoors for a low-pressure, fun-filled workshop series designed to help you explore the beauty of the Wenatchee area. Each indoor session will offer hands-on activities, games for kids, and tips for adults. Bring the whole family to one or all of the sessions on July 1st, 8th, and 15th at 5:00 pm. The fourth session on July 22nd will be an outdoor hike- location to be determined.
No registration required!

CONTACT INFO
Virginia Shoup
vshoup@wenatcheeriverinstitute.org
509-548-0181, Ext 5

De Roux Creek Trail (North Fork Teanaway River)
2025-07-08 08:00 - 16:00 | WA
Who: Washington Native Plant Society
Leaders: Don and Ann Schaechtel
Difficulty: Moderate, 6 miles with 1,400 ft of elevation gain
Limit: 8
The De Roux Creek trail starts in open forest, soon passes a beautiful meadow, then follows De Roux Creek before climbing to reach an upper meadow. There is a lot to see on this trail–the plant list names over 200 species List. Highlights include elephants head, cliff penstemon, and Columbia lewisia. We will go midweek to avoid the crowds. Sign up and receive more details by sending an email to don.safety@nwi.net
