Leavenworth Snowshoe Day Tour from Seattle

SAMPLE ITINERARY

7:30-8:00AM Seattle to Leavenworth Begins with Downtown Pickups Generally, our last pickup for each tour occurs at the Sheraton Grand in Seattle. This isn’t always the case – so check with us – but we consider it a default location for anyone staying outside of downtown. Let our team know where you’re staying and we’ll do everything we can to make your pickup as easy as possible.

8:00AM Head east towards the Cascade Mountains Enjoy the beautiful drive from city to suburbs to foothills to mountains as we make our way to our first destination of the day. We’re happy to offer centralized pickup options en route to Leavenworth upon request at:

• Bellevue Area
• Issaquah Area

9:30AM Warm Drinks + Mountain Adventures Warm up with some fresh coffee or tea this morning, then depart along a beginner-friendly hiking or snowshoe trail with your guide depending on the conditions. Never snowshoed before? Don’t worry! Your guide will provide an introductory lesson and helpful tips to get you started on the right foot.

Enjoy meandering through a forested trail, watch out for wintering birds fluttering around, and learn about the Cascade Mountain ecosystem around you from your guide along the way.

1:00-4:00PM Wander through Leavenworth Arrive to town just in time to find yourself some lunch and wander the festive streets on your own for a couple of hours. Discover the handmade goods, sip and taste local wines and cheeses, feel the luxury of fine clothes and jewelry, or find your next favorite holiday decor amongst the 55+ shops tucked within the small mountain town.

As sunset draws near, enjoy the iconic holiday light display that takes over the town and draws in visitors from around the world.

4:00PM Begin Your Journey Back to Seattle Around 4:00 we’ll start to head back towards the Emerald City. Enjoy a peaceful ride back through diverse scenery as we make our way home to Seattle.

7:00PM Downtown Seattle Drop-Offs We’ll drop travelers off where we found them (or another preferred spot nearby).

Since Leavenworth has so many wonderful restaurant options, lunch is not included in this tour so you have the option to enjoy something that sounds good to you!

We will determine the appropriate trail for the day based on the snow levels and conditions before deciding which trail to take. You can anticipate either a 1-2 mile snowshoe or a 1.5-3mile hike on this tour depending on the day through a forested, beginner friendly trail. Other trail options may be substituted based on weather and trail conditions.

You will have approximately 3 hours to explore the town on your own. Your guide will let you know the time and location to meet back up before you head off to wander the town.

About 3 hours. Don’t worry though, we’ll break up the drive in the morning with a forest snowshoe walk and you’ll have a restroom break halfway through on the drive back.

Mountains – The weather can be quite cold and there is a lot of snowfall in the high mountains. The temperatures can be 15-20 degrees Farenheit colder than you will experience in Seattle. It is important for your safety and comfort and the enjoyment of the group that you dress appropriately for the tour. Avoid cotton materials like shirts, sweatshirts and denim jeans. These will not keep you warm enough for this climate. See our recommendations below and reach out to us if you need to borrow anything for your tour day.

Our Suggestions:

Top – Layers are your friend! For optimal warmth and comfort follow these guidelines Layer 1 – Wear a wool or synthetic long sleeve base layer shirt (avoid cotton shirts or sweatshirts) Layer 2 – Mid layers should be made of fleece, wool or soft shell materials Layer 3 – Insulate with a down or down synthetic jacket Layer 4 – Make sure to wear a waterproof exterior jacket or raincoat (some jackets have your insulation and waterproof shell built into one!)

Bottom – Wear warm hiking pants made of synthetic materials (not cotton or denim,) so that they are breathable, lightweight and quick drying. Wear a pair of long johns or an insulating base-layer underneath your pants for warmth and if you have ski or rain pants to layer over your pants, bring those along to keep you dry

Shoes – Waterproof snow or hiking boots are required for our winter snowshoe tours. This is for your safety as much as your comfort. Sneakers, Crocs, sandals, flat-soled or soft-sided shoes are not allowed. If you do not have proper footwear or do not want to travel with your boots, we have waterproof boot rentals available with advance notice. Please reach out to our team to organize this. We also recommend thick warm (non-cotton) socks to keep your feet warm.

Accessories – Bring a warm pair of gloves, a scarf, and a warm hat. We also recommend bringing an extra pair of dry socks for the drive home in case your shoes collect any snow along the way, you’ll be glad you did!

Backpack – You may wish to have a small daypack with you to keep personal items, accessories, extra layers and water nearby

If you are concerned about having the appropriate gear to keep you safe and comfortable on a winter tour in the mountains, please contact our team before your tour to find out about borrowing extra layers or renting waterproof boots!

If you need parking, you can meet us at our office and not downtown. Just include this info upon checkout.

So you’ve heard it rains in the Northwest? Our guides craft the best itinerary for the day to accommodate the weather. We run our tours rain or shine because the Pacific Northwest is stunning regardless of what the weather may bring. Frequently, wet weather only lasts an hour or so before things start to improve again.

Our best piece of advice – there’s no such thing as bad weather, just bad gear! If you are concerned about the weather in the forecast, give us a call to inquire about borrowing winter clothing for the day.

Did you know that Houston, Chicago, and even New York City get more rain than our two home cities?