Jul 19, 2015

Grand Canyon of the Wenatchee

The Tumwater Canyon outside Leavenworth, WA could easily be called the Grand Canyon of the Wenatchee. Soaring peaks and tremendous ridgelines shroud the Wenatchee river's toughest whitewater deep within bedrock spires and cavernous canyon contours.

The name Tumwater is an old C'lallam indian word which means "the waters not at rest". Tumwater at just about any level is sure to stir up some excitement, whether just pulling over at the dam to listen to the roar and feel the spray, or just driving through the magnificent canyon and watching the water flow downstream... it will surely leave you with a sense of peace and gratitude.

Tumwater isn't all stout whitewater, especially as temps rise and water levels drop. The canyon itself hosts a multitude of beaches and small parking areas so that locals and visitors alike can enjoy summer near the water. Many rock climbing and bouldering spots within Tumwater also keep folks pleasantly entertained during hot days.

The river holds world class whitewater and is boatable well into the hot summer when everything else has long since dried up. C'mon out in spring for other area creek runs like Icicle Creek, Peshastin Creek, or even the Little Wenatchee! There are plenty of other runs will keep paddlers pumped as well as a top shelf play run on the main Wenatchee when levels bump during peak melt. Leavenworth has it all including a long season. This is a shot clip of my two favorite Tumwater rapids at perfect flows. Remember kids, it's just a pile of fluffy bunnies.