Wenatchee
3. Leavenworth to Cashmere
| Difficulty | III+ |
| Length | 17 mi |
| Avg Gradient | n/a |
| Gauge | Wenatchee River at Peshastin, Wa |
| Flow Rate as of 27 minutes | 1520 cfsIIIlow runnable |
| Reach Info Last Updated | April 28, 2025 |
As the winter wears on, west-side boaters dream of the big Wenatchee play waves, sunny eastern Washington skies, and lounging on the grass at the Cashmere take-out. The most popular season for this run is late spring as soon as the snow melt kicks into gear, through the summar as long as snowmelt lasts. Don't expect to find either solitude or a scenic wilderenss setting. While this run has some of the best playboating in the state, it's not uncommon to find yourself waiting in lines in the eddies (often you can get the river to yourself on weekdays or during the early morning on the weekend). Apple orchards have dominated the streamside vegetation here but over the years they have transitioned to home site as riverside land has increased in value. It's hard not to enjoy the experience though and for those feeling the need for an audience or a look at the season's newest playboats (or the museum pieces the old timers bring out) this is the place to find it.
Leavenworth Town Segment, 2 miles, class II
The first segment in town from the Icicle Creek Road Bridge features the easiest whitewater as the river calms down after its wild romp down Tumwater Canyon. While the water is swift and cold in the spring, these section is often enjoyed by tubers and SUPs in the summer when the water is a little warmer.
Leavenworth to Peshastin, 5 miles, class II-III
Starting in Leavenworth the first major rapid is Boulder Bend which is just downstream of the Highway 2 bridge. At higher flows you can find some good surf waves and dodge a few holes on the outside (river left) of the bend. Be aware of wood hazards which can collect along the river left shore. Those looking for the easier line can stay to the right on the inside of the bend.
Once you get through Boulder Bend, the river is mostly swift flatwater for a few miles until you get to Peshastin. Happy Wave, a fun little surf spot on river right with it's on private access point is
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Access point in Leavenworth at the upstream end of town. Sometimes used as a put-in for a short 2 mile tubing run or SUP paddle in Leavenworth. This access is managed by the City of Leavenworth and does not require a fee.
A standard put-in on river right in Leavenworth, across the river from the center part of town, suitable for all watercraft including rafts. This is the most common access point for full day trips starting in Leavenworth and proceeding down to Cashmere. This access is managed by the City of Leavenworth and does not require a fee.
Access on river left in Leavenworth at the end of Main Street with a large parking area and porta potties. It's a short walk to the beach from the parking area suitable for hand-carry craft. The site is popular through the summer as a community beach access and used by tubers and stand up paddleboarders.
This is the first rapid with some good waves to surf and a few holes to dodge towards the river left side or you can sneak most of it by staying to the river right side. River mile 23.5.
A well-know community park-and-play spot (private access) particularly as flows drop. River mile 21.5.
Popular river access for a full day on the river that takes in the good rapids but requires a portage of the dam at Dryden. This access is managed by Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife and requires a Discover Pass parking permit. River mile 19.3.
Fun Waves and Holes. The bigger hole right of center is Satan's Eyeball. River mile 18.5.
Access site maintained by Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife adjacent to Dryden Dam. Prevously the site was managed by Washington DOT with a gate that was often closed. Access is on river right both upstream and downstream of the dam and a portage route is avaialble for those traveling downstream.
Utilize the portage trail on the right to avoid the deadly hydraulic that forms below this dam. The dam is operated and maintained by Chelan PUD. River mile 17.7.
A couple nice surf waves with easy eddy service on river right. River mile 16.5.
Pull out along Stine Hill Road at river level on river right often used as an access point for kayakers doing a quick play run that starts upstream of Rodeo Hole.
The classic Wenatchee playspot. At lower flows the hole will not be in but you can often find some good surf. River mile 14.
Access site maintained by Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife on river right just downstream of Rodeo Hole. You can attain back up to the hole from the eddy at the access point.
Drunkard's underwent a dramatic but tempoary change with a landslide during the winter of 2012 that deposited a big boulder in the river near the cliff on river left that has since shifted. Trinity Wave is a great play feature on river left that appears at higher flows (10,000 cfs). The Jacuzzi wave on river right is a fun surf feature with good eddy access from river right. USGS river mile 13.3.
Good surf spot for building skills on river left. It is one of the most consistent performing play spots on the river that is accessible and provides good surfing at a wide range of flows. You can spend hours here and many pull out a snack and relax on the rocks. River mile 12.5.
Lots of holes and waves characterize this rapid. The clean line changes at flows but it is pretty straight forward read-and-run or point your bow upstream and see how many waves you can catch on the fly. River mile 10.9.
Granny's forms a great surf wave in the middle of the river right channel with eddy service. It is notable as a play feature that is still pretty good at the lower range of fllows. Suffocator is just below and sometimes it is good for catch-on-the-fly surf and at other times (higher flows) you might want to pass it by. River mile 10.5.
Popular take-out for the main run on the Wenatchee on river right at the park in Cashmere marks the end of the class III rapids. River mile 10.
Jun 13, 2026
Watch out for a lot of sharp, metal debris in the water, especially closer to the take out. Saw a commercial boat come in to the Dryden portage with a deflated side tube and they had to do an emergency repair. So watch out!
The other major change: the take out is now even more complicated. At 5000+ cfs, the entry chute is shallow and the current in front of the ramp is fast, and the Eddie upriver of it has gotten smaller. Not sure how it will look at higher flows, but the Eddie in front of the beach downriver of the ramp is pretty much gone. Running it at 3500 and 2800 cfs, we actually had to get out and walk the boat down the chute and to the take out, then wrestle it over more rocks to get it to the ramp.
The coolest thing we saw while on the river on the 3500 cfs day, was a black bear, swimming in the river in a deep pool below boulder bend. It was incredible, one of the coolest wildlife sightings I have ever seen on the river.
Jan 29, 2026
A site visit to Dryden Dam and Cashmere to view site conditions following December 2025 floods that peaked at 38,000 cfs.
Apr 20, 2024
About 3/4 miles after the Auto Return Rapid (or the US 2 bridge by Dryden) on the left channel around an island a large rock that used to be known as the 'Troll's nose' is now in the water. It has fresh breaks with sharp edges. Move river right as you travel the light rapids that the island channel creates to avoid. Easy to avoid if you set up early at 3300 cfs.
