The Loop is Wenatchee's most famous hike/bike trail. Along the western bank of Wenatchee's riverfront, the paved trail follows a series of riverside parks along the Columbia River. Next, the trail crosses the Odabashian Bridge (Highway 97) on the northside of town. Then it follows the much wilder waterfront of East Wenatchee before recrossing the Columbia on the Pedestrian Bridge (the first bridge spanning the Columbia built back in 1908) and returns to the starting point.
This is a popular trail for strollers, walkers, and runners of all stripes--serious fitness fanatics, parents, kids, families, senior citizens and rubberneckers. Besides walkers, you'll see bicyclists, joggers, in-line skaters, dog walkers and more.
Map: View our topo map (8.5’x11” portrait/landscape or 8.5”x14” portrait/landscape). Note: use ‘Print Preview’ before printing to properly scale this map to a full sheet of paper.
Activities: Walking, road biking, skating, running
Nearest Towns: Wenatchee and East Wenatchee
Skill Level: 1
Fitness Level: WALKING/BIKING: 1; RUNNING: 2
Access: There are many access points to the Loop. A few include:
1) If you're riding or walking around the downtown core, head east on First Street. At First Street and Wenatchee Avenue, a covered walking-cycling bridge takes you over the railroad tracks to Riverfront Park.
2) Drive Fifth Street east (downhill and toward the river) until it ends in Riverfront Park. Park here and walk toward the river to find a paved trail.
3) Take 9th Street east toward the river until it merges into Walla Walla St. Follow this north for about half mile and turn right into Walla Walla Point Park. Park here and, again, walk toward the river to find the trail.
4) If you're in East Wenatchee, follow 19th St NW west toward the river. At the bottom of 19th, turn left and park next to the Douglas County Services Bldg. Then, walk toward the river to find the trail.
Trip Instructions: Once on the trail, go left or go right. Go far enough (10.5 miles) and you’ll complete a circle that ends where you started. Alternately, head out in one direction as long as time or energy allows; then turn around.
Note: There is a nice paved extension to the Loop leading from the east side of the Pedestrian Bridge to Hydro Park downstream of East Wenatchee. One-way distance: 2.2 miles.
More Info: Click here for information about parks and sites found along this 10.5-mile, circular, paved trail giving a riverside view of both Wenatchee and East Wenatchee.
The city's cycling map of Wenatchee illustrates the best bike routes around town linking to the Wenatchee side of the Loop. It's worth printing.
The Chelan County PUD maintains much of the west side of the loop. Here's an excellent schematic map posted at their website.
Leave It Better Than You Found It: This should be every outdoor user’s goal. Pick up trash left by others, pull noxious weeds along your route, disperse old fire rings (they encourage more fires), throw branches over spur trails and spurs between switchbacks (make it harder to do the wrong thing than the right thing).
Important Disclaimer: Treat this information as recommendations, not gospel. Things change, conditions change, and those contributing these reports are volunteers--they may make mistakes, fail to give complete information, or may not know all the issues affecting a route. So forget about finger pointing: If things go wrong, you are completely responsible for yourself and your actions. If you can’t live with that, you are prohibited from using our information.