Leavenworth in the Winter: 18 Magical Reasons to Visit!

Leavenworth is beautiful year-round, but I think it’s especially charming during the winter. The city really transforms into a true winter wonderland! About 89 inches of snow blanket Leavenworth over the course of each winter. In this post, I’m sharing 18 reasons to visit Leavenworth in the winter.  

18 Winter Activities

1. Attend a Winter Festival

Leavenworth is the most magical during the winter festivals. There are three festivals that typically occur each winter. These are:

• Christkindlmarkt (November): Start your holiday shopping by visiting this German-style outdoor market! The festival occurs every Thanksgiving weekend. The festival takes place in Front Street Park and in the Leavenworth Festhalle. It’s a family-friendly event with lots of food and entertainment. There’s even a lantern-decorating activity and parade for children. 
• Christmastown – Village of Lights (December): Celebrate with the village as they light the town’s Christmas tree! Holiday events take place through the entire month of December. There will be carolers, live music, Santa photos, and over half a million lights. 
• Winter Karneval (January): Prepare to be wowed by the many ice and snow sculptures.  Be sure to check the Winter Karneval website to confirm dates and activities. The festival is based off the German tradition Fasching.

2. Visit the Leavenworth Reindeer Farm

The Leavenworth Reindeer Farm is a great place to visit throughout the year, but especially the winter. They offer farm tours plus special tours where you get to meet Santa. Guests of all ages and abilities are welcome, although children under three years old will need to be held in the reindeer enclosure. Admission tickets are required, and the farm recommends that you book your tickets two months in advance. Included in the price of admission is hot cocoa, cider, and cookies. 

3. Eat a Beautifully-Decorated Gingerbread Cookie

When you first enter the Gingerbread Factory, the wall on the left is decorated with dozens of gingerbread cookies, all grouped by special themes. You might see wedding gingerbread cookies, luau gingerbread cookies, and even farm animal gingerbread cookies. It’s worth visiting just to see their display wall! 

At their display counter, there are all sorts of gingerbread cookies available for purchase. There are decorated gingerbread men, gingerbread men without decorations, and cookies decorated with German sayings. You’ll also find decorated sugar cookies, cinnamon rolls, breads, and pastries. It’s a great spot to stop in for a cookie and an espresso.

If you’re looking for a kid-friendly activity that doesn’t require an entire day of baking, you can pick up some of the gingerbread men without decorations (they’re called “skinny dippers”), and decorate them at your hotel.

4. Go for a Sleigh Ride in Leavenworth

Want to create a magical Christmas memory? Book your very own sleigh ride! Both Icicle Outfitters and Eagle Creek Ranch offer sleigh rides during the winter. Icicle Outfitters accepts reservations and walk-ins. At the time of this writing, an adult ticket for a sleigh ride was $22.16 plus tax. They also offer reservations for private sleigh rides. Eagle Creek Ranch offers sleigh rides through their 1.8 mile track, which takes approximately 35 minutes. An adult ticket is $25, and there’s also the opportunity to reserve a private sleigh ride. 

5. Check Out the Leavenworth Nutcracker Museum

The Leavenworth Nutcracker Museum has the largest collection of nutcrackers in the world. (There are over 7,000 of them!) You’ll learn all about the different methods and techniques that people have used to crack open nuts from all over the world. (And you’ll learn about why they are a Christmas tradition!)

6. Bring Home a Personalized Christmas Ornament

Leavenworth has its very own store devoted to all things Christmas: Kris Kringl. The shop has two full floors of Christmas decorations, ornaments, and Christmas village sets. On the second floor, there is a table where you can choose an ornament to have personalized for your family. It’s a perfect souvenir for your trip.

7. Play in the Snow

The best place to play in the snow in Leavenworth is at the Leavenworth Ski Hill, which is located within two miles of downtown Leavenworth. You have to try tubing down their snow hill. For $23, you can have six runs down their hill. Tubes are provided, and all ages are welcome. (Although please note that guests under 8 years old must be supervised by an adult.) The Leavenworth Ski Hill also has a sledding hill. It costs $9 to use their hill, and sled rentals are not available. It’s also a great place to build snowmen or make snow angels.

8. Go Skiing or Snowboarding at Stevens Pass 

Whether you’re an experienced or not, you’ll have a great time at Stevens Pass Mountain Resort. They provide gear rentals and classes if you’re just beginning. There are 37 major runs and 10 chairlifts. The ski resort is about 35 miles west of Leavenworth. There’s also a shuttle that runs between Leavenworth and Stevens Pass. 

9. Go on a Snowmobiling Tour

One unique experience to experience during the winter is snowmobiling! Leavenworth Snowmobiling Tours provides all the gear you need: the snowmobiles, snowmobile suits, boots, gloves, and helmets. They just recommend that you bring a pair of sunglasses and potentially a neck warmer if it’s particularly cold. Drivers need to be at least 16 years old (and 18 years old to drive with a passenger). Children need to be 5 years or older to ride on a snowmobile. 

10. Go Dogsledding

You probably have seen clips of dogsledding in the Iditarod, but did you know you can try dogsledding in Leavenworth? You can book a one-hour tour that will take you through 7 miles of powder. It’s a bit expensive ($165 per adult), but it will certainly be a once-in-a-lifetime experience. Rides leave from a trailhead 16 miles west of Leavenworth, so plan ahead!

11. Have an Ice Cold Brew at Icicle Brewing Company

Icicle Brewing Company is one of the signature microbreweries of the region. Their taproom is located downtown and many of their beers are named for geographical features in the Leavenworth area (like the Enchantments Hazy IPA Series). 

12. Have a Glass of Wine at Icicle Ridge Winery

Whether you visit the tasting room downtown, or make the drive to the nearby town of Peshastin to see their flagship winery, you will be sure to enjoy the award-winning wine at the Icicle Ridge Winery. If you visit the main winery in Peshastin, you’ll enjoy your tasting in a rustic 5,000 square foot log home. 

13. Go Cross Country Skiing

There are three trails located within Leavenworth that can be used with a fee: Icicle River Trail Office (intermediate level), Ski Hill (advanced level), and Golf Course (intermediate level). The Icicle River Trail is open from 8am to 2pm and is 3km in length. The trail runs directly behind downtown and along the Wenatchee River. The Ski Hill offers 7km of nordic trails. Finally, the Golf Course has 8km of trails and welcomes beginners.

14. Go Snowshoeing 

There are at least a half dozen places you can go snowshoeing in the Leavenworth region, such as the Leavenworth Winter Sports Club and Lake Wenatchee State Park. If you don’t have your own gear, there’s no need to worry. There are rental providers in town (like Arlberg Sports Haus and Der Sportsmann). When renting equipment, also be sure to inquire about any necessary permits or admission tickets that may need to be purchased in advance.

15. Eat Some Strudel

The Danish Bakery offers three types of strudels: apple, cherry, and raspberry cream cheese. You’ll definitely feel like you’re in Bavaria with a strudel in your hand! (We recommend buying a few for breakfast the next morning too.)

16. Spend a Cozy Game Night In

After a day of fun in the snow, visit Leavenworth’s game store: Krampus Kave. (The store is named after the German demon Krampus, which punished misbehaving children at Christmas time.) The store has lots of different party games and strategy games, in addition to comic books and memorabilia. 

17. Go for a Carriage Ride

Listen to the clickety-clack of horseshoes as your meander through town with a carriage ride provided by Hans Christian Andersen Carriage Company. At the time of this writing, it costs $40 for the first two riders and $5 for each additional rider (cash only). The rides are first-come, first-served. If you’d like to purchase, look for the carriage at the Mai Pole in Front Street (just west of the gazebo). Snuggle in with your love or bring the family!

18. Warm Up with a Spa Day

We recommend that you stay at the Posthotel, which has an entire floor dedicated to hydrotherapies. (We wrote a full post on why we love staying at this hotel!) The Pool and Wellness Center has 7 saunas and steam rooms, each uniquely decorated. For example, some have specific aromatherapies (like eucalyptus or lavender), some have dry heat, and others have thick steam. There’s even cooling plunge pools and a large indoor/outdoor pool. It’s only open, though, to hotel guests. Book your reservations far in advance… it’s a popular place to stay!

Disclosure: This post may contain affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate, I may earn commissions from qualifying purchases. 

 

Important Information

The average temperature of Leavenworth during the winter months is approximately a high of 34 degrees and a low of 21 degrees Fahrenheit. Be sure to check specific weather conditions before your trip.

When Does it Usually Snow?

I called some of the local hotels to ask when snow typically begins to fall and when the snow begins to melt each year. Locals told me that snow season usually begins in mid-December and lasts through the end of February. (Although this can vary by year. You can always call ahead before your trip to ask about current snow conditions.)

Do You Need Chains to Drive Over Stevens Pass?

Chains are usually required when there is especially heavy snow on the pass. Sometimes the pass may be closed if there is a particularly bad storm, although it’s fairly rare. Before you depart, you should consult the Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT) website for current travel advisories for Stevens Pass. Chains are not always required, but they can be required depending on current road conditions. A vehicle with 4 Wheel Drive is usually recommended.

Disclosure: This post may contain affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate, I may earn commissions from qualifying purchases. 

If you’re nervous about driving to Leavenworth during the winter, you can book a tour that includes transportation from the Seattle area to Leavenworth. 

What Are Road Conditions Typically Like?

Leavenworth does a great job of keeping the streets clear during the winter. During the winter festivals, you’ll likely encounter heavy traffic as people try to drive through town. Give yourself plenty of time. If you have any reservations or appointments, call ahead and ask the staff how much time you should allocate for driving. (For example, although the Leavenworth Reindeer Farm isn’t too far from town, on busy days it can take a lot longer to arrive there than you might think!)

You can see all our posts on Washington State by clicking here!

We wrote an entire post on where to eat in Leavenworth (linked here). But briefly, here’s some restaurants we recommend:

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Summary

We hope you enjoyed this list of what to do in Leavenworth in the winter! We recommend that you start making reservations as soon as possible, because visiting Leavenworth during the holiday season is especially busy. We highly recommend that you visit Leavenworth and enjoy the magic of Christmas-time.

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Disclaimer: We always strive for content accuracy. Since the time of publishing, travel-related information regarding pricing, schedules, and hours may have changed. Please look up such information directly from each vendor or institution for the most current information.