Leavenworth Trail Fest

The Leavenworth Ski Hill Area (10701 Ski Hill Drive) transforms into trail running headquarters every late May, hosting three distances that range from family-friendly to ultra-endurance. The Town 5K starts at 8:30 AM and gives beginners and youth runners a taste of mountain trails without overwhelming elevation. The Leavenworth Skyline 27K (starting at 8 AM for Elite, Masters 45+, and Sport divisions) climbs 3,800 feet via “The Nut” MTB trail system, then follows forest service roads to Tumwater Ridge (Tumwater Paraglider Launch parking area) where the Summit King and Queen are crowned. The course descends through Freund Canyon on fast downhill forest service roads before finishing at the Ski Hill festival area. For the truly ambitious, the Ski Hill 55K (starting at 7 AM) tackles two full loops of the 27K course, delivering 7,700+ feet of vertical gain and double the mountain views.

This is part of the Vert Running Series, attracting Pacific Northwest top mountain runners who scream through technical descents and power up steep climbs that test every level of trail fitness. The event is Trail Sisters Approved, providing equal podium spots, prize money, and awards for women, men, and non-binary categories (three deep in each). Finishers choose between a custom Leavenworth Trail Fest glass mason jar or having five trees planted in Washington via One Tree Planted. Everyone gets a post-race meal from La Javelina at the Trail Family Food Tent, with vegan-friendly options available. A Mountain Running Expo features trail running manufacturers showcasing the latest gear. Even non-racers enjoy the spectator-friendly course, which offers multiple viewing points for cheering and photographing runners against Cascade Mountain backdrops. Finish your trail day at Visconti’s (Leavenworth location opened 1999), where house-made pasta and wood-fired steaks provide the carb reload serious mountain athletes need.

Lake Wenatchee, 20 miles north, offers swimming and paddling that soothe trail-weary legs far better than any ice bath. Lake Chelan, an hour northeast, features waterfront restaurants and wine-tasting rooms where you can toast your finish time while watching boats drift across calm water. Lake.com lists lakefront cabins and homes at both destinations, perfect for trail runners who want to balance race weekend intensity with lazy mornings on private docks and afternoons floating in mountain-fed waters that restore tired muscles.