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beExploring · Trip Reports · Washington · East Wenatchee
Rocky Reach Trail
The most direct paved connection between Lincoln Rock State Park and downtown Wenatchee, following the Columbia River past Rocky Reach Dam before tying into the Apple Capital Loop Trail. It's an easy, flat ride or wal…
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At a Glance
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Distance
5.5 miles, one way
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Elevation Gain
187 ft
landscape
High Point
740 ft
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Activity
Hike
Best For
RiverDogs AllowedClose to TownDiscover PassPhoto Highlights · June 2026
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Why Go
The Rocky Reach Trail is a 5.5-mile paved, non-motorized trail running along the east bank of the Columbia River between Lincoln Rock State Park and Wenatchee, passing directly beneath Rocky Reach Dam along the way. Built on land owned by WSDOT and Chelan County PUD after a decades-long legal fight with neighboring orchardists, the trail ties into the Apple Capital Loop Trail at its southern end near East Wenatchee, making it possible to ride from Lincoln Rock all the way into downtown Wenatchee and around the Loop Trail's 10-mile circuit through Confluence State Park. It's an easy, mostly flat route well suited to road biking, jogging, and walking, though there's little shade and the stretch near the dam runs beneath a maze of transmission lines with Highway 97 close by. A gate near the dam enforces seasonal hours each spring to accommodate neighboring orchard operations, so check the schedule below before planning a longer ride.
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Route & Map
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Getting There
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Directions
From the north, park at Lincoln Rock State Park (about 5 miles north of Wenatchee on Highway 97) and head south. From Wenatchee, park at Confluence State Park or Walla Walla Point Park, ride the Loop Trail north across the Odabashian Bridge to the east side of the Columbia River, descend to river level, and join the Rocky Reach Trail as it passes under the highway bridge. From East Wenatchee, park at the 27th Street Trailhead, follow the Loop Trail north for about a mile, then continue north on the Rocky Reach Trail along the river. A Discover Pass is required at Lincoln Rock and Confluence State Park.
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Parking
There are several parking options depending on where you start. From the north, use Lincoln Rock State Park (about 5 miles north of Wenatchee on Highway 97). From Wenatchee, park at Confluence State Park or Walla Walla Point Park. From East Wenatchee, park at the 27th Street Trailhead. A Discover Pass is required at Lincoln Rock and Confluence State Park.
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Field Notes · Personal Trip Report
Closed Gates and Ospreys
A midday stroll with my 8-month-old puppy along the Columbia River ran into a seasonal gate closure near Rocky Reach Dam, but still turned up circling ospreys and a good excuse to come back on a bike.
calendar_today June 11, 2026
straighten 1.75 miles, round trip · 50 ft gain
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After strolling around Lincoln Rock State Park, which is a very nice park along the banks of the Columbia River, my puppy Summit and I made our way to the start of the Rocky Reach Trail. The trail starts at the southern edge of the park, near the parking area next to the playfield.
Start of the trail
There was a sign right at the start of the trail that mentioned the hours, which I failed to fully read - it stated seasonal hours from April 1st to June 30th were from noon to dusk were in effect .9 miles ahead. It didn't really matter, as I would have still gone on the trail anyways, and with the heat and my 8 month old puppy, I wasn't expecting to walk a long way. But a group of bikers coming back apparently hadn't noticed either, and they let me know the trail ahead was closed. They had been planning on connecting to the Apple Capital Loop Trail.
My puppy on the trail
Apparently the construction of the trail was quite contentious, and there was a legal battle over 10 odd years. Some local orchardists were concerned that they could be held liable for the health effects of spray chemicals used on the fruit trees causing problems with recreationalists on the trail. I'm assuming the seasonal closure is in response to that concern, and one to keep in mind if you plan on using the trail in April, May or June.
The trail itself is in good shape, with a nice wide paved pathway. It's a great trail for biking, and makes for a nice walk as well from Lincoln Rock State Park. I wouldn't say this part of the trail wasn't particularly scenic, as it passes by the outskirts of the Rocky Reach Dam, with a maze of power lines running overhead and no view yet of the Columbia River.
Passing by Rocky Reach Dam
Walking past Rocky Reach Dam, I came to a small bridge passing over a gully, and then maybe a quarter mile past that there was another bridge and the trail was closed at this point. It would have been nice to walk a little bit further, but it was beginning to heat up and this wasn't too bad of a turn around point for me and my puppy.
On the walk back I noticed some Ospreys flying overhead and watched as they made their way to their nest, which was resting on one of the large power poles near the dam. It looked like they might be feeding one of their young in the nest, but it was hard to clearly make out.
Closed section of the trail
Osprey
I passed one other group of bikers and a person walking their dog, but it was a quiet outing beside that. I'd like to come back and bike this trail with my son one of these days. It looks like there is a little bit of a drop in elevation once you get farther past the dam, but otherwise it appears fairly flat and would be a fun ride into Wenatchee.
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on this trip report · Jun 2026
beExploring / Wenatchee
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