Icicle Creek

Icicle Creek winds roughly thirty-two miles eastward from the high alpine Josephine Lake near the Cascade crest through a dramatic granite gorge and classic glacier-carved U-shaped valley before joining the Wenatchee River near Leavenworth in Washington’s Chelan County. Its cold clear waters and rugged mountainous setting within the Alpine Lakes Wilderness and national forest make it a premier destination for outdoor recreation year-round. Hikers and backpackers explore scenic trails along the creek and into alpine lakes and meadows, anglers pursue trout in its pools, while paddlers enjoy whitewater kayaking on upper stretches and gentler floating or tubing lower down; camping abounds riverside and winter brings snowshoeing and cross-country skiing through snow-covered canyons.