SUMMER ROAD TRIP, DAY 44
Not only is Leavenworth a lovely mountain village, but it is also situated on the crystal clear waters of the Wenatchee River. On a 90 degree summer day, we couldn’t think of a better activity to choose than rafting and floating on the river.
It was a day of mixed emotions and scenic landscapes as we explored Wenatchee. We started out anxious for our day, had tense moments hurdling through rapids and then relaxed completely as we floated along the rolling river.
Osprey Rafting Company
Osprey Rafting Company, established in 1991, has been providing thrilling river fun and unforgettable memories to Leavenworth’s visitors for over 20 years. They provide trips for every level: high adventure Class IV, moderate Class III, and no sweat Class II trips, as well as family-friendly floats. Osprey guides are experienced and knowledgeable about all things river-related. They provide life jackets, booties and wet suits if needed. No wet suits were needed for us on the hot day. We were looking forward to jumping in the cool water!
Wenatchee River Late Summer Combo
We were on the Late Summer Combo trip which includes three Class III rapids, an inflatable kayak float and a barbecue at the end on Osprey’s private beach. The trip took just under four hours total. We walked to our launching point about 1/4 of a mile up the road and after a semi-alarming safety speech of what to do, not do and all the things that could go wrong but probably wouldn’t, we were off!
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We were on a boat with five others, making our raft group a total of eight with the guide. We had a blast navigating and paddling over the water of the Class II and Class III rapids.
“Class 3: Whitewater, small waves, maybe a small drop, but no considerable danger. May require significant maneuvering. (Skill level: Some experience in rafting)”
The water levels of the Wenatchee River are the highest in May, June and early July. As the water level decreases so does the intensity of the rapids. Based on the time of year, the rafting was not considerably intense, but we enjoyed it nonetheless.
After about an hour, we jumped in our kayaks and made our way down the river. We cruised by beautiful cabins, osprey nests and vigorous trees that line the banks. It was so enjoyable, we’re now considering buying a two person inflatable kayak of the same brand that we used, like this one. It was shocking how well they worked even though they were inflatable! Portable and functional are definite selling points.
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Our final stop was Osprey’s private beach for hamburgers, hot dogs, watermelon, salsa, and chips. We were starved so the barbecue was a perfect end to the rafting trip.
After the barbecue we hopped in the van to head back. It was a great day to get out on the water and our experience with Osprey Rafting was outstanding.
Know Before You Go
- Osprey Rafting, 9342 Icicle Road, Leavenworth, WA (509) 548-6800
- Reservations recommended (especially weekends)
- Wear sunscreen and/or hat
- Only bring sunglasses if you have a sport band attached
- Wear swimsuit and bring a set of dry clothes (you can change at the office or have them bring it on the bus when they pick up)
- The office will hold your car keys
- Photos of your trip are available at the office
And so our epic 80 day summer road trip continues – 12 U.S. states, 1 Canadian province and 11 national parks. For the upcoming months, I will be sharing with you our highlights, lowlights, adventures, favorite spots, best tips and our thoughts on three months of road tripping and living in a pop up. I’ll try to answer any and all of your questions too! You can also follow our journey via Facebook, Twitter or Instagram.
Miles Driven: 0
Total Road Trip Miles Driven: 6,920
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Average Gas Price per Gallon: $2.67
State: Washington
All States Visited: Wisconsin, Minnesota, South Dakota, Wyoming, Montana, British Columbia & Alberta Provinces
If you would like to see our full itinerary, start at the beginning here. And Start at Day One here.
Thank you Leavenworth Chamber of Commerce and its associates for hosting us. All words and opinions, however, are my own.
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Thanks for following along! Have you been rafting? What was your experience like?
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