The weather is heating up in the Seattle area, and with it comes our annual reminder that temperatures above 70 degrees really aren’t very pleasant if you like to be active outdoors like we do! But after so many months of cool and rainy weather, we’re bound and determined to soak up every ray of this precious Vitamin D and enjoy each moment of our all-too-short “real summer.” So what do we do to beat the heat? A Leavenworth river float is the perfect way to cool off while still enjoying time outside and taking in the breathtaking views along the Wenatchee River.

Where is Leavenworth?

Leavenworth is located about two hours east of Seattle in central Washington. You will travel on Highway 2 to get there, which is a beautiful and easy drive in the summer months when you don’t have to worry about snow in Stevens Pass. Leavenworth itself is a very fun, Bavarian-themed village. It’s especially popular around Christmas time when it’s beautifully illuminated with Christmas lights, but it’s a great place to visit year-round with plenty to do and impressive mountain views. 

How to Plan a Leavenworth River Float

If you want to do minimal planning and/or only have access to one vehicle, then your best bet is to book a Leavenworth river float through a tour company. If you’re interested in tubing on your own without a company, then read on for everything you need to know!

Plan for the right day and time

River tubing in the Leavenworth area is highly dependent on the weather and water levels. Tubing is typically doable from July through Labor Day, with higher water levels and colder water earlier in the year, and shallower, slower conditions as the summer goes on. If you’re looking to go earlier in the season, it’s wise to do some googling and check tubing company websites to see if they are currently running trips. You could even make a quick phone call to inquire about water levels and river speed if you want to cover your bases! It’s very important that you do your research and pay close attention to where you’re starting and ending your float to ensure your safety. That said, we’ve done the float described in this post numerous times in July and August and have always had a safe and fun time!

No matter when you go, the water in the Wenatchee River is quite cold, and depending what your tube is like, your butt may be down in the water throughout the duration of the float. Trust us when we say that you want hot and sunny weather to enjoy this activity. We’ve done it on cloudy and slightly chilly days, and it’s just not the same. Aim for a day with full sun (or at least mostly sunny) and temperatures above 85 degrees. Just be sure to lather on that sunscreen and drink plenty of water! 

You also don’t want to start the float too late in the day. With trees towering along the river bank, the sun will dip down earlier than you might think, leaving the water (and you) in the shade – brr! We learned that one the hard way too

Shuttle your vehicles

In order for your DIY Leavenworth river float to work as smoothly as possible, you will want to have two vehicles within your group. You will drop your group members and innertubes off at the start of the float (more on that below). Then you’ll want to drive both cars to the end of the float, park and leave one behind, and then have that driver hop in your car to go back to the start and park. When the float is over, your car will be there waiting and you can drive the other person back to the start to retrieve their car as well.

Tips for a Safe and Smart River Tubing Experience

Before you head out, we highly recommend checking out this article on smart tubing. It covers a lot of the basics that are good to know for your safety. We’re also sharing a few additional tips from our experience doing this float several times:

• Remember how draining the sun and water can be, especially for us Seattleites who don’t see the big orange guy very often! Pack plenty of water and sun protection.
• Keep trash to a minimum, and pack it ALL out. There’s nothing worse than seeing BudLight cans floating in this gorgeous river. We recommend bringing a dry bag that you can clip to your tube and put any trash in there right away so it doesn’t accidentally get away from you. You may also want a way to attach your sunglasses to you, or consider a hat instead. It seems like someone is always losing sunglasses on the river!
• You may want to bring a paddle to help navigate the river. We’ve never had too much trouble without one, but conditions can vary from day to day. The tubing companies typically provide frisbees to guests to use for paddling, which seems to work pretty well. Just be sure to not turn them into litter! 
• Water shoes are your friend. We’ll cover this again in the What to Pack section, but it’s worth stating twice. Secure water shoes will be clutch when you have to walk over rocks in flowing water.
• Use common sense. This is nature, not a lazy river at a waterpark. Research water levels before you go, stay alert, watch out for obstacles in the water, and keep an eye on your group members. 
• Don’t underestimate how tired you’ll be after the float! If you’re worried about making the long drive back to Seattle, consider planning in advance and book a spot to stay in town.

Where to Start and End Your Leavenworth River Float

Since so many people go through rafting companies, we found it hard to find clear information about how to do this Leavenworth river float on your own, including where to start and end. Our first time, we actually went to the end point thinking it was the start, inflated our giant raft, then realized we were in the wrong spot. We then opted to strap the raft to the roof of the car and (slowly) drove the few miles to the actual start, getting plenty of looks along the way. We’re hoping to save you from having the same issues we did with this Leavenworth river float map!

Where to Start

If approaching Leavenworth from the west (Seattle), you will turn right onto Icicle Road just as you start to head into town. There will be a 76 gas station on the corner that you can watch for to help you spot the turn. You will follow Icicle Road just under 1 mile, then you’ll come to a bridge that crosses the river. This is where you’ll start your Leavenworth river float. Assuming you’re going tubing on a decently nice day, you can pretty much count on seeing plenty of other people in the river starting their float, so you’ll know you’re in the right spot. The trick is to take a left on the unmarked road just before the bridge. From there it’ll be obvious where to stop and unload.

Parking here was limited, so if you’re doing the two-car method, you should plan to arrive early (we’ve typically arrived around 9 a.m. and were able to park). If the lot is full, you’ll need to get creative with finding a spot elsewhere and walking a little ways. It’s about two miles to walk/run between the end and the start of the float, so that’s always an option too if you get in a bind or only have one car (we did this method once).

Leavenworth River Float Map:

Where You’ll End

The end point for your Leavenworth river float will be at Waterfront Park in downtown Leavenworth. It will be obvious where you need to get out, as there are numerous warning signs telling you to not go past this point. 

Hopefully you will have found an awesome parking spot nearby so you can drop your stuff off at the car and go grab some food or explore the town when your trip is done. There are tons of options, so you won’t go hungry! Heidleburger is one of our favorite spots for quick food, with awesome burgers that really hit the spot after a long day in the sun and water.

How Long Does it Take to Complete this Leavenworth River Float?

The exact timing will vary depending on the river conditions and how often you paddle or stop, but it has typically taken us about 2-2.5 hours at a very leisurely pace. We typically only paddle if we need to redirect away from rocks or the bank, and just enjoy the ride the remainder of the time. 

Near the end of the float, you’ll come to a junction where you can either continue straight or go to the left around Blackbird Island. Going left will add 20-25 minutes to your trip so it’s a great option if you’re not ready to be done yet!

How Difficult is this Leavenworth River Float?

If done during the right conditions, this float is super duper easy, even for someone like me (Katie) who is a total baby when it comes to the water. There are virtually no rapids, just a few shallow spots over rocks, but we have had no trouble at all on past visits. The water can be deep in spots, so if you truly cannot swim, this is not the trip for you. But we found it to be a calm, smooth ride with no issues at all.

That said, this is nature and things can change in a heartbeat! Keep an eye on the weather and river conditions to make sure nothing is out of the ordinary (like flooding). Assess the river before you drop in. Do you see other people floating? Are the raft companies running as usual? Being observant and using common sense will help you make smart choices.

What to Pack for a Leavenworth River Float

• River tube (The more durable, the better. We’ve had good luck with this one. Also know that these tend to sell out during heat waves, so if you know you’ll want to float, it’s good to purchase your tube in advance)

• Sun protection (Sunscreen, sun shirt, hat, etc.)
• Sunglasses (At least one person always seems to lose their sunglasses. Leave your most expensive pair at home, and/or consider attaching them to yourself or opt for a hat instead)
• Water and a snack (We swear by Hyrdoflask water bottles, which keep your water totally cold even on really hot days)
• Dry bag and baggie for phone (Try to pack as light as you can, but for the items you must bring, you’ll definitely want a dry bag)
• Water shoes (These are so helpful if you need to walk in the river at all. Highly recommend a sturdy and secure pair such as these from Keen for women or men). 

• Towel and change of clothes to leave in the car for after you’re done

• Life jacket (Even if you don’t wear it the entire time, it’s good to have on you just in case of an accident)
• Paddle or frisbee (If you want to bring one to help navigate the river more easily – something like this would work great)

Please know that some of the links in this post are affiliate links and if you go through them to make a purchase, we will earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.

Additional Suggestions for the Leavenworth Area

If you’re looking to do more things in the area, check out this post for inspiration (scroll to the bottom) or this one, which provides recommendations for the nearby Wenatchee area. Looking for other ways to beat the heat? Consider a visit to one of Washington’s best beaches: Jetty Island, or head out to the incredibly beautiful Olympic coast.

We hope we’ve answered all of your questions about how to plan a safe and fun Leavenworth float trip, but please don’t hesitate to reach out with any questions. Stay cool and happy floating!