May-June, 2023
Off we go to explore!
We three campers/explorers all climbed into one of our vehicles and drove from our campsites to an access point that was near a hiking trail that ran right along both sides of Icicle Creek. Here’s the map below. Our campground, Eightmile Campground, was right next to Icicle Creek, but it was further to the right, to the east, than the map shows, and it didn’t have access to this long trail that ran along both sides of Icicle Creek.
At this point in its journey, Icicle Creek runs from the west to the east. It starts west of here, WAY up in the ice cold Cascade Mountains that, this time of year, are still full of snow. Then Icicle Creek wends its way eastward through major mountains and valleys, eventually emptying into the Wenatchee River right inside the town of Leavenworth. At one point on our exploration, I did put my fingers into Icicle Creek … oh my heart, was it COLD!!
And so we drove to the access point, parked at the “Trailhead” on the map above, then hiked along the trail westward (to the left). We crossed Icicle Creek at Rock Island Bridge, and then we hiked back to the right, to the east, along the opposite side of Icicle Creek, eventually crossing Jack Creek, and then twice crossing Trout Creek, eventually reaching Chatter Creek Bridge. We crossed that bridge and hiked our way back up to the parking lot. It took a few hours to work our way through all of this, but it sure was worth it. It was wonderful! We stopped often to look and enjoy and take photos.
Ok … so … let’s get going …
The parking lot (above) was not full! It pays to go camping early in the year and mid-week.
Access to the trail is in through that dark area on the right, in between two trees.
Just a few minutes on the trail brought us out to a view point above Icicle Creek.
Looking upstream (above and in the video below).
From the same spot, I turned and looked downstream … in the photo and the video below.
And then on up river we went still heading west. When we were in sunshine, it was warm! When we were in shade, it was chilly.
The photo below is of a small creek that flows into Icicle Creek. This reminds me that I thought Icicle Creek was mis-named. It had a LOT of water in it, a torrent of water moving fast! A “creek” to me is small and meandering … Icicle Creek was not small not meandering. The water was plentiful and fast and it was loud. But this little tributary creek was sweet.
Further on up the trail … one tree (below) was being used by birds and probably other critters, but the tree right next to it hadn’t been touched. We wondered why.
There were even more entrance holes in the tree around on the other side of it … maybe this tree was dying and the wood was rotting? So bugs and birds used it instead of the neighbor tree?
And then, further on … this little Douglas Squirrel peeked out from behind a tree trunk. They are native to the Pacific Northwest. [When this blog post is published, the “Header” will still be a horizontal photo of this Douglas Squirrel. You can click on “HEADER PHOTOS” at the top of every page here to see all of the header photos I’ve used.]
“Don’t interrupt my lunch, Ann, I’m busy!”
Further up the trail. There were many interesting things to see. The three of us were almost the only people on the trail. It was a glorious day.
Eventually, we came to the western most point of our journey. You can see the Rock Island Bridge in the photo below. We chose a picnic table that was in the sunshine and right next to Icicle Creek and ate our lunches there.
The video below is of the creek east of the bridge, downstream from the bridge, right where our picnic table was.
Here’s the bridge again …
And here’s a short video of the water under the bridge. Look at that HUGE tree trunk right in the middle. Think about how much water must have been roaring through here to wash that tree trunk into that position.
But, back up on the trail, and approaching the bridge, there was this interesting sign listing all manner of destinations along hiking trails in the area.
And then we were on the bridge. In the middle of the bridge, I turned to the right and snapped the photo below of the water coming down towards the bridge. What a seemingly peaceful stream, yes? And yet, you’ve seen the torrents of water. What a spectacular world this is.
After walking across the bridge, we then turned to the left and headed east along Icicle Creek, but on the opposite side of the creek now, heading downstream.
It certainly was spring here!
Below … the foot bridge across Jack Creek.
Finally, we see the Chatter Creek Bridge in the distance (below). It will take us back across Icicle Creek, to the trail that leads back to the parking lot.
The two videos below run together … both were taken by me when I was on that bridge in the photo above. The first video below looks to the left, upriver, with the torrent of water coming down towards me and towards the bridge.
I took the next video below by simply turning to the right and looking at the water running under the bridge and then on down stream. Keep in mind, this little “creek” is currently running no where near its maximum flow. Maybe WAY up there somewhere in the Cascade Mountains, this waterway is a gentle, little creek. But down here, it’s powerful!
If you are ever in the Leavenworth, WA, area and have some time on your hands, this walk/hike is excellent! It’s beautiful. Icicle Creek is stunning especially in the spring when the icy mountain snowmelt fills its banks.
