Peshastin Pinnacles State Park is the state park nearest to Leavenworth, closer than Lake Wenatchee State Park. This day-use park located ten miles east of Leavenworth off Highway 2, three miles west of Cashmere, is open most of the year and well worth a visit.
The park, which was created in 1991, has 34 acres of public recreation space. The tooth-like pinnacles are sandstone rock slabs and spires set in desert terrain that rise above the Wenatchee River Valley. Below the pinnacles are orchards, vineyards, the Wenatchee River, and Dryden.
The park closes annually during the winter months for four and a half months from November 1st through March 15th. This helps to protect climbers and hikers from icy slopes and keep snow removal to a minimum.
The park is hard to miss from Highway 2 as they’re a distinctive geographic feature. From the park, the Cascade Range’s lofty peaks are visible to the west, across the valley, and to the east are the eastern foothills. Above the park, the foothills climb more than 3,000 feet higher than the valley floor.
Peshastin Pinnacle State Park is where the landscape transitions into stark, dry terrain. To the west are pine-covered slopes. To the east, are sage-covered hills with sparser vegetation. Wildlife at the park includes birds and marmots.
At Peshastin Pinnacles State Park, you can hike the switch-back trails, rock-climb the pinnacles, or enjoy a meal at the park’s picnic tables. The trails zigzag and are moderately steep.
There is a loop route through the Pinnacles making it a great place to stretch your legs and get some cardio without hiking too far from facilities.
While the park is known as a climbing park, Peshastin Pinnacles State Park is also great for nature lovers, photographers, and families. Bikes are not permitted.
At the top of the pinnacles, visitors can enjoy a 360-degree view of the amazing scenery. It’s a place even small children and healthy seniors can still enjoy.
The park is typically open from dusk till dawn for much of the year. There is no drinking water at the park so be sure to come prepared. The park has considerable sun exposure and can be scorching hot in the summer. The park is not ADA friendly.
The trail can be sandy and be on the lookout for rattlesnakes. Other drawbacks to the park could be its smaller size, power lines that run through the lower portion of the park, and be careful of erosion.
Peshastin Pinnacles State Park is on Dryden Road and there is signage directing you to the park from Highway 2. There is a fee to visit the park. You can purchase a Discovery Pass day-use pass or an annual pass that covers all Washington state parks for a twelve-month period.
The name of the park is a bit confusing as Peshastin is not the nearest community to the park. Peshastin is six miles west of the park. Peshastin Pinnacles State Park is just east of the small community of Dryden but it has a Cashmere address.
There are vaulted toilets in the bathrooms, but no potable water at the park. There are no campsites. For overnight camping stays, the nearest state park with camping is Wenatchee Confluence State Park, which is twelve miles east in Wenatchee.