From wildlife watching and exploring ghost towns to taking in a rodeo, there’s no shortage of things to see and do in Washington’s Trail & Lakes Region.
For travelers visiting the north-central portion of Washington, consider these activities in Oroville, Conconully, Chelan, Orondo, and Wenatchee.
Spot Washington wildlife
Wade across the Okanogan River during low-flow summer and fall to reach the Driscoll Islands in the Sinlahekin Wildlife Area. See spawning steelhead, chinook salmon, Osoyoos sockeye, bighorn sheep and birds of prey making the most of the river feast.
Stroll through a ghost town
Once a boom town, Molson, just 30 minutes east of Oroville, went bust with the gold mines, grew with the emergence of the Great Northern Railway, then went bust again with the Great Depression. Today it’s a deserted ghost town that you can explore, with pioneer-era buildings and historic mining equipment still intact.
Attend quirky events.
Conconully (population 210) knows how to have fun, with wacky annual events like the Outhouse Race—each competing privy must be equipped with a toilet seat—in January. And at the Cowboy Caviar Fete every summer, local restaurants serve up their unique take on Rocky Mountain oysters.
Go to the rodeo
Every August the Omak Stampede invades with competitive rodeo events and the Colville Confederated Tribes’ Indian Encampment and Pow Wow, featuring a tepee village, dancing, drumming and stick games.
Try birding
Chelan’s Riverwalk Park is a prime place for bird-watching. Warblers, thrushes, goldfinches and even majestic eagles can be spotted here along the Chelan River.
Wander a garden oasis
Herman and Ruth Ohme purchased 40 acres of desolate, dry land—just north of what is modern-day Wenatchee—in 1929 and spent decades creating a natural oasis in the heart of the state. Today Ohme Gardens is a photographer’s paradise with waterfalls, pools, and breathtaking views of the Cascades.
Take in a ballgame
Root, root, root for the home team in Wenatchee, where the AppleSox take on other West Coast League contenders, such as the Walla Walla Sweets, Bellingham Bells and Corvallis Knights, in summer. Bring your own lawn chair and snag an up-close seat in the grass along the foul lines.