Recreation Ambassador Weekend Report - 6/27 & 28

 THIS REPORT COVERS BOTH THE TRAIL HEADS IN THE ENCHANTMENTS & RIVER LOCATIONS

Recreation Ambassador Program – Weekend Report 6/27 - 6/28

Weekend Summary:

This first week of the 2026 Recreation Ambassador program started off with all locations fully staffed. Upper Valley Historical Society covered the three forest service locations (Icicle Gorge, Eight-mile Trail head, and Colchuck/Stuart Lake trail head). Marlin handbell Ringers covered three River locations (Barn Beach, East Leavenworth Boat Launch, and the Leavenworth Fish Hatchery). With colder temperatures we saw less visitors than expected. For the river locations, Saturday started off slowly, but began to pick up on Sunday. The trail locations stayed consistent each day with Colchuck/Stuart Lake being the busier of the three locations. 

Volunteer Impact:

·      Visitor Interactions: Weekend Total: 1,565

·      Surveys Conducted: 57

·      Trash Removed: 1.5, 30 Gallon Bags

Survey Highlights (57 Surveys):

Visitor Origin:

·      29.3% of River users surveyed were local

·      Most Trail users surveyed were not local, with visitors from Oregon, California, Arizona, and Georgia

Recreation Type:

·      53.85% of hikers surveyed were headed to Colchuck Lake

·      65.38% Paddleboards, 30.77% Tubes, 3.85% kayaks, and 0% Rafts

Conditions Reported:

·      Multiple survey respondents complained of frisbees left in the river and lots of garbage. 

·      Respondents complained of lack of toilet paper in trailhead restrooms, Overflowing toilets and trash on trails. 

·      Eight-Mile Trailhead has multiple downed logs over the trail.

Post-Recreation Plans:

·      After the river about 74.2% of people planned to go to their lodging while 25.8% of people planned to go to a restaurant in town. 

·      After hiking about 61.54% planned to go to a restaurant in town, 50% Lodging, 42.31 shopping, 7.69% other recreation, and 7.69% other. 

Transportation & Parking

·      41.94% of river users surveyed had previously heard about the City’s free river shuttle.

·      For transportation before and after it was 58.06% Personal Vehicles, 32.26% Walk/Bike, 6.45% Leavenworth Shuttle & Taxi, and 3.23% other. 

For more information, please email Miranda at Recreation@leavenworth.org