Washington’s Apple Capital Loop Trail
Trail of the Month: August 2024
Washington’s Apple Capital Loop Trail spans 22 miles along both sides of the Columbia River in the Wenatchee metro area. It will be included in Rails to Trails Conservancy’s next guidebook covering the Pacific Northwest region. Stay tuned for the book’s publication in spring 2025 to learn about great multiuse trails like this one in Idaho, Oregon and Washington.
Few things are as fun as riding a trail for the first time. And few things taste as good as a fresh, crisp apple. The Apple Capital Loop Trail combines the best of both. Folks often think of Washington state as a lush oasis of greenery, and that’s true … for the western half of the state. But with the Cascades Mountains blocking much of the moisture moving east, Wenatchee—the self-proclaimed “apple capital of the world”—has a desert-like, arid feel. Luckily, apples thrive in that environment.
Although I rode into Wenatchee on Amtrak’s famed Empire Builder train, the city’s main greenway, the Apple Capital Loop Trail, doesn’t have a true railroad pedigree of its own. The iron trestle bridge I crossed near Pybus Public Market never carried railroad cars, but rather irrigation water for farming. Built in 1908, it’s still in use today and doubles as a pedestrian crossing. As the first bridge to ever span the Columbia River, it’s also listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
Today, the trail traces both sides of the river and connects two counties divided by the waterway: Chelan County along its western bank and Douglas County along the eastern side.
A Trail Grows
The Apple Capital Loop Trail’s first segment opened in 1990 as part of a Chelan County Public Utility District (PUD) remediation project that would allow them to continue using the Columbia River for hydroelectric purposes. More trail was added in 1994 through the city of Wenatchee, the urban hub for a region of about 70,000 people. Subsequent extensions were added on its northern end (via the “Rocky Reach” spur connecting the trail to Lincoln Rock State Park) and to its southern end (reaching Kirby Billingsley Hydro Park), which expanded the trail system to its current length of 22 miles.
Many of the riverside parks that now enrich the trail experience are a testament to Kirby Billingsley, who was a Chelan County PUD commissioner and a strong supporter of the community’s parks. In his honor, the park anchoring the trail’s southern end now bears his name. Continuing that tradition, the Chelan County PUD announced the kickoff to several improvements for the route this year, including widening the pathway in places, adding a new apple-themed playground, creating a splash pad with a Columbia River steamboat theme, and landscaping enhancements.
Robert Parlette, an early champion of the trail, remembered being disheartened when he tried to go down to the river only to be met with a fence and sign warning not to enter. According to a plaque along the trail, Parlette “couldn’t believe there was no way to access the river. Now when I go down to the riverfront, it gladdens my heart to see people riding bikes and smiling at each other as they walk on the trail. For decades we had our backs to the river, and today we have turned our faces to the river. Everybody has great hope for the future of the Wenatchee riverfront.”
The trail serves as “the front yard to Wenatchee with the foothills trail system as the backyard,” said David Erickson, department director of Wenatchee’s Parks, Recreation and Cultural Services, which operates part of the trail. (The Chelan County PUD operates the majority of the trail.) “Thanks to the forethought of the people who preserved the property for the trail system, the loop trail and adjacent areas provide opportunities for physical fitness, recreation, habitat preservation and economic stimulant. It’s a tremendous community asset, serving as one of the most beloved and well-used park areas in the region.”
The Trail Experience
Before starting my own ride, I noticed a handful of cyclists enjoying a post-pedal breakfast at Huck, a local favorite at the Pybus Public Market, a shopping and dining experience along the trail. Andrea Brown, Pybus’ office manager, said cyclists, dogwalkers and other trail users often use the market to recharge after a ride or to visit the popular weekend farmers market.
Gorgeous views of Wenatchee can be found throughout the route, with the surrounding Cascade foothills providing a beautiful backdrop. The Columbia River perfectly mirrored the impossibly blue sky, making it even more enticing for a swim or paddle. As I pedaled the paved pathway on my rented e-bike, I couldn’t stop smiling; it was simply a very pleasant urban ride. I didn’t notice any major road crossings along the 10-mile section through Wenatchee, allowing me to ride with no vehicular anxiety. It doesn’t feel like a typical city ride, thanks to the massive amounts of green space. And the trail felt mostly flat, save for some mild rollers on the somewhat wilder east side of the river.
The trail’s east side also contains a few pocket parks, like Porter’s Pond (a popular birding spot) and Coyote Dunes Natural Area. The sand dunes looked enticing enough to climb, but I was anxious to see the rest of the trail, so I just pedaled on. This area is the homeland of the Wenatchi-P’squosa people, and the coyote is an important animal to them. Coyote still live in and around the trail, but I only saw dozens of curious prairie dogs chittering and poking their heads up from their holes. There were also plenty of orchards bearing the trail’s namesake fruit. Most of the apple trees are pruned to resemble grape vineyards.
On the west side of the trail, you’ll find four parks—Wenatchee Riverfront Park, Walla Walla Point Park, the Horan Natural Area and Wenatchee Confluence State Park—offering ample parking, bathrooms and a practically endless number of recreational opportunities.
Everywhere I looked, locals were taking advantage of the near-perfect weather. In addition to all the people on the trail, there were people swimming, conversing on park benches, or lying on a beach towel soaking up the sun while reading a book.
‘A True Asset’
It was a warm day and I needed to hydrate, so I detoured slightly off trail to visit Wenatchee Valley Brewing Company, which offers multiple tasty IPAs as well as great pizzas. Owner Don Bass says he opened the brewery at that location in 2017 primarily because of the Apple Capital Loop Trail. He’s since added a covered patio and made other improvements as well.
“We’re a real community here, and the trail is a true asset,” Bass said, adding that he’s noticed a true fellowship between both locals and visitors centering around a love of the trail and being outdoors.
After my ride, I returned my bike to Pybus Public Market and enjoyed a post-ride amoretto milkshake, which I still think about now—months later. I also stopped by Hellbent Brewpub inside the market. I recognized bartender Josh Ulrich from the trail, where he was commuting via a motorized one wheel. He routinely does a 12-mile roundtrip via the trail.
“I not only save gas, but also riding the trail is a lot more fun,” Ulrich said. “Wenatchee traffic has been getting worse, so it takes about the same amount of time if I drove.”
The trail’s renown has also caught the attention of Congressional leaders for the state. In June 2021, U.S. Sens. Patty Murray (D-Wash.) and Maria Cantwell (D-Wash.), along with U.S. Rep. Kim Schrier, M.D. (Wash.-08), announced a federal $92.4 million Infrastructure for Rebuilding America (INFRA) grant for transportation improvements in Wenatchee, which included expanding access to the Apple Capital Loop Trail, a major active-transportation corridor in the region. It was the largest INFRA grant in the country that year.
“The Apple Capital Loop would complete several regional efforts to better connect the Wenatchee community and promote commerce, improve safety, reduce congestion and help combat climate change,” Sen. Murray said in a press release about the grant. “This project will be important for the entire region, and I’m going to keep working to secure other major investments in infrastructure across our state to make sure every Washington family and business can get to where they need to go as safely and quickly as possible.”
The trail, now in its third decade of serving the community, has visibly encouraged a building boom surrounding it. Everywhere I looked, I noticed new construction, especially residential homes with well-worn paths through the high grass leading to the trail. And everyone I spoke to said that the trail has attracted plenty of business development as well, offering job opportunities while making Wenatchee a more enjoyable place to live.
Related Links
Trail Facts:
Name: Apple Capital Loop Trail
Trail website: Chelan County P.U.D.
Length: 22 miles
Counties: Chelan, Douglas
Start point/end point: Kirby Billingsley Hydro Park (East Wenatchee) to Lincoln Rock State Park (East Wenatchee)
Surface type: Asphalt, concrete
Activities: Walking, biking, inline skating, fishing and cross-country skiing; wheelchair accessible
Grade: The bulk of the trail is level, but there are a few short rolling hills on the north side of the loop. Grades are short, usually less than 100 feet.
Difficulty: The wide, paved trail is suitable for all kinds of recreational activities.
Getting There: Although the Wenatchee area is serviced by Pangborn Memorial Airport (One Campbell Pkwy., East Wenatchee), located about 4 miles from the southern end of the trail, visitors only have one airline option there: Alaska Airlines/Horizon. Many out-of-state visitors arrive through Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (93 miles away) or the local Amtrak station (1 Kittitas St., Wenatchee), located about 3 blocks from the trail.
Access and parking: Several trailheads and parks along the trail provide parking, including the following options (listed from south to north):
- Kirby Billingsley Hydro Park (1682 Highway 28, East Wenatchee)
- Wenatchee Riverfront Park (E. Fifth St. and Riverside Dr., Wenatchee)
- Walla Walla Point Park (1351 Walla Walla Ave., Wenatchee)
- Wenatchee Confluence State Park (333 Olds Station Road, Wenatchee)
- Lincoln Rock State Park (13253 US 2, East Wenatchee)
To navigate the area with an interactive GIS map, and to see more photos, user reviews and ratings, plus loads of other trip-planning information, visit TrailLink, RTC’s free trail-finder website.
Rentals: Downtown Wenatchee’s Arlberg Sports (25 N. Wenatchee Ave., Wenatchee; phone: 509.663.7401) operates out of the Pybus Public Market, just 0.2 mile from the trail. Cruisers, kid bikes and other options are available.
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