Leavenworth, Washington, Quality of Life Reviews

I'm thinking of relocating to Leavenworth. I love the climbing throughout the area and want to know what many of you think about living there. I know the tourist season can get to you, but that's EVERYWHERE, not just Leavenworth. At any rate, there are great ski areas nearby, a gym for winter training in Wenatchee, and the area itself is gorgeous, i.e., the Alps of the United States, or some bullshit like that. I don't need to worry about work. I'm fortunate in that I can work anywhere, so I'm looking to settle somewhere for the long haul. I understand the dating scene amongst climbers probably isn't great, but my primary focus is eventually building or buying a cabin in the woods, enjoying the outdoors in all seasons, training to stay fit for said outdoor activities, and so on. 

I'd love the opinion from local climbers and the community. Everything I've experienced there has been great, despite it being a small area. My other considerations are Hood River, Oregon, and Reno, Nevada to be closer to Tahoe, Bishop, Yosemite, and so on. I know they're all very different beasts, but Leavenworth is the only place I haven't lived in a long term capacity. So I know what I'll get with the other eventual destinations. I appreciate any and all feedback. Thanks!

Jonathan Hogue wrote:

I know the tourist season can get to you, but that's EVERYWHERE, not just Leavenworth. 

I’m no local, but have spent a lot of time there over the years and this statement wildly understates the tourist crux.  It’s different there and not in a good way.  Neither of your other options even come close to Leavenworth’s level of apocalyptic tourism.  Driving from one end of town to the other during Oktoberfest and/or Christmas lighting season can be a multi hour effort. (Best to not even try) Other friends have reported drunken tourists wandering into their homes late at night.  That’s not normal. 

I’ve been dealing with considering a move and realized everywhere sucks these days with housing costs and crowds.

Find a college town or city for multiple partner options, decent food and grocery stores, after work climbing and or a gym, decent local after work trails, and close airport. Or a places that’s always been crowded and was able to deal with the new world order like Boulder.

SLC ticks every box (until the secret got out), but with the lower pay scale that hasn’t caught up with skyrocketing costs, air quality, chance of environmental meltdown when the lake dries up and turns the whole place into a superfund site, avy danger, and worsening crowds.

I live in Sonora, CA and it’s close to world class climbing between 0-4 hours drive but our winters and summers have turned into yearly disasters.

I used to live in the PNW and would go to worthLeaven frequently. I drove through recently after a long time away and got an immediate “nope” vibe. 

Consider NM, Montana, South Dakota, NW Washington, the East Coast, or another country. 

Bishop

I grew up in Wenatchee, then lived in Leavenworth for over ten years. My wife was born and raised in Leavenworth.

Leavy used to be a dream town,  for a tight knit group of locals, but then a bunch tech workers moved there because they could work remotely.

Oh wait....

Shaun Johnson wrote:

I grew up in Wenatchee, then lived in Leavenworth for over ten years. My wife was born and raised in Leavenworth.

Leavy used to be a dream town,  for a tight knit group of locals, but then a bunch tech workers moved there because they could work remotely.

Oh wait....

oooOOooooOooOoo Got him!

Lol wow people love to bitch, don’t they? Climbing around Leavenworth is a dream. If the tourism is too much, live in the next town over.

Yoda Jedi Knight wrote:

Lol wow people love to bitch, don’t they? Climbing around Leavenworth is a dream. If the tourism is too much, live in the next town over.

I thought something similar at first.  And then I thought, the town getting a bad rap might actually be just what's needed.

Don't go to Leavy! It's just one big parking lot.  

The stone is greasy and the rattlesnakes are everywhere.  

Worse yet, the bouldering is pointless- there's already at least 5 beta videos online of every classic line.  So like what would you even post to your Tick Tock? 

And don't even get me started on the agro goats in the Enchantments.  They're stone cold killers. And the Inslee deep state took away all the high cap magazines so you can't even properly defend yourself!

I moved to Leavenworth for the climbing back in 1980, and I'm still here, still climbing.  If you're serious about moving here, study the housing issue.  Unless you're pretty well off, you may find it a challenge to find housing.   Rents are appalling, and getting worse.  dont plan on using a car for going anywhere except away from town.  anywhere in town, walking is faster.   the variety and quality of climbing has been worth it for me, but I bought my houses back when they sold for $100k  and less.  If you actually have to work for a living, you may not be able to afford living here.  If you can sort out housing, and can work around the crowds, well, forty+ years & see no reason to move...

Not in Leavenworth, but in Seattle and have made some Leavenworth resident friends. also consider that while its Washington, it’s still very different than what you’d expect of the PNW. Summers can get blazing hot (it was this summer) and winters can get actually cold (you’re in the mountains). The latter can make getting to and from town difficult depending on your level of comfort driving.

It’s a very small town. I personally couldn’t do it as a primary home as I need something a little bigger. My wife loves the small town feel though. Then again I’m also an ethnic minority so my perspective is different than many. I imagine it’ll also be really hard as a single male trying to date unless you’re willing to drive 30 mins to Wenatchee.

Mon the plus side, I believe a climbing gym is being constructed - by the Safeway?

I’d definitely consider living there part time during climbing season but don’t think I could do full time.

The tourism here is not like everywhere else its actually pretty insane, in peak months getting in or out of town can take an hour of sitting in traffic.  Some people get really upset about the amount of tourism and the issues it causes during peak times, if you move here just have the expectation that 2 months of the year will be very crazy, 6 months of the year ill be busy, and the other 4 months you'll have the town to yourself.  For me the main downside of living here is everything is tourist prices and Wenatchee is the closest place to find reasonably priced groceries and restaurants.  Most restaurants here are in the business of selling brats and pretzles to tourists but we do have a couple decent options in town.  There is a nice music scene, some local bands and bands in the hwy2 corridor play weekly in town and in the summer there is a concert series at the Ski Hill.

As far as dating goes I moved here with my partner but based on my friends experiences it seems to be hard but not impossible.  I have two friends that moved to the city after a year or two here because dating was difficult, I have friends that have had great success.  Statistically there are far less options than being in or near the city meaning odds are it will be more challenging.