Sage Hills
Central WashingtonBest Apr–Jun, Oct–Nov
Rolling sagebrush singletrack above the Columbia River with Cascade views and spring wildflowers.
About This Trail
Sage Hills sits in the foothills above Wenatchee, a rolling network of singletrack through bunchgrass and sagebrush with views of the Columbia River valley and North Cascades peaks beyond. The trail system serves hikers, runners, and mountain bikers equally well, with enough route options to piece together loops of varying length. The terrain rolls gently, never steep enough to require hands but enough to keep the legs working.
Spring wildflowers, especially balsamroot, put on a strong show from April through May. The open terrain makes this prime birding country, with meadowlarks and raptors common. Mule deer share the hills and are the reason for the annual December through March closure, so check dates before planning a visit.
Four trailheads provide access, each with limited parking. Kenzie's Landing offers the best facilities with a vault toilet and water. The Day Drive trailhead sits in a residential neighborhood with a gate that locks at 7 PM. On opening day and spring weekends, all lots fill early. Wind exposure is constant on the ridgelines, especially in afternoon.
Forecast
Astronomy
Trail Conditions
“In case you’re wondering, Sage Hills is still a great choice for a hike, even when the flowers fade.”
Last report: Jun 7, 2026
Scorecard
Safety & Considerations
Today's Hazard
- Strong sun — sunscreen, hat, and sunglasses recommended
Persistent Hazards
- seasonal closure Dec 1 - Apr 1 (mule deer protection)
- extreme heat in summer
- limited parking at all trailheads
- Day Drive lot gate locks at 7 PM
Getting There
Four access points, all with very limited parking. Kenzie's Landing has a vault toilet, water, and fits about 8 cars. Sage Hills Gateway lot fits 7-8 cars with overflow on 5th Street (striped areas only). Day Drive trailhead is in a residential area with a gate that locks at 7 PM. Do not park on residential properties. On spring weekends, arrive early or use Kenzie's Landing as backup.
Multiple trailhead options allow different loop configurations. From Kenzie's Landing, the approach adds about 2.5 miles but avoids parking headaches. From the Sage Hills Gateway on 5th Street, the trail climbs directly into the network. The singletrack is well-marked at junctions.
Morning visits beat the afternoon wind and summer heat. Opening day (April 1) draws heavy crowds. Mid-week visits in spring offer the best wildflower experience with fewer people.
Recent Reports
In case you’re wondering, Sage Hills is still a great choice for a hike, even when the flowers fade. I’m here for work and it didn’t take much effort to convince the team to go for a little hike today.
Bottom Line: Sage Hills in the Chelan-Douglas Land Trust is always reliable as a spring flower hike with easy access from downtown Wenatchee. You can often see the yellow sheen of balsamroot coating the green hills from the city (less so this year).
Wildflowers are a little past peak but still beautiful , there’s a few trail constructions still, the detour is not too bad. However, the Kenzie’s landing trailhead will be closed for a 50 mile bike race event this Saturday.
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