saddle rock gateway and outdoor education area
City of Wenatchee
Saddle Rock is a year-round outdoor recreation and education destination in the Wenatchee Valley. From snowshoeing to horseback riding to hiking, the area is used by thousands annually. Wenatchee School District hosts its award-winning Shrub Steppen’ Up program for 5th grade students at Saddle Rock each year.
With Saddle Rock’s increasing popularity for use it became apparent the trailhead’s existing and limited parking area was inadequate with nonexistent support facilities. Safety hazards escalated on busy days when 50+ vehicles haphazardly parked and overflowed onto a narrow Circle Street. The City of Wenatchee was awarded a significant grant from the Washington State Recreation and Conservation Office’s WWRP Local Parks program with matching donations from Chelan-Douglas Land Trust, Alcoa, and Lowe’s.
a washington recreation and park association spotlight award winner.
Investing over $1 million on this project, parking was developed to better serve visitors to the site. The project also included the installation of an ADA accessible trail, interpretive/educational stations, outdoor classroom, shade structures and restrooms. Native materials and drought tolerant landscaping, LED lighting and an electric vehicle charging station installed to increase the sustainability of the project.
Pacific Engineering’s team provided project management, complete civil and structural engineering design, construction documents, bid administration, construction management services, permitting support, and final project close-out.
" Saddle Rock was the first hike we did as a family. Our kids loved exploring the rocks at the lower elevation and we loved the views from the top! It offers such a fantastic vantage point of the Valley. Who can’t fall in love with Wenatchee when you have such accessible trails out your back door? "
Wenatchee Outdoors