Apple Capital Loop

At the heart of the Wenatchee Valley, the Apple Capital Loop trail runs along the shorelines of the Columbia River. This 11 mile paved trail leads though beautiful urban parks on the river’s westside and through diverse natural habitats on the Eastside. The trails are connected via the pedestrian bridge to the south and the Odabashian Bridge to the north. Residents and visitors alike value the recreational opportunities afforded by the loop. All year long people can be seen biking, walking, running, skating, or even cross-country skiing and snowshoeing when the weather permits. The Apple Capital Loop trail is a treasured community asset utilized by a diverse cross-section of our population for exercise, recreation, and commuting.

Currently the fate of the Eastside shoreline is up for debate. The Washington State Department of Transportation owns the land along the Eastside loop trail and is looking to surplus everything but the trail itself. During the More Than a Trail public input process the community expressed strong support for keeping most of the land in public ownership, and concern that the natural habitat and beauty along the river will be lost forever.

In January 2011 the Chelan-Douglas Land Trust initiated an effort to develop recommendations to the City of East Wenatchee, Douglas County, and the State Department of Transportation for the trail and adjacent lands. Eliot Scull worked for CDLT to convene "Our Shoreline's Future", a group of East Wenatchee citizens of diverse views to help the County and City with a plan that preserves the unique character of the trail and surrounding lands and reflects the community’s desires for this critical piece of property. The plan includes recommendations for the amount and location of appropriate developments, conservation of lands that should be kept in open space and preservation of the trail and its surrounding natural areas. 

Read more about Our Shoreline's Future and their recommendation here.

CDLT and Chelan Co. PUD partner to protect natural area on eastside Loop Trail!

Read the Wenatchee World article here