Barn Beach Reserve, just downstream from the confluence of the Wenatchee River and Icicle Creek and only two blocks from the Bavarian Village of Leavenworth, Washington, is an extraordinary site that borders the Wenatchee River and features a panoramic view of the Stuart Range, the largest granite batholith in North America.
The Reserve consists of 5.5 acres and a 106-year-old, 9,500-square-foot historic home. An adjacent 2.5-acre parcel is slated for use as an Audubon learning center under terms of a bequest from an adjoining property owner. The combination of these parcels with the adjacent city park creates a protected greenbelt of diverse habitats from upland ponderosa pine forest, to riverine and riparian habitats that include Blackbird Island, a popular stop on Audubon's Great Washington Birding Trail. The width of the river along this reach varies from 15 to 60 yards. The river spills out of the narrow, high-gradient Tumwater Canyon immediately west of Leavenworth. Upstream from this point, the watershed is relatively underdeveloped, so the water quality and aquatic habitat are superb. On most days, the river bottom can be seen through the clear water. Wildlife commonly viewed at the site include mule deer, black bear, neo-tropical migratory birds, woodpeckers, bats, salmon, steelhead, and trout.
