Leavenworth Reindeer Farm: A Winter Bucket List Activity in Washington
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Winter in Washington State is magical on its own and you can find amazing winter activities throughout the state, but if you're looking for a bucket list activity that's unique & fun for the whole family, make sure you visit the Leavenworth Reindeer Farm in Leavenworth, Washington. I recently discovered the farm and enjoyed it so much that I visited twice this winter! No matter what time of year you visit, the Leavenworth Reindeer Farm is a fun and magical place, but visiting the farm in the winter months adds another layer of excitement. From November through February, the farm is typically covered in snow, which the reindeer love, and is decorated for the holidays making it truly a winter wonderland. On top of being surrounded by beautiful scenery, you can feed and interact with reindeer and learn all about them! If you're unfamiliar with Leavenworth, it's a small Bavarian village in the foothills of the Cascade Mountains and is known as one of the most festive towns in the United States. The reindeer farms close proximity to downtown Leavenworth, which makes it a perfect day trip for families and people of all ages. Start your day with a tour at Leavenworth Reindeer Farm in the morning, then drive just a few minutes to downtown Leavenworth for a German-style lunch, followed by sledding in the town square. A perfect winter day doesn't get much better than that!
Visiting the Reindeer Farm in Leavenworth
The farm is open year-round to the public, but the most magical time to visit is during the winter months. Peak season runs from November through February and it is highly recommended to book your tickets months in advance if you want to visit this family-run farm during this particular time of year. The Leavenworth Reindeer Farm opened in 2016 and prides itself on being one of the only places in the United States that offers the experience of going inside the enclosure and interacting with the reindeer herd. Before heading inside the reindeer enclosure where you'll have the chance to meet over 12 reindeer, you'll learn about how the farm came to be and some very interesting fun facts about the reindeer - which are in fact a domesticated version of Caribou and a protected species!
If you plan on visiting the Leavenworth Reindeer Farm outside of the peak holiday season, expect to only be able to book a farm tour in the morning hours. The reindeer of course love the cold temperature, so the farm's top priority is keeping the herd nice and cool on a warm summer day. Even though the holiday magic isn't in the air after winter, April through October is still a wonderful time to visit the reindeer farm. Visiting during the off-season not only ensures smaller crowds, but you'll also be able to see the baby reindeer, who are typically born April through June each year!
Leavenworth Reindeer Farm also has big, exciting things on the horizon. In early 2024, they plan to open the largest geodesic projection dome on the West Coast! Inside you'll be able to view northern lights shows and learn more about the origins of reindeer. Keep an eye on their website for updates on the geodesic dome and other educational tours offered.
Reindeer Farm Leavenworth Tours
The Leavenworth Reindeer Farm currently offers four types of tours, two in the winter months, one during off season, and one special tour throughout July. Aside from these four tours, they also offer a Get Frozen at the Farm special event each year over MLK weekend, the same weekend downtown Leavenworth hosts their annual Bavarian Ice Fest. All tours last about an hour and include admission inside the reindeer enclosure. Leavenworth Reindeer Farm tickets range from $25-$40 per person, and if you visit more than once you'll receive a discounted rate on all future visits! The traditional reindeer farm experience tours cost $25 per person and the VIP holiday tour costs $40 per person and includes a meet and greet with Santa.
On the day of your tour, you'll want to arrive at the Leavenworth Reindeer Farm at least 10 minutes before the start time of your tour. Check-in with the staff to receive your wristband, then head down to the path where you'll walk through the gift shop to reach the waiting area. Warm up near the fire pit until your tour begins, then follow your tour leader towards the reindeer enclosure where you'll learn all about the reindeer before entering the enclosure. The reindeer farm tour lasts anywhere from 30-45 minutes but you're able to end your tour early at any point in you feel uncomfortable inside the enclosure. Your tour will begin with a quick 10-minute debrief where you'll learn the origins of the reindeer and some really interesting fun facts like how fast their antlers grow. You'll even get to see some very impressive antlers from the herd that they've shed over the years - some of these shed antlers weigh more than 20 pounds! Another important thing the staff covers during this time is safety protocols which are extremely important because even though these reindeer are cute and friendly, they're still wild animals and can easily feel threatened. The staff reviews how to approach the reindeer and how to feed them so make sure your group is paying attention so that you avoid the possibility of getting hit with an antler inside the enclosure.
Next, you'll make your way through the gates of the enclosure where you'll be handed a cup of food to hand-feed the reindeer. The herd is very used to this and some will nudge their way to you and gobble up all of your food in one bite, but that's all part of the fun! Inside the enclosure, you'll be able to feed and even take pictures with some of the friendliest reindeer, which the staff will assist you with. I've visited the Leavenworth Reindeer Farm twice now and I was just as nervous the second time as I was the first time, mainly because of their giant antlers! Their antlers can be very dangerous so always be aware of your surroundings and don't get too close.
Where is Leavenworth Reindeer Farm
The Leavenworth Reindeer Farm is about a 2.5-hour drive from downtown Seattle and only a 30-minute drive from Wenatchee. In winter, the route is full of snow-covered pine trees and mountains along the way and is a great way to take in the gorgeous Washington scenery. The Leavenworth Reindeer Farm is located on Chumstick Highway, just off Highway 2, north of Leavenworth, and you can either take Steven's Pass or Snoqualmie Pass to reach it from Seattle or Tacoma.
The Leavenworth Reindeer Farm is a great place to visit with family or friends and truly is the most magical experience in Washington during winter. I hope you’ll visit the Leavenworth Reindeer Farm next time you are in Washington State and enjoy it just as much as I did!
Happy travels!
- Tess
Tess Arnold
Hi! I’m Tess, founder of TravelingTessie.com, and not only do I love to travel, but I love immersing myself in new places and finding off the beaten path experiences wherever I go! I’ve lived in 4 different states & traveled to 13 countries and counting. I believe that tourism is meant to benefit both visitors and locals alike—and I want to bring that idea back into the travel industry by highlighting companies run by locals such as tours, hotels, restaurants, and more. On Traveling Tessie you can find hidden gems in top destinations around the world, travel tips, detailed city guides, and tons of inspiration for your next trip! If you love travel as much as I do, then please join me on this journey! I hope you enjoy my content as much as I enjoy providing it for you!
