Chiwawa River Pines

The Chiwawa River Pines real estate development is located on the Chiwawa Loop Road between Plain and Fish Lake. Downtown Leavenworth is a 30 minute drive and Lake Wenatchee is about 10 minutes away.

Chiwawa River Pines sits between the Chiwawa River and the Wenatchee River.  Riverfront homes are available on both rivers and there is private access to a beach on the Wenatchee River on Cottonwood Lane. The Chiwawa River Pines neighborhood consists of 367 lots generally between 1/2 to 1 acre in size and was created in 1981.

The Chiwawa River Pines neighborhood has always been popular with snowmobilers and dirt bike riders because of easy access to nearby USFS trails. Snowmobiling is allowed on neighborhood roads in the winter. Many of the homes here feature large garages, often designed with “pull through access” for snowmobiles and trailers.

Chiwawa River Pines is different than Ponderosa Estates for a few reasons. This neighborhood is a little smaller and does not have the amenities such as a swimming pool or community center. However, lot sizes are bigger in Chiwawa River Pines and there are more waterfront lots and homes available due to the location on two different rivers.

From 2008 to 2014, the neighborhood has struggled with the issue of vacation rentals.  A number of contentious neighborhood meetings eventually led to a series of lawsuits.  Details of these lawsuits can be found on the official neighborhood webpage: http://chiwawariverpines.wordpress.com/ During these years, the ban on vacation rentals had a chilling effect on Chiwawa River Pines real estate.

In 2014, the Washington Supreme Court struck down the prohibition on rentals in Chiwawa River Pines and in 2021 Chelan County began regulating and issuing permits for Short Term Rentals throughout the unincorporated areas of Chelan County.

Permitted vacation rentals are now allowed in Chiwawa River Pines as they are in most neighborhoods in unincorporated Chelan County.