Three Ways to Experience Lake Chelan
Looking for a place to enjoy the summer adventuring, exploring, or just relaxing? Head up to Lake Chelan in Central Washington. This 50-mile-long lake, in Central Washington State is the third deepest lake in the world. It is so deep at 1,486 feet that the lake bottom is more than 300 feet below sea level. The southern part of the lake is home to the towns of Chelan and Manson; orchards with over 9,000 acres of apples, cherries, and other crops; and a booming wine-growing area. Wine grapes have been grown in the valley for over 100 years although the first production vineyard was planted in 1998. The AVA (American Viticultural Area) has grown to over 300 acres, with 30+ vineyards and 40+ tasting rooms. The northern part of the lake (over 2/3s of the total lake shore) can only be reached by boat, hike/horse trails, or plane. At the northern tip of the lake, you will find the town of Stehekin. The eastern shore and northern tip are mostly comprised of the Cascades National Park Stephen Maher Wilderness and the USFS Lake Chelan-Sawtooth Wilderness Areas, while the western shore is part of the Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest.
Lake Chelan. Photo credit: Michael
There are many ways to enjoy the Chelan Area. Three of our favorites are outdoor adventures, excursions up-lake, or a lazy day in town.
Adventure Trip
In the morning, head up to Echo Ridge with your mountain bike or hiking shoes. This concentrated network of loop trails overlooking Lake Chelan offers spectacular views of the lake, the Enchantments, and Pyramid Peak. The Washington Trails Association notes that the trails offer a good workout for mountain bikers and a leisurely hike for families. No pass is required for these trails in the summer. In the afternoon, get out on Lake Chelan with a rental from Jet Ski Ahoy. Rent anything from a stand up paddle board to jet skis, pontoons, and other boats that can hold up to 15 passengers. Add tubes or water skis to your rental for even more adventure, and if you have ever wanted to try wakesurfing, Jet Skis Ahoy offers the Axis A225, which can create anything from a gentle wave to a powerful wake. Want to enjoy the water without worrying about driving the boat? Jet Ski Ahoy has drivers who can pilot the boat while you enjoy the water.
Up-Lake Excursion
Photo credit: AKs Clicks.
Lake Chelan is over 50 miles long—you can only drive about 19 miles up the western shore, to Twenty-Five Mile Creek State Park, and not even that far on the eastern shore. To get the full Chelan Experience, take a ferry up to the village of Stehekin at the northern tip of the lake. This small community set in a spectacular valley can only be reached by boat, by air (landing on a turf runway or seaplane), or by foot—but it is not a short hike! It is 23 miles from the Skagit Valley; other routes would be similar distances.
You can go up to Stehekin on a day trip, or spend the night and enjoy the peace and quiet of this remote village that is a hub for exploring the Lake Chelan Recreation Area and North Cascades National Park. Enjoy hiking, horse riding, mountain biking, kayaking, or just sitting on the porch of your vacation cabin and watching the starts.
You can get to Chelan on a Lake Chelan Boat Company Ferry: take a leisurely ride on the Lady of the Lake from Chelan or Fields Point; or pick up the Lady Liberty, the fastest boat on the lake, and do a day trip with up to 6 hours in Stehekin. The Stehekin Ferry’s catamaran is another option, with daily trips from Field’s Point. You can catch a ride up lake at the Lady of the Lake Dock in Chelan (right next to Jet Skis Ahoy), or at Field’s Point near the end of Lake Shore Drive. Find more information about how to get around, things to do, and places to stay in Stehekin on the Stehekin.com web page.
Spend a Day Relaxing in Town
Chelan at sunset. Photo credit: Michael
One of my favorite things to do when visiting Chelan is to spend the day lazing around and enjoying the town and lake. Chelan has two amazing beachfront parks on the lake where you can swim, sunbathe, or picnic, plus a park and trail along the Chelan River. Don Morse Park, in the middle of the city, has a large beach with a swimming area, plus a miniature golf course, skateboard ramps, tennis, pickleball, basketball and volleyball courts, a dock and moorage slips with a fuel dock and pump out station. You can rent go carts, jet skis, motorboats, stand up paddleboards, and kayaks. Although I love Don Morse Park, and always do a round of miniature golf when visiting, Lakeside Park, on the south (or west) side of the lake has always been my favorite place to hang out with the kids. Laze on the grass, build sand castles on the beach, or swim in the lake. Both parks have playgrounds for the kids when they want a change from the water and bathrooms. The best place for a stroll is the Chelan Riverwalk Trail, which does a loop from the Woodin Avenue Bridge right out the outlet from the lake to the Webster Ave Bridge. This paved trail has a stage, bathrooms, and places to sit along the walk. For a longer walk, continue southeast from the Chelan Riverwalk Trailhead along the Reach 1 Trail past the dam and through the shrub steppe of the Chelan Falls Park. Parking is free at the Riverwalk Park, but there is a fee to park at Don Morse and Lakeside Parks: $10 for 0-2 hours up to $20 for 6-12 hours.
Enjoy the Tastes of the Chelan Valley
Whatever adventure you choose, make sure to take time to try some of the great wines and other produce from the Chelan Valley. Get farm fresh produce at the Lake Chelan Farmers Markets on Saturday from 8-1pm or visit the Thursday Evening Market at 2-6pm from May through October at River Walk Park. Stop at one of the 33 wine tasting rooms in the valley to enjoy the vintages produced in the Lake Chelan AVA (American Viticultural Area). Many of the tasting rooms offer outdoor seating with views of the lake. The region is also home to cideries, breweries, and many great restaurants. Use the Taste NW web map or mobile app for Apple and Android to find places that offer wine tasting, as well as farmers markets and other agritourism destinations. The filters on the web map and app highlight the perfect destination: need wine tasting that is open Monday and allows dogs or a place that has EV charging and outdoor seating?
If you want to learn more about the people behind the wine, Marji Morgan has interviewed the wine makers from 17 of the Chelan area wineries for her podcast Lines on Wines. Enter linesonewine into the search bar on the Taste NW map to see all of the places that she has featured on her show. A few places you might want to try are Steelhead Cider in downtown Chelan, which uses locally picked apples with very little intervention (and has a dog friendly terrace); Vin Du Lac Winery, where you can enjoy stunning views, an array of award winning wines, and a farm-to-table bistro menu; or head up to Manson and visit the Ancestry Cellars tasting room for a unique and intimate tasting experience.
There is no shortage of places to stay and eat in the Chelan area. Lodging options include everything from two state park campgrounds and one city campground, resort hotels, budget motels, and vacation rentals. Check out the Visit Lake Chelan Page or stop by the Visitor Center on E. Woodin Avenue for suggestions about places to eat, play, or stay.
If you stop by the visitor center, make sure to let them know you saw them on Northwest Portal. Lake Chelan is one of our sponsors who help keep the web maps and apps free for users.
