Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
POP 3945
Chelan is an elongated natural lake (at 1486ft it's the third deepest in the US) that once
provided a prime fishing ground for Native Americans. Today it is an outstanding recre-
ation spot for anyone with a penchant for water sports. Surrounded by wineries, apple
orchards, hotels and a slightly incongruous water park, the lake's southern shore is taken
up by its eponymous town, while 55 miles to the north lies a get-away-from-it-all anti-
dote: high, steep mountains and isolated Stehekin. Yin and yang - take your pick.
Activities
Lake Chelan shelters some of the nation's cleanest water and has consequently become
one of Washington's premier water-recreation areas. Not surprisingly, the place is cheek
by jowl in summer, with all number of speedboats, Jet Skis and power craft battling it out
for their own private slice of water.
There are public
beaches
at Lakeside Park, near the western side of town, and at Lake
Chelan State Park, 9 miles west on S Lakeshore Rd. Manson Bay Park, in the small
lakeside community of Manson, 8 miles northwest of Chelan, has a
swimming
area that
features several floating docks.
Fishing
is popular in Lake Chelan, with lake trout, kokanee salmon, ling cod and
smallmouth bass relatively abundant.
Mountain bikers
should stop by the ranger station (
Click here
)
and pick up a map of
USFS roads open to cycling. One popular trail follows the north fork of Twenty-Five
Mile Creek, climbing steeply for 3 miles before leveling out through pine forest and
eventually meeting the Devil's Backbone trailhead. At Echo Ridge near Manson, there
are 35 miles of traffic-free trails ideal for mountain biking. In winter these are used for
cross-country skiing
.
Slidewaters Water Park
WATER PARK
(
www.slidewaters.com
;
102 Waterslide Dr; day pass adult/child $18/15;
10am-7pm May-Sep;
)
If you have kids, don't even think they'll let you sneak past this park. It's off W Woodin
Ave, on a hill above the
Lady of the Lake
boat dock.
Don Morse Memorial Park
WATER PARK
(Chelan; 10am-10pm Memorial Day-Labor Day)
On the lake's northern shore is this
water funland, with beach, boat launch, putting green, playground, skate park and much
more.
Darrell & Dad's Family Guide Service
FISHING
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