Discover Chelan County

Chelan County combines the expansive Lake Chelan with hiking trails, historic sites, regional culinary experiences, and winter sports. This allows you to shape your trip in many different ways: with water sports and swimming, longer hikes, culture and history, or a stay focused on skiing. When searching for a vacation rental or holiday home, it is therefore worth first deciding which experiences you want and which base is best suited to them.

Lake, Water, and Special Trails

At Lake Chelan State Park, possible activities include hiking, cycling, volleyball, swimming, fishing, and camping. Boating, water skiing, and windsurfing are also possible. The lake therefore offers a range of ideas for days by the water and active outings.

Stehekin is a special choice. The place has no road connection and can be reached from outside on foot, by boat, or by plane. The Lake Chelan Boat Company offers a round-trip service between Chelan and Stehekin, with scheduled stops at Fields Point and Lucerne. Stehekin serves as a starting point for exploring the 61,949-acre Lake Chelan National Recreation Area. The described range of experiences there includes year-round hiking, fishing, seasonal boating, skiing or snowshoeing in winter, and wildlife viewing throughout the year.

The trails also differ considerably. A 17-mile trail runs along the north shore of Lake Chelan from Prince Creek to Stehekin and is accessible by boat. A scenic loop trail is approximately 4.4 miles long and offers views of the Stehekin Valley and Lake Chelan. Another trail follows the Stehekin River, leads to several points of interest along the river, and is approximately 7 miles each way. This information helps with day planning without limiting the trails to one uniform type of outing.

Hiking Landscapes and Winter Days

Echo Ridge has more than 25 miles of trails ranging from easy to challenging and offers views of Lake Chelan and the surrounding mountains. The Sage Hills trail system includes trails for all ability levels, spring wildflowers, and wide views of the Wenatchee Valley. Those traveling with people of varying hiking experience can find guidance here for choosing different tour ideas.

For a winter-focused trip, Mission Ridge offers 36 designated runs. The ski area is located in a 2,000-acre basin on the eastern side of the Cascade Mountains.

History, Regional Products, and Small Discoveries

The Buckner Homestead Historic District is located on a horseshoe-shaped bend of the Stehekin River in the Lake Chelan National Recreation Area. The Cashmere Pioneer Village includes furnished authentic local log cabins, a water wheel, and several Great Northern Railway buildings; the grounds are suitable for picnics. The Cashmere Museum and Pioneer Village offers group tours led by museum staff, for which advance reservations are required.

The North Central Washington Food & Farm Trail is a self-guided route through the eight communities of Chelan County. It connects u-pick orchards, cideries, farm stores, and farm-to-table restaurants. The Leavenworth Nutcracker Museum also features a nutcracker hunt created by the “Nutcracker Lady.” For further nature experiences, Wenatchee Confluence State Park is located on both sides of the Wenatchee River where it joins the Columbia River.

Places for Further Searching

For further location research, you can also include Wenatchee, Chelan, Manson, and Peshastin in your search. What remains decisive is whether you want to center your trip more on the lake, trails and landscapes, cultural discoveries, regional food, or winter sports.

For the overarching travel overview: Washington.

More Destinations

More places within the same destination:

Kitsap, Okanogan.