No matter the season, Lake Chelan is an outdoor enthusiast’s paradise. From boating to hiking, to cross country skiing, Chelan is the perfect spot to embrace the beauty of the valley.

Lakeside Surf: 

One of our favorite summer activities is visiting Lakeside Surf, the surf wave on the shores of Lake Chelan. This wave, is the world’s largest stationary wave, and is located on the hills above the lake at Slidewaters water park. It functions like a river surfing wave, where the wave itself remains in place while the water flows past, allowing you to ride back and forth across the pool. And don’t worry, this stationary wave is both fast and incredibly fun to ride. Lakeside Surf offers lessons and also you can watch for free! This is the perfect summer outing.

Hiking: 

The Chelan Ranger District spans 422,000 acres around the middle and upper reaches of Lake Chelan, offering 250 miles of well-maintained summer trails accessible from 14 major trailheads. These trails include over 60 miles of varied terrain both north and south of the lake, open to motorcycles, horses, mountain bikers, and hikers. The remaining 190 miles of trails are designated for non-motorized use.

In the Glacier Peak and Lake Chelan-Sawtooth Wilderness Areas, trails welcome hikers, with most sections also open to horses and similar stock animals. In the Glacier Peak Wilderness, group sizes for hiking, riding, and camping are limited to 12 heartbeats, including stock animals. In the Lake Chelan-Sawtooth Wilderness, groups are limited to 12 people and up to 18 head of stock. Trail options are abundant, ranging from short day hikes near Chelan, Lucerne Landing, and Holden Village, to overnight treks along the high-elevation Summit Trail, which features pristine alpine lakes and cirques scattered throughout the Lake Chelan-Sawtooth Mountain Range.

View trail maps here.

Biking:

Looking for winter activities? Lake Chelan offers great winter activities for visitors of all ages. From snow tubing, to skiing, to snowmobiling, there’s plenty to do in the beauty of Lake Chelan.

Cross Country Skiing/Skiing:

The Upper Echo Trailhead is 11.1 miles from the town of Chelan. Follow the Manson Highway (SR-150) 2 miles to Boyd Road and turn right. Follow Boyd Road to Cooper Gulch Road, following signs to the end of the pavement at the Echo Valley Ski Area/Chelan Rentals Resorts complex.  From this point, a Forest Service road winds steeply uphill (right) for about two miles where you can access the Switchback Alley (for snowshoeing), Zoom (groomed for skiing and snowshoeing) and the Shoe Trailheads (for snowshoeing) and finally the main parking areas at Lower and Upper Echo Trailheads.

Day ski passes are $10 per person and can be purchased at the self service fee areas located at the trailheads with cash or check. Kids 17 and under ski free!

All trails are posted for the allowable use.

Snowmobiling:

Snowmobiling on Echo Ridge at Lake Chelan Snowmobilers agree that spectacular scenery makes the Lake Chelan area ideal, and 170 miles of well-marked, groomed trails and excellent snow conditions bring people back year after year. There are play areas plus warming huts with wood stoves. Uncrowded trails, sunny weather and spectacular trail conditions give us an edge over the rest of the state.

There are six Sno-Parks in the Greater Chelan Area system with trails regularly groomed from the week before Christmas until mid-March. Call (509) 687-SNOW for updated grooming reports.

Tubing:

At Echo Valley Ski & Tubing Area, there is a public tube hill (tubes are supplied). Open weekends and holidays. $10 all day, $8 after 1pm. Children 5 and under are free!

To get there, follow the Highway 150 toward Manson for about 1.5 miles. Turn right at Boyd Road and the ski hill is about 7 miles up the road in Cooper Gulch.