Chelan Travel Guide

Sitting on the southern tip of the unspoiled 50-mile glacier-fed Lake Chelan, where the lake flows into the Chelan River, Washington’s Chelan offers visitors a variety of outdoor recreational activities including valley tours, lake cruises and winter sports. Appealing accommodation makes this a great lace to curl up in front of a real fire after a day spent enjoying the great outdoors.

Nature lovers will be overwhelmed by the magnificent landscape of Lake Chelan Valley. Rugged snow-capped peaks rise more than 7,000 feet from the lakeshore and shady evergreens coat the mountainsides, while deep vales ascend from the lake to enormous glaciers in the core of the North Cascades.

The remoteness and spectacular setting of this county have inspired Federal protection for most of the region. From the glaciers and firs of the Cascade Crest to the apple orchards down lake, the Lake Chelan Valley presents visitors a unique diversity of picturesque and leisure experiences.

Highlights

Chelan Valley Tours: an informative guided excursion through the Chelan Ranger District will let you experience the forest trails and spectacular views from the ridges and mountains around the valley.

Lady of the Lake: the only scheduled ferry service from and to Upper Lake Chelan takes its passengers to a jaw-dropping cruise into North America’s deepest gorge inside the North Cascades National Park.

North Cascades National Park: renowned as the North American Alps, this steep mountain range of the North Cascades abounds in deep valleys, jagged peaks, cascading waterfalls and majestic glaciers.

Slidewaters: situated on the Chelan Butte overlooking Lake Chelan, this is one of the largest and most popular waterslides in the Northwest, placed in a lovely park with sparkling clear water.