Lake Chelan

Lake Chelan is a long, glacier-carved lake in north-central Washington State that extends roughly 50.5 miles (about 81 kilometers) from the town of Chelan to the remote community of Stehekin. It is notable for its fjord-like deep basin and its large maximum depth of about 1,486 feet (453 meters).

The lake supports boating, fishing, hiking and waterside recreation; ferry and water-taxi services provide scheduled transport along the lake to settlements and trailheads. The upper basin includes federally managed public land and a national recreation area that is popular with hikers and campers.

Lake Chelan formed by glacial scouring during the last ice age and has long been used for transportation and recreation. Management is a mix of federal, state and local jurisdictions that support visitor services and wilderness access.

Located in Chelan County, the lake sits in a steep glacial valley running into the Cascade Range, with the town of Chelan at the lakeshore outlet and Stehekin at the lake’s head.

• Size and depth: Length about 50.5 miles (81 kilometers) and maximum depth about 1,486 feet (453 meters), making it one of the deepest lakes in the United States.
• Transport: A regular passenger ferry and water-taxi services connect communities along the lake and provide the usual access to remote settlements such as Stehekin.

What to See #

• Stehekin: Stehekin at the lake's headwall is accessible only by boat, foot or air and serves as a remote trailhead for hiking into the North Cascades.
• Chelan town: The city of Chelan sits at the lake's lower end and is the primary gateway for services, marinas and ferries that operate on the lake.
• Lake Chelan National Recreation Area: Lake Chelan National Recreation Area occupies much of the lake's shoreline in the upper basin and is managed as part of the North Cascades National Park Service Complex.