Lake Chelan National Recreation Area

Lake Chelan National Recreation Area protects the lake, shoreline, and adjoining public lands in north-central Washington State around one of the state’s longest and deepest lakes. The area is managed by the National Park Service as part of the North Cascades complex and is centered on outdoor recreation and backcountry access.

The lake measures roughly 50 miles in length and reaches very great depths, with steep shores and alpine terrain rising from the water. Recreational opportunities focus on boating, fishing, hiking, paddling, and wilderness camping along extensive trails and unpaved shorelines.

The small community of Stehekin sits at the lake’s northwest head and functions as the primary trailhead and visitor base inside the recreation area. Stehekin has basic services, a ranger station, and access to hiking routes that penetrate into adjacent national park and wilderness areas.

Geographically the recreation area runs along Lake Chelan in Chelan County, with the town of Chelan at the lake’s southeast end serving as the main road-access gateway and boat departure point for the recreation area.

• Access to Stehekin: The upper end settlement of Stehekin has no road access from the outside and is the main gateway for backcountry hiking, paddling, and overnight trails within the recreation area.
• Boat service: Regular passenger boats and ferries operate on the lake seasonally from the town of Chelan at the southeast end, providing the primary public access into the recreation area.

What to See#

• Lake Chelan and shoreline: The lake itself is roughly 50 miles long and is notable for very deep water, making it one of the deepest lakes in the United States. The recreation area includes shoreline, steep alpine slopes, and the small settlement of Stehekin at the lake’s upper end.
• Stehekin: Stehekin is a remote community and visitor hub at the northwest end of the lake that is accessible only by boat, seaplane, or on foot; it provides trailheads, a ranger presence, and basic visitor services.

Chelan is about a three‑hour drive from Seattle via US‑2 and WA‑97A. The Lake Chelan ferry (Lady of the Lake) and private water taxis connect Chelan town to remote campsites and lodges up the lake; boat schedules and reservations are essential in summer.

• If planning boat access, secure a ferry or shuttle reservation in advance-some inlets accept only private watercraft.
• Lake Chelan is long and alpine-cold - even in summer the surface can remain brisk; wear a wetsuit for extended swims.
• Hike early to avoid mosquitoes in sheltered coves during late summer.