5 Must-Dos In Chelan County

Five Must-Do’s In Chelan County

Lake Wenatchee Area
Entiat River Valley
Lake Chelan & Stehekin
Leavenworth Area
Wenatchee

Chelan County, located in North Central Washington, is a diverse area offering everything from city amenities to seemingly endless outdoor recreational opportunities. When deciding on what to do or see in Chelan County there are many choices, but here are five must-do’s in Chelan County (in no particular order).

The Leavenworth Area

If shopping is your bag, Leavenworth is the place for you. From homemade candy to holiday knickknacks, there is something for almost everyone. The Bavarian community of Leavenworth is known for its distinctive architecture, many weekend festivals, and Alps-like scenery. But, Leavenworth is much more than shopping. Follow Icicle Creek into the Icicle Canyon and enjoy camping, hiking, or rock climbing. From here you can also access the Alpine Lakes Wilderness, home to the world famous Enchantments Mountains. Shopping, dining, and outdoor activities abound in Leavenworth.

The Entiat River Valley

If camping and hiking, or just exploring is what you’re into then you will have a hard time topping the Entiat River Valley. Located between Wenatchee and Lake Chelan, the Entiat River winds down from the Chelan and Entiat Mountains and empties into the Columbia River. A beautiful and sparsely populated area, the drive up Entiat River Road is worth the trip even if you’re not camping. Visit Silver Falls or stop at any one of the numerous campsites for a picnic. Bring your tent and sleeping bags because you will want to spend the night.

Wenatchee

Wenatchee is the county seat and largest city in Chelan County. Wenatchee offers a great place to stay as you venture out to sample the sights of the surrounding area. Lake Chelan is an hour to the north, Leavenworth is a half hour to the west, and the Mission Ridge Ski Area is just outside of town to the south. Wenatchee is more than just a base of operations as it offers museums, shopping, dining, and more. One of the most unique things in Wenatchee is the Apple Capital Loop Trail. The trail follows the Columbia River on the Chelan County side, crosses over to East Wenatchee and continues in a loop eventually crossing back over the river to Wenatchee. Approximately ten miles in length, the loop trail is popular with locals and visitors alike. The Washington State Apple Blossom Festival is located in Wenatchee and celebrated every year at the end of April.

The Lake Wenatchee Area

Just to the east of Stevens Pass sits beautiful Lake Wenatchee. With little commercial development, although housing is picking up in the area, the Lake Wenatchee area is a conveniently located forested getaway. Lake Wenatchee itself is large enough to support major recreation like fishing, boating, water and jet skiing, and more. There are also a number of smaller water sources in the area, like the Little Wenatchee and White Rivers, Fish Lake, Hidden Lake, and Nason Creek, to offer more remote lower scale activities. Hiking opportunities are everywhere from the Nason Ridge Trail, Dirty Face Peak, and a number of trails accessible by following the Little Wenatchee River up from where it empties into Lake Wenatchee. Although there are a couple of businesses near Lake Wenatchee State Park including a small grocery store, the nearest town is Plain located about 7 miles away. The Bavarian town of Leavenworth is also within easy driving distance. Along with hiking, there are plenty of camping opportunities all around the Lake Wenatchee area. Truly a nice place to get away from it all.

Lake Chelan & Stehekin

About an hour north of Wenatchee is Lake Chelan. Lake Chelan is a glacier fed 51 mile long lake that provides almost limitless recreational opportunities. The city of Chelan sits at the bottom of the lake where it drains into the Columbia River via the Chelan River and pumphouse. Chelan offers plenty of lodging and food to support the thousands of tourists that come each year. The surrounding hillsides are covered in vineyards, orchards, and natural arid forestland. Water recreation opportunities know few bounds on Lake Chelan with boating, fishing, water and jet skiing, and swimming all being popular. There are campgrounds in the area, including some that are far enough uplake that they are accessible by boat or hiking but are not accessible by car. It is also possible to boat all the way up Lake Chelan, on your own or as a passenger of the Lady of the Lake, and visit one of the three communities that are not connected by roads to the outside world; Lucerne, Holden Village, and Stehekin. Again, camping and hiking opportunities abound in the uplake area and you will be hard pressed to feel more remote than when you’re in an area that cars simply cannot get to. The terrain of the area is also unusual as on the eastern end of the lake you are on the edge of the beginning of arid Eastern Washington, while on the western end you are high in the Cascade Mountains. The Lake Chelan area is definitely a must-see area of Chelan County and all of North Central Washington.

North Central Washington is filled with great places to visit and explore and Chelan County has its fair share of them. If you are interested in the outdoors, then this is the place for you.

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