About Lake Chelan
Information about Lake Chelan Washington USA
Lake Chelan is the third deepest lake in North America. Lake Chelan was the largest natural lake in Washington State until completion of the Lake Chelan Dam in 1927, at this time the elevation of the lake was increased by 21 feet to its present maximum-capacity elevation of 1,100 ft. The color of Lake Chelan is crystal blue, allowing one to see a depth of over 20 feet into the water of the lake.
Lake Chelan is one of Washington State’s most luxurious locations to vacation with over 300 days of sunshine. Since Lake Chelan is on the east side of the mountains, in what is called the rain shadow of the Cascade Mountain Range it doesn’t receive the rain fall most think of when Washington state is referenced.
Lake Chelan stretches thin and runs from north to south. Most of this shoreline is remote, there are only a few towns along the 110 miles of shoreline on Lake Chelan. These Towns are Chelan, Manson, Holden and Stehekin. Chelan and Manson are the two largest towns along the southern shoreline of Lake Chelan, and the small town of Stehekin is located on the far north end.
Watersports, wine tasting and hiking are the primary tourist draw to Lake Chelan, although there are plenty of additional attractions in the Lake Chelan area.
The airaid climate of the Chelan region is designated as an official American Viticulture Area (AVA), meaning the region is a great location for wine tours. The unique minerals of this region make the wine tours an adventure in flavor. Some of the most highly rated wineries in the region are the Chelan Ridge Winery, a large gravity flow winery and estate vineyard, Hard Row to Hoe, an organic winery with the first Low Input Viticulture and Enology and Salmon Safe certified vineyard in the region, and Nefarious Cellars, with an awe-inspiring view of its vineyards and the lake that will tempt you into spending all day drinking wine on the property. Hard Cider is relatively new to the region but has been growing rapidly. The local apple crop makes this a premier location to enjoy the local ciders at any of the local cider houses.
Lake Chelan is the ideal location for boating and water sports in Washington state. Our friendly staff at Lake Shores Watercraft and Boat Rentals look forward to being your “fun guides”. Please take a look at what we have available on the days you will be visiting Lake Chelan or Manson Wa. We have a huge selection of watercraft rentals but they go quickly during the warm season. There is no better way to enjoy the beauty of Lake Chelan than from the bow of a boat or zipping along on a jet ski.
Hiking is another fun activity in the Chelan and Manson area.
One of the best hikes near Lake Chelan is the Chelan Butte Trail, a 7.5-mile trail that heads up from the outskirts of Chelan to Chelan Butte. The trail is rated as difficult, but there is a shorter hill for those who prefer an easier hike.
The Chelan Butte trail offers stunning views in every direction, including fantastic views of lake Chelan, the North Cascade mountains, and towns along Lake Chelan. If you are looking for a more mild trail option try the Bitterbrush Loop on the Little Bear Trail. This trail is a 2-mile loop underneath trees, providing shade during our hot summer weather.
Fun is what visiting Lake Chelan is all about!
