Awe-Inspiring American Alps

Lake Chelan National Recreation Area

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Traverse the remote majestic surroundings of the far Northwest and be overcome by the magnitude and tranquility of true wilderness.

About

Lake Chelan Information

Connect with nature in the heart of the North Cascades. Lake Chelan National Recreation Area is 61,949-acres worth of outdoor playground and natural habitat.

“Wilderness touches the heart, mind, and soul of each individual in a way known only to himself.” — Michael Frome

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Park Information

Discover Lake Chelan National Recreation Area—one of the nation's deepest lakes at a depth of 1,500 ft. The average width is less than two miles, but Lake Chelan extends 50 miles into the Cascade Mountains.

Here, the beautiful Stehekin Valley, with a portion of fjord-like Lake Chelan, adjoins North Cascades National Park. Lake Chelan National Recreation Area rests in a glacially carved trough in the Cascades Range and offers boating, fishing, and lakeshore camping, as well as the remote community of Stehekin.

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Visiting the Park

Weather at Lake Chelan National Recreation Area

Due to the enormity of the Cascades, weather in the western slopes of the park can differ vastly from the drier and warmer eastern slopes where Lake Chelan National Recreation Area is situated. Plan on heavy snow and ice during the winter months, with avalanches being common in the winter and during the spring thaw. Late summer offers the best weather for outdoor activity in the Pacific Northwest, with temperatures in the 70s, though sudden storms may occur. You’ll want to pack warm, waterproof clothing, and appropriate hiking footwear.

Tours and Camping

The park offers an assortment of seasonal ranger-led explorations, interactive programs, and educational presentations. Guided tours are regularly scheduled throughout the summer months, though tours can occur off-season (October-May) by special request. While the parks within North Cascades National Park Complex are open year-round, the various visitor centers are open seasonally. Be sure to check ahead for scheduled events and to see the hours for each visitor center. A variety of companies provide additional private tours and excursions, which include white water rafting, rock climbing, and even llama packing trips. North Cascades National Park contains over 400 miles of trails to explore this enormous landscape all on your own.

There are nearly 140 campsites across the North Cascades, from high in the alpines to boat-in sites along Ross Lake. Campgrounds are provided with restrooms, tent sites, and in some instances, picnic tables with open wood pits. You’ll need a free permit for backcountry camping. For your own safety, camping is only permitted in designated sites.

Wildlife in the Park

What better reason to visit the park than to be completely immersed in nature? Lake Chelan National Recreation Area is one of the most diverse ecosystems in the entire world. You are likely to encounter wildlife with fur, feathers, scales, and fins. In this enchanted forest, you may happen upon mountain goats navigating rugged terrain, black bears feasting on thickets of berries, or the occasional bobcat keeping the population of this precious ecosystem in balance. The thick forest provides vital homes to wolves, bald eagles, lynx, bats, moose, and so many others. For the longevity and preservation of our grizzly and black bears, please observe proper bear safety.

Map of Lake Chelan

Address

Lake Chelan National Recreation Area

c/o North Cascades 810 State Route 20

Sedro-Woolley , WA

Park Info on NPS

Local Park Support

Nearby Parks

Lake Chelan National Recreation Area

Anchors

Lake Chelan Information

Park Information

NPF's Impact in the Parks

National Park Service Mellon Humanities Fellowships

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Weather at Lake Chelan National Recreation Area

Tours and Camping

Wildlife in the Park

Map of Lake Chelan

Address

Nearby Parks

Ross Lake National Recreation Area

North Cascades National Park

Lake Roosevelt National Recreation Area