In the distance, Washington’s North Cascades’ 8,200-foot Pyramid Peak topped out way above our altitude.
We were on the sound-bite tour of Lake Chelan, a 30-minute float plane experience out of Chelan, a small town tucked at the southeast end of the lake. The half-hour journey took us over Central Washington’s 55-mile-long gem, a lake gouged out by glaciers 15,000 years ago.
We flew over green and brown foothills with orchards and grapes marching up their slopes, over clear green water that morphed into blue and past a network of trails weaving through a forest of ponderosa pine and Douglas fir.
Below us, a boat left its V-shaped wake on a dimpled surface, Falls Creek Waterfall tumbled downhill and blackened poles poked through rubble – the aftermath of a devastating fire that had ripped through the thick forest.
At the far end of the lake, in sight of mud flats and the oxbow shape of the Stehekin River, we bumped across the lake to a dock, the ending point of the first leg of our day trip.
The return trip would be a more leisurely boat ride on the Lady of the Lake ferry, as we cruised on the nation’s third-deepest (1,486 feet) lake that’s fed by 27 glaciers and 57 creeks.
Arriving at Stehekin, a town with no roads leading to it, no telephones and no television, we could have taken a bus tour or rented a mountain bike; taken a nap at the North Cascades Stehekin Lodge; enjoyed an authentic Mexican meal; or hiked for weeks in the Stehekin Valley or the steep mountains.
Some opt to take the Lady of the Lake only as far as Prince Creek and hike the 18-mile Lakeshore Trail to Stehekin. It’s a little hilly, but not impossibly so; there are several campsites along the way.
While the plane-and-boat experience is a treat, there are other ways to explore the Chelan area this summer.
Catch Some Air
Say what you will about the sometimes uncomfortably high temperatures east of the Cascades but it’s the heat that creates the best thermals in the state. Those thermals create thrilling hang-gliding and paragliding rides, particularly in Chelan, where pilots from around the country gather to compete, providing colorful eye-candy for spectators.
At the 25th annual Chelan XC Classic (July 4-9), open to both hang-gliders and paragliders, and the U.S Paragliding National Championships (July 10-16), pilots choose to compete in straight line, out-and-return, or triangle events.
Spectators and pilots gather on top of Chelan Butte, which at 4,100 feet, stands more than 3,000 feet above Lake Chelan.
“It’s a wonderful launch with basically 270 degrees of launch direction,” said organizer Steven Alford, noting it also offers spectacular views of the Chelan Valley, Lake Chelan, the
North Cascades and Columbia River.
Take a Spin
One of the best ways to see the Chelan area, at least in the early morning or early evening hours, is on a bike.
If you’re new to the area, join the Apple Century Ride in Wenatchee on June 11 or the
Chelan Century Ride, June 12. Both are scenic and challenging.
For mountain biking of various levels, check out Echo Ridge, just eight miles from Chelan. Explore 18 miles of loops and trails, some of which are suitable for families with children. A ride down The Gulch is not for the faint-hearted. There’s also the old double-track Face of the Butte along Chelan Butte, with spectacular views of the lake. Be aware that you’ll share this route with hikers. You can pick up a mountain biking map at the Chelan Chamber of Commerce.
Road cyclists can ride Lake Chelan’s south shore road to 25-Mile Creek and back or bike
the other side of the lake to Manson through thousands of acres of apple orchards. Another option: Take a bike-and-sip tour. Warm days, cool nights and soil conditions that nurture some of the best apples in the Northwest have led to six wineries starting in Chelan and nearby Manson since the first vineyard was planted in 1998.
With a map from the Chamber, take a self-guided tour. Or wait until the weather cools a bit and visit during the Sept. 11 Chelan Wine Festival.
Tour the Town
Chelan is a pedestrian-friendly town, small enough to accommodate a stroll but large enough to include some surprises. Beautiful Riverfront Park is the venue for various events, including Riverwalk Fine Arts (Aug. 19-21) and RiverDaze Family Festival (Sept. 3-4). Chelan also hosts the annual Bach Fest (July 9-17).
The historic Ruby Theatre (1914) is still showing movies, although considerably different from its original shows of silent films. After taking in a movie, go on a walking tour of the 15 murals that are scattered throughout town, each containing an apple in some form (although a few take a bit of looking to discover the fruit).
Chelan sits at the tip of the lake, so there are several waterfront lodging options, including the Caravel, Campbell’s (in business since 1901), Darnell’s and Lake Chelan Shores resorts. There are also in-city motels and hotels, and B&BS in town and in Manson.
Water-based resorts create a multitude of waterfront activities, including water slides, bumper boats, parasailing, boating and waterskiing. You can also rent boats and all the toys that go with them, from wakeboards to scuba gear.
The Chelan area provides campers options at state parks, a city park and 12 boat-in campgrounds as well as several hike-in sites. Don’t expect quiet at Lake Chelan State Park. For that, go to Twenty-Five-Mile Creek State Park, which offers a view of the Sawtooth Wilderness across the lake.
Even if you’re staying in Chelan, be sure to get out of town at night and head to a wide open sky viewing area. If you’re lucky, the Northern Lights might be dancing overhead.
Before You Go:
Chelan is north of Wenatchee on U.S. 97, 183 miles from Seattle,
320 miles from Portland, and 189 miles from Coeur d’Alene, Idaho.
Lake Chelan Chamber: (800) 424-3526; www.lakechelan.com
Chelan Ranger District: (509) 682-2576
Lady of the Lake: (509) 682-4584
Chelan Airways: (509) 682-5555
Lake Chelan Tourism: www.cometothelake.com;
Free travel Planner, call (866) 789-5070
– Maggie Savage and Sharon Wootton are freelance writers and co-producers
of writing, songwriting and nature-related workshops in the San Juan Islands
(www.songandword.com).
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