
Not all holiday destinations are suited for every season of the year, but in Chelan, Washington, you’ll find there’s plenty to do all year round. Whether you’re planning on traveling in the winter months to escape the biting cold or avoiding the summer heatwave, Chelan has plenty of life to it all throughout the year. See what makes this city a popular destination and look at the exciting activities that await you on your next holiday!
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Spring
1. Explore the trails on wheels
Posted by Chelan Electric Bikes-Merv on Saturday, 30 January 2016
Posted by Chelan Electric Bikes-Merv on Monday, 12 August 2013
Chelan is home to an abundance of cycling trails, and paved and off-road options are available for cyclists of all levels. Cycling is a great way to experience the beautiful region up close; it allows you to enjoy the sights while feeling the cool spring breeze in your hair. A variety of electric bike tours are offered to those who would rather not break a sweat. If you prefer to explore on your own, rental options are also provided. A map is issued along with the bike so you don’t need to worry about not being able to find your way back. Mountain biking is also popular in Chelan during spring, summer, and fall. One popular trail for mountain biking is Echo Ridge Trail. Originally designed for cross-country skiing during the winter time, this trail is maintained annually and gives you excellent views of Lake Chelan.
Chelan Electric Bikes
Address: 204 E Wapato Ave, Chelan, WA 98816
Price: from 40 USD
Opening Hours: 10 am - 6 pm
Duration: around 2 hours required
Contact: +1 509-683-2125
Website: Chelan Electric Bikes
2. Go hiking and camping in Stehekin
Stehekin is small community that is part of Chelan County. It is located at the northwest end of Lake Chelan. Getting to Stehekin is an adventure on its own, as no paved roads lead to the endearing town; the isolated community is only accessible by ferry, plane, or trails. Home to less than a hundred permanent residents, Stehekin retains its small town charm. Spring is an ideal time for hiking and camping as Stehekin gets crowded during the summer months and you’ll also get to avoid the summer sun. Long and short treks are available and all of them feature amazing views of Lake Chelan. Some campsites offers facilities such as toilets or tables.
Golden West Visitor Centre
Address: North Cascades National Park, Stehekin, WA 98852, United States
Price: A free backcountry permit is required for camping and can be acquired from Golden West Visitor Centre
Contact: +1 509-699-2080
Website: Camping in Stehekin
Summer
3. Take a dip in Lake Chelan
Breakin' at the Lake starts tomorrow! It's going to be good! www.lakechelan.com/breakin-at-the-lake
Posted by Lake Chelan on Thursday, 2 April 2015
Wow! The Culture Trip just rated Lake Chelan as one of The 10 Most Beautiful Towns on the West Coast! Read the article...
Posted by Lake Chelan on Sunday, 21 June 2015
You can’t come to the lake in the summer and not take a dip! Summer is the perfect time to break out your swimwear and take the plunge. Watersports are popular recreational activities during the warmer months. Lake Chelan will be buzzing with energy with vacationers being pulled across the glistening surface on wakeboards and water skis, canoeists and kayakers paddling in unison, parasails gliding across the air, and sails catching wind in this boater’s paradise. Lake Chelan’s upper basin, called the Lucerne Basin, is where divers can dive to a depth of 1,486 feet (452 meters) below sea level! This is among the nation’s top 3 deepest gorges. Bring proper equipment or rent it if you plan on going deep as the waters run cold beneath the hot Chelan weather.
Lake Rider Sports Chelan
Address: 360 West Manson Highway, Chelan, WA 98816
Price: from 20 USD
Opening Hours: 9 am - 7 pm. Windy or rainy conditions may cause their hours to change
Duration: around 1 hour required
Contact: +1 509-885-4767
Website: Lake Rider Sports Chelan
Board Lake Chelan
Address: 7750 S Lakeshore Rd, Chelan, WA 98816
Price: from 150 USD to 200 USD
Opening Hours: 9 am - 7 pm
Duration: around 2 hours required
Contact: +1 360-980-0089
Website: Board Lake Chelan
Pirate's Cove Parasail
Address: 1230 W Woodin Ave, Chelan, WA 98816
Price: from 40 USD
Opening Hours: 9 am - 8 pm
Duration: around 1 hour required
Contact: +1 509-682-3600
Website: Pirate’s Cove Parasail
Shoreline Watercraft & Boat Rentals
Address: Lake Chelan Shores, Chelan, WA
Price: from 45 USD
Opening Hours: 7.30 am - 10 pm
Duration: around 2 hours required
Contact: +1 509-682-1515
Website: Shoreline Watercraft & Boat Rentals
4. Go white water rafting and ride some rapids
It's almost WHITEWATER SEASON! With the lower-than-average snow pack this year, we expect the biggest whitewater to be...
Posted by Alpine Adventures on Friday, 13 March 2015
Posted by Alpine Adventures on Friday, 22 April 2016
Looking to cool off from the summer heat but yearn for something more thrilling than simply sitting in the shade or swimming? Within the vicinity of Chelan is a network of rivers that has rapids, making for a great white water rafting experience. White water rafting tour operators offer Class 1 to Class 5 river tours. Class 1 river tours are the tamest of the lot, and Class 5 tours are for the bold and adventurous. Whether you like big rapids or leisurely tubing trips, you’re bound to find something that suits your fancy. Although the operators are located about an hour away from Chelan, the journey down the raging river is worth the drive. Minimum requirements for participation vary according to the difficulty of the rafting run.
River Riders
Address: 10860 Hwy 2, Leavenworth, WA 98826
Opening Hours: 5 am - 9 pm
Duration: around 3 hours required
Contact: +1 800-448-7238
Website: River Riders
Methow River Raft and Kayak
Address: 27 Rader Rd, Winthrop, WA 98862-9741
Opening Hours: 9 am - 8 pm
Duration: around 3 hours required
Contact: +1 509-341-4246
Website: Methow River Raft and Kayak
Alpine Adventures
Address: 300 Riverside Dr., Cashmere, WA 98815
Duration: around 3 hours required
Contact: +1 800-723-8386
Website: Alpine Adventures
River Recreation
Address: 3113 Main St, Monitor, WA 98836-9800
Opening Hours: 9 am - 7 pm
Duration: around 3 hours required
Contact: +1 800-464-5899
Website: River Recreation
5. Visit the evening farmers' market
Farmers Market is hopping! Come on down, we're here till 7!
Posted by Chelan Evening Farmers Market on Thursday, 7 July 2011
The Chelan Evening Farmers Market is tonight! Every Thursday evening from 4pm - 7pm through October 1st! Learn more here http://bit.ly/1CSW8HZ See you there! #WaOriginal #LakeChelan
Posted by Lake Chelan on Thursday, 23 July 2015
The evening farmers’ market is where the local folk gather every Thursday between the months of May and October. In the market you can expect to find a broad selection of home-grown fruits, fresh vegetables, baked goodies, and locally-made cheeses. Apart from just produce, flowers, jewelry, and handmade crafts are among the other treasures you can unearth. Live music adds to the uplifting atmosphere and brings everything together, showcasing a charming small town market. Come down and don’t miss out on the entertainment; the farmers’ market will be a treat for the senses!
Chelan Evening Farmers' Market
Address: Corner of S. Emerson and Wapato Streets, Chelan, WA 98816
Opening Hours: 4 pm - 7 pm. Every Thursday, from May to October
Duration: around 2 hours required
Access: Between the Riverwalk Inn and Riverwalk Park
Website: Chelan Evening Farmers’ Market
Autumn
6. Celebrate harvest season with Lake Chelan's Crush Festival
Here is a picture from last week at the Tsillan Cellars & Sorrento's Ristorante! Experience the harvest season in Lake...
Posted by Lake Chelan on Monday, 14 September 2015
Stomp grapes like an old-school vintner.
Posted by Lake Chelan on Thursday, 9 October 2014
Autumn is a beautiful time in Chelan, especially when Lake Chelan Wine Valley celebrates its annual Crush Festival. Watch as the harvested grapes are tumbled through the press and taste the raw flavor that comes out. Learn more about your favorite wines from winemakers and have a sip with them too. Kick off your shoes and come stomp on grapes the traditional way. There’s plenty to enjoy during Crush Festival so join in the fun of harvest season! The festival runs for 2 weekends in October. Be sure to check the calendar before booking your trip!
Lake Chelan Crush Festival
Address: Lake Chelan Wine Valley
Duration: around 3 hours required
Contact: director@lakechelanwinevalley.com
Website: Lake Chelan Crush Festival
7. Witness autumn from above on a seaplane tour
Our Fall Colors tour
Posted by Chelan Seaplanes - 509-682-5555 - Lake Chelan, WA on Friday, 16 November 2012
OK winter you can go away now
Posted by Chelan Seaplanes - 509-682-5555 - Lake Chelan, WA on Tuesday, 22 January 2013
A seaplane flight is a common mode of transportation around Lake Chelan. Several tours are offered in Chelan where you will be flown around by skilled pilots who provide interesting narration along the way. A seaplane tour is also an efficient way to visit the northern end of the lake. A flight from Lake Chelan Valley to Stehekin Valley takes about half an hour, whereas a sail down the lake takes between 4 and 6 hours to get to Stehekin. In autumn, 2 recommended tours are the Fall Colours Tour and the Wine Tasting Tour. The Fall Colours Tour offers a visual treat for your eyes; the warm yellow and brilliant red leaves are quite a sight when seen from above. The Wine Tasting Tour is the perfect way to create a memorable and romantic date.
Chelan Seaplanes Inc
Address: 1328 W Woodin Avenue, Chelan, WA 98816
Duration: around 2 hours required
Contact: +1 509-682-5555
Website: Chelan Seaplanes Inc
8. Sail down Lake Chelan in the Lady of the Lake

The trip to Stehekin on Wednesday, March 30th. Just enough snow in the mountain tops!
Posted by Lady of the Lake on Thursday, 31 March 2016
If you’re not in a hurry and prefer relaxing during your vacations, a slow boat ride down Lake Chelan is the way to go. The surrounding peaks and calm lake will show you why Lake Chelan is one of the the most photogenic places in the world. This also happens to be the most common mode of travel between Lake Chelan Valley and Stehekin Valley. The sail is more comfortable during non-summer months when it’s slightly cooler, but take note that the schedule for the ferry is different during early and late fall.
Lady of the Lake
Address: 1418 W Woodin Ave Chelan, WA 98816
Price: from 23 USD
Opening Hours: check their schedule here
Duration: around 4 hours required
Contact: +1 509-682-4584
Website: Lady of the Lake
Winter
9. Experience a winter wonderland at Lake Chelan's Winterfest
Here is a picture from last years Lake Chelan Winterfest of the ice sculptures being carved during the fest. We have ice...
Posted by Lake Chelan on Sunday, 8 November 2015
Are you going to do the Polar Bear Splash & then warm back up at the Beach Bonfire during the Lake Chelan Winterfest? Or...
Posted by Lake Chelan on Sunday, 20 December 2015
Lake Chelan’s Winterfest has been around for over 30 years. It started in the 80s and has remained a community favorite since. The festivities include ice sculpture exhibitions, live music, wine and ale tastings, activities for kids of all ages, a massive bonfire, and fireworks. The highlight of the festival is the polar bear splash, where people from all over take the plunge into Lake Chelan during the chilly winter. Splashers get priority placement next to the huge bonfire as fireworks light up the winter sky. Similar to Crush Festival, Winterfest last for two weekends.
Winterfest
Address: Lake Chelan Valley
Duration: around 3 hours required
Contact: info@lakechelan.com
Website: Winterfest
10. Zoom around on a snowmobile

A snowmobile is a vehicle designed to travel on snow or ice and it can be used on open terrain or trails. It is an exhilarating way to get around and enjoy the crisp winter air. Chelan is a snowmobiler’s heaven, as it is home to 200 miles (322 kilometers) of well-marked and groomed snowmobile trails. Getting around on the back of a snowmobile is also a great way to get breathtaking views of Lake Chelan. Trails are uncrowded and warming huts fitted with wood-burning stoves can be found along the way, making Chelan a top pick for avid snowmobilers. Rentals are also available on site.
Echo Valley Snowmobile Rentals
Address: 1800 Cooper Gulch Road, Chelan, WA 98816
Duration: around 3 hours required
Contact: +1 509-881-1515
Start packing for all seasons
Picturesque scenery, beautiful weather, lively festivals, and tons of sporting activities, what more would you need for a perfect getaway? With engaging activities to take part in during every season, you’ll never run out of things to try even if you’ve been here before. The most difficult part of visiting Chelan is deciding on a season to swing by, so set a date and start planning how you’re going to spend your time here! Don’t miss out on your next amazing vacation in Chelan.
History
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