The Lake Chelan Valley sits centrally in Washington State nestled in the North Cascades National Forest encompassing the communities of Chelan, Manson, & Stehekin. This pristine, 50.5 mile glacier fed lake’s widest width is one and a half miles, and the deepest depth is 1486 ft. The population of the valley consists of 10,000 year round residents and several hundred more part-time residents.
Roads extend less than halfway to the headwaters of Lake Chelan. Beyond the end of the road, rugged snowcapped peaks rise over 7,000 feet from the lakeshore and dark evergreens cover the mountainsides.
Deep valleys rise from the lake to massive glaciers in the heart of the North Cascades. At the upper end of Lake Chelan, limited, local roads do not connect the communities of Stehekin and Holden Village to the outside world.
This remoteness and the spectacular setting have inspired Federal protection for much of the region. Portions of a National Park, two National Forest Wilderness Areas, and a National Recreation Area encompass much of the Chelan drainage. From the apple orchards down lake to the alpine firs and glaciers of the Cascade Crest, the Lake Chelan area offers an unparalleled variety of scenic and recreational experiences. Enjoy discovering for yourself the rich history and special features of this unique region.
Graphic sourced with thanks from Wikipedia Lake Chelan