Lake Chelan
Snowshoeing

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Snowshoeing in Lake Chelan

Snowshoeing in Lake Chelan offers a serene and picturesque winter experience. Nestled between the eastern edge of the snow-draped Cascade Mountains and the glistening waters of the 50-mile-long lake, the area transforms into a winter wonderland perfect for outdoor enthusiasts. With crisp mountain air, sparsely used trails, and breathtaking views, snowshoeing here is both invigorating and peaceful. Numerous trails cater to all skill levels, from gentle, family-friendly routes along the lakeshore to more challenging treks through forested foothills and alpine meadows. Echo Ridge, a popular winter recreation area, provides well-marked trails with panoramic views of the lake and surrounding peaks. As you traverse the snowy landscape, you’ll encounter towering evergreen forests, open ridgelines, and moments of quiet solitude, broken only by the crunch of snow beneath your snowshoes. While the Antilon Lake and Twenty Five Mile Creek Sno-Parks provide access to snow covered forest service roads as well as hiking trials which switch back up the mountains.

popular trails

Somewhere to Ride

Somewhere to Ride at Echo Ridge offers a nice relatively flat out and back snowshoe through a mix of open meadows and pine forest. On clear days, expect outstanding views of Chelan Valley and the Chelan Range, including Stormy Mountain and Devil's Backbone. Somewhere to Ride can be accessed from the Echo Ridge Lower Trailhead, as well as from the Shoe Trailhead via the Shoe Connector trail. A $15 day pass is required to use the trail system.

Fourth of July Mountain

Looking for amazing views of Lake Chelan and the spurring mountains covered in snow? Look no further than Fourth of July Mountain, a popular hiking spot in the summer that makes for a great snowshoe in the winter. The roundtrip to the top of Fourth of July Mountain is 3.5 miles and 1,250 feet of elevation gain. If that is a little more than you are looking for, you can plan on turning around early, as once on the ridge you will have plenty of views of Lake Chelan without needing to go to the top. Park in the Antilon Lake Sno Park (sno-park pass required), and snowshoe up Grade Creek Road, turning left onto Antilon Dam where you should see signage for the summer trail. Follow the trail up through the forest and then make your way up to the ridge for the aforementioned views of Lake Chelan.

Reach 1

Unless there is fresh snowfall, this trail will likely be packed down and doesn't require snowshoes. However, it's a wide trail and perfect for a mellow snowshoe close to town, descending down into the gorge for a pleasant and beautiful snowshoe along the banks of the Chelan River.

The Shoe

Snowshoeing on the Shoe Trail at Echo Ridge offers a great mix of scenic beauty and tranquility for outdoor adventurers. This trail doesn't see a ton of traffic, but it is well signed, including a sign indicating not to follow an old forest service road, making it ideal for both beginners and seasoned snowshoers. The Shoe Trail is a loop which starts from the Shoe Trailhead, and meanders through a serene winter landscape around a small ravine, passing through open meadows, and dense evergreen forests. On clear days, expect breathtaking views of the snow-covered Cascade Mountains and glimpses of the shimmering Lake Chelan below. A $15 day pass is required to access the trails, and both parking areas have a pay station.

Chelan Butte & Elephant Head

Chelan Butte and Elephant Head are quintessential hikes during the summer, and provide the same spectacular views during the winter months. From the Chelan Butte trailhead, cross the road and proceed up the road following the summer trail through a ravine and up the slope, before it cuts across Chelan Butte. Elephant Head makes the perfect turn-around spot, although the adventurous will opt to continue climbing up Chelan Butte.

Divine Inspiration

Divine Inspiration at Echo Ridge is typically combined with Minor Threat to form a nice 1.5 mile loop accessed from the Echo Ridge Lower Trailhead (note, a $15 day pass is required to use the Echo Ridge trail system). From the vault toilet, descend slightly and then proceed along Divine Inspiration as it traverses across the side of the mountain through a mixture of forest and more open areas. Divine Inspiration trail then switchbacks, heading back towards the parking lot, at which point you will intersect with the Shoe Trail and proceed for a couple hundred years before following Minor Threat back up to the parking lot.

Grade Creek Road

Accessed from the Antilon Lake Sno-Park (sno-park pass required), Grade Creek Road is a groomed snowmobile trail that makes for a nice snowshoe as it winds its way past Antilon Lake. While the trail doesn't see a lot of snowmobile traffic, there are a number of options to get off the beaten path, including heading up the drainage after you pass by Antilon Lake (near Antilon Lake Campground Site C). Or make your way towards Antilon Lake Campground Site D and head towards the lake.

Eagle Trail

Located a quarter of a mile off the Reach 1 trail, Eagle Trail follows the Gorge a couple hundred feet above the river before descending down and connecting up with Coyote and Cutthroat loop trails. This is a perfect snowshoe for those looking for something close to town but also experiencing the solitude of the Chelan Valley.

webCams

Use the web cams below to see the current conditions in the Lake Chelan Valley. The Echo Valley Cabin's webcam is located at 2,700 ft elevation and is very close to the tubing hill of Echo Valley. The other cams are all located at lake level, 1,100 ft elevation, at different points along the lake on both the north shore and south shore.

Live Webcam from Echo Valley Cabins - 2,700 f.t. elevation

Chelan Realty Downtown Chelan Web Cam

25 Mile Creek Web Cam

Wapato Point Web Cam