Lake Chelan Water Activities
Lake Chelan
Lake Chelan, a stunning 50.5-mile glacier-fed lake in Washington State that is the third deepest lake in the United States, is a paradise for water enthusiasts. With its crystal-clear blue waters and breathtaking mountain scenery, the lake offers an array of aquatic adventures for visitors of all ages. For thrill-seekers, jet skiing and wakeboarding provide high-speed excitement, while water skiing lets you glide effortlessly across the lake. Kayakers and paddleboarders can explore the serene coves tucket into the shoreline, enjoying a peaceful connection with nature. Boating is another popular activity, whether you prefer sailing, pontoon cruising, or fishing for trout and kokanee salmon in the lake’s deep waters. Whether you seek adrenaline-pumping action or a tranquil day on the water, Lake Chelan offers the perfect aquatic escape in the heart of Washington’s scenic beauty.
best time to visit
For water based activities, the summer is the time to come to Lake Chelan. Around Memorial Day, you will find people starting to enjoy the lake, with numerous boats on sunny weekends. But the large deep lake is on the cooler side, especially in May. The lake starts to warm up in June, typically hitting 70 degrees at the lower end of the lake by August. The waterpark, Slidewaters, also typically opens on Memorial Day, staying open until September.
While Lake Chelan is a natural lake, there was a dam built in the early 1900's and now the water level of the lake is controlled by the Chelan Public Utility District. The lake level starts lowering in the fall, and starts rising in the spring, with full level by July 4th. The lake level usually doesn't have too much impact unless you are renting a house with a boat lift, in which case it may not be accessible until June.
activities
Boating
With 50 plus miles of lake, having a boat affords the option to explore the lake, cruise around or enjoy various water sports like wakeboarding, wakesurfing and tubing. There are a number of businesses which rent boats for the half day or day, as well as boat launches if you are hauling your own boat. boat-in campsites along the upper section of the lake, providing a great camping adventure during the summer. The Southern end of the lake is typically the busiest, and traffic decreases as you go up-lake. Note, the waves uplake can be rather large as the wind whips down the lake, even when the weather is nice, so proceed with caution.
Kayaking
What better way to take in the sights of Lake Chelan than by kayak! You can launch kayaks at the various boat launches on the lake, as well as from Don Morse and Lakeside Park. Kayaking is especially popular in the mornings, when boat traffic is minimal and the temperatures are more reasonable. However, people do kayak throughout the day on the lake. There are a number of spots in Chelan that rent kayaks, including Chelan Parasail, Lake Rider Sports and Shoreline Watercraft.
Paddleboarding
Whether it's going out for a quick board from your dock, or spending the entire day to see how far up lake you can make it, paddleboarding is a very popular activity on Lake Chelan. Paddleboarding around the lower end of the lake where it spills out into the Chelan River is a popular area, as is around Manson Bay Park. Note, with all the boat activity and wind coming down the lake, the waves can be sizable. General rules of thumb : farther up lake has less boat traffic, mornings and evenings tend to have calmer water, and the waves and wind can be much stronger past the narrows. There are a number of spots in Chelan that rent paddleboards, including Chelan Parasail, Lake Rider Sports and Shoreline Watercraft.
Parasailing
Parasailing Chelan was Washington State's first parasail company, providing memorable experiences on Lake Chelan for over 30 years. For those not familiar with parasailing, it involves being towed behind a boat with a specially designed canopy wing that resembles a parachute which lifts the flyers into the air . Parasailing Chelan has packages that include flyers and non-flyers, and can accommodate three people at the same time, and also offer photo packages as well.
Surfing
There are a couple of different surfing options around Lake Chelan. Wakesurfing is a popular new activity, where a rider trails behind a boat without using a rope, and is a great sport when the waves in Lake Chelan make wakeboarding difficult. For more traditional surfing, look no further than Lakeside Surf, which has one the world's largest artificial waves measuring in at 6 feet high and over 54 feet wide.
Swimming
- Lakeside Park - large swimming area with a couple of docks, grass and shade
- Don Morse Park- large beach area with swimming
- Manson Bay Park - Protected swimming with easy access via concrete stairs
- Willow Park - Small beach and swimming area
Waterpark
Round out your family vacation to Lake Chelan with waterslides and a lazy river at Slide Waters Waterpark. Slidewaters has a beautiful landscaped lawn area and trees for shade, providing the perfect spot to set up the family for the day. Enjoy the food at the River Run Grill, or bring your own, as you will need energy to hit every waterslide in the park.
