What to do and where to stay while visiting Lake Chelan

Best lake vacation Lake Chelan in Washington
Photo by José; Mandojana
The area’s main attractions lie along the lake and in the towns of Chelan and Manson, 7 miles to the west via State 150. The wineries listed here are all open daily. For more information, contact the Lake Chelan Chamber of Commerce & Visitor Information Center (www.lakechelan.com or 800/424-3526). Banjo Creek Farms. Working family farm with a petting farm ($1), gold panning, and Western barbecue dinners (Mon, Wed, and Sat; reservations required; $27). 4848 Green Ave., 4 miles west of Manson, off State 150; www.banjocreekfarms.com or 509/687-0708.
Lake Chelan Winery. Set in a 1916 apple storage warehouse. 3519 W. State 150; www.lakechelanwinery.com or 509/687-9463. Riverwalk Park. One-mile loop along the Chelan River, in Chelan. Access off Main St. and Woodin Ave.; free parking at Emerson St. and Wapato Ave. Slidewaters. Eleven water slides. $14. 102 Waterslide Dr., off U.S. 97 Alt.; www.slidewaters.com or 509/682-5751. Vin du Lac. A 1920s apple orchard-turned-winery. 105 W. State 150; www.chelanwine.com, 866/455-9463, or 509/682-2882. Wapato Point Cellars. Vineyards surround the tasting room. 200 Quetilquasoon Rd., Manson; www.wapatopointcellars.com or 509/687-4000. Dining Campbell’s Second Floor Pub & Veranda. Go for an evening meal of burgers or fish and chips on the veranda. $$. 104 W. Woodin Ave.; 509/682-4250. Latte Dá Coffee Stop Cafe. Sandwiches and homemade soups served in a converted bungalow. $. 303 E. Wapato Ave.; 509/682-4196. Lodging In addition to resorts, Chelan has a couple of campgrounds for tents and RVs; check with the chamber of commerce or visit www.chelancityparks.com or www.parks.wa.gov Campbell’s Resort on Lake Chelan. 170 lakefront guest rooms. From $162. 104 W. Woodin; www.campbellsresort.com or 509/682-2561. Kelly’s Resort. 16 cottages tucked along a forested hillside 12 miles west of Chelan. From $110. 12800 S. Lake-shore Rd.; www.kellysresort.com, 800/561-8978, or 509/687-3220. Lake Chelan Shores. Two miles west of Chelan, with a boat launch, a dock, and more than 30 condominium units for rent. From $140. 100 Lake Chelan Shores Dr.; www.lakechelanshores.com, 877/682-4531, or 509/682-4531. Stehekin Attractions More than 165 miles of hiking trails cover all kinds of terrain. Or sign up for a guided three-hour horseback ride with Cascade Corrals ($43 per person; www.courtneycountry.com or 509/682-7742). Biking Stehekin Valley Road is the best way to explore the valley floor; for rentals, try Stehekin Discovery Bikes ($3.50 per hour, $20 per day; www.stehekindiscoverybikes.com). For maps and information on area recreation, check out the Golden West Visitor Center (at Stehekin Landing; www.nps.gov/noca or 360/856-5700 ext. 340). All of the following attractions lie along the partially paved Stehekin Valley Road. All are accessible by shuttle ($6) or by bike. Agnes Gorge. Stunning gorge at the end of a 2 1/2-mile trail. Take shuttle to High Bridge. Beware: The trail in the gorge area is very high and has no fence. 11 miles northwest of Stehekin Landing. Old Stehekin Schoolhouse. On the National Register of Historic Places, this two-room schoolhouse was built in 1921. 3 1/4 miles north of Stehekin Landing. Rainbow Falls. One of Stehekin’s major scenic wonders, Rainbow Falls plunges in a 312-foot veil. 3 1/2 miles north of Stehekin Landing. Dining Stehekin Pastry Company. Homemade pies, pastries, and pizza 2 miles up valley from Stehekin Landing (the shuttle stops here). 7:30–4 Wed–Sun (until 5 after Jun 17). www.courtneycountry.com Stehekin Valley Ranch. Hearty meals served family-style in the great room or on the front deck with a view of the mountains. $ (dinner free for ranch guests); reservations required. www.courtneycountry.com, 800/536-0745, or 509/682-4677. Lodging North Cascades Stehekin Lodge. No-frills lodge run by the National Park Service at Stehekin Landing, with a general store, a restaurant, and 28 small rooms. From $95. www.stehekin.com or 509/682-4494. Stehekin Valley Ranch. 12 private cabins and a dining hall in a scenic ranch setting 9 miles up Stehekin Valley from Stehekin Landing. Tent cabins (without bathrooms) from $65 per person, cabins (with bathrooms) from $75 per person (both rates include meals and transportation in the valley). www.courtneycountry.com, 800/536-0745, or 509/682-4677.
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