Reserve your campsite early, wait for summer with growing anticipation, then join the ranks of visitors who make Lake Chelan a family tradition.
This social camping park pulses with life in the summer. Generations of families return to the blue lake every year; they even try to book the same campsite they've used since the 1960s and '70s. But, while they'll jockey online for their favorite spot, veteran Chelan-goers happily share this gem with first-timers, and many lifelong friendships begin there.
Lake Chelan State Park has a long, sandy beach, shaded picnic tables and a calm lagoon. The 50.5-mile lake, with a depth of 1,486 feet, draws boaters, sailors, anglers, water skiers, windsurfers and seasonal residents. The area features some of the finest hiking trails in Washington, and adventurous hikers make the park their base from which to explore the North Cascades. For visitors hoping to chill out in their camp chairs, float the lagoon in a raft and soak up the homey atmosphere with family and friends, this place cannot be beat.
PARK FEATURES
Lake Chelan State Park is a 139-acre camping park on the forested south shore of Lake Chelan. The park has 6,000 feet of shoreline and the beach is accessible by stairs. The park gets an annual average rainfall of 11 inches. Summer tends to be hot and dry. Annual average snowfall is 24 inches.
ADA AMENITIES/FACILITIES
Campground
Restroom
Hiking trail
PICNIC & DAY-USE FACILITIES
The park provides one kitchen shelter without electricity plus 52 unsheltered picnic tables. All are available first come, first served. Be advised the parking area is small and fills early on weekends.
ACTIVITIES
TRAILS
0.2 miles of ADA hiking trails
2 miles of hiking trails
WATER ACTIVITIES & FEATURES
495 feet of dock
Beach exploration
Boating
Fishing (freshwater)
Personal watercraft use
Sailboarding
Swimming
Watercraft launch
Waterskiing
OTHER ACTIVITIES & FEATURES
Bird watching
Children's playground
Horseshoe pits (2)
Stand up paddleboard rentals
Volleyball court
Wildlife viewing
BOATING FEATURES
Located in Chelan County on Lake Chelan, the park has one single-lane launch with a nearby 28-car parking lot that fills rapidly on weekends. The park offers 495 feet of dock, some of it near the launch and some of it at the opposite end of the park near lakeside camping.
Launching a boat at a state park requires one of the following:
An annual launch permit (Natural Investment Permit); or
An annual Discover Pass and a daily launch permit; or
A one-day Discover Pass and a daily launch permit.
CAMPSITE INFORMATION
The park has 103 standard campsites, 18 partial-hookup sites, 17 full-hookup sites, one dump station, five restrooms with showers.
The park offers 17 fully upgraded utility campsites that offer 50 amps service, two picnic tables, and the sites are large enough to accommodate the largest motorhomes and buses. Lake Chelan is extremely popular, early reservations are a must.
Check-in time is 2:30 p.m.
Check-out time is 1 p.m.