Lake Chelan State Park

One of the only state park campgrounds in eastern Washington where you can walk from your tent to the water. A 127-acre camping park on the south shore of Lake Chelan with 6,000 feet of shoreline, 144 campsites, a sandy swimming beach, and a two-lane boat launch. The terraced lakefront tent sites are the draw. The lake itself is the 24th deepest on Earth at 1,486 feet, carved by glaciers into a 50-mile trough through the Cascades. That depth is what keeps the water so clear. Open year-round.

Who this park is not for: If you want solitude, this is the wrong park. Lake Chelan State Park runs over 1,000 campers a night during peak summer season. The RV section feels like a commercial parking lot with hookups. Overflow parking pushes five miles out on the busiest weekends. If you want a quiet lakeside campground in eastern Washington, look at Alta Lake or 25 Mile Creek. If you want Lake Chelan and can handle the crowds, keep reading.

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At a Glance

Detail	Info
Location	7544 S Lakeshore Road, Chelan, WA 98816
Phone	(509) 687-3710
Email	Lake.Chelan@parks.wa.gov
Size	127 acres
Shoreline	6,000 feet on Lake Chelan
Season	Year-round (full services Memorial Day through Labor Day; limited services off-season)
Hours	6:30 AM to dusk
Entry	Discover Pass required ($45/year or $10/day)
Reservations	Yes, Washington State Parks reservation system
Pets	Dogs allowed on leash
Fires	Allowed in designated fire pits and grills; check current burn ban status

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Getting There

From Chelan, drive south on Highway 97A for four miles to South Lakeshore Road. Turn right and continue west approximately four miles to the park entrance. The road is paved the entire way. Total drive from downtown Chelan is about 15 minutes.

From Wenatchee, take Highway 97A north along the Columbia River to Chelan. About 40 miles, roughly 50 minutes. From Seattle, it is about three hours via US-2 over Stevens Pass to Wenatchee, then north to Chelan.

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Camping

144 campsites spread across three distinct areas. Each standard site has a picnic table, fire ring, and grill. The campground layout creates very different experiences depending on where you end up.

Site Type	Count	Details
Full hookup (water/sewer/electric)	17	30-amp service, RVs up to 45 feet
Partial hookup (water/electric)	18	30-amp service
Standard (no hookups)	~96	Tent and smaller RV
Primitive vehicle access	13	Sites OF1-OF13, basic access

Restrooms and showers: Five modern restrooms with flush toilets and hot-water showers. Dump station available ($5/use).

Which Area to Pick

The three camping areas serve very different needs. This matters more here than at most parks.

• North RV section. The full hookup and most partial hookup sites. Linear layout with asphalt pads perpendicular to the main road. Functional but not scenic. Limited shade and limited privacy between sites. Reviewers consistently compare it to a commercial RV park. If you need hookups and want to be plugged in, this works. If you are tent camping, keep reading.
• Terraced lakefront sites (east side). The best tent camping in the park. These are newer sites built into the hillside dropping toward the lake. Stairways lead down to multi-level terraced pads. One landing for your tent, one for a picnic table, one for chairs. Most are a short walk from your car down a few steps. Lake views, lake access, and a feel that is nothing like the RV section. I have not camped the terraced sites, but I have stood at them. The lake is right there. Not almost right there.
• South tent area. Separated from the RV section. More brush and tree coverage. More visual privacy. Sites tend to be smaller. Good if you want shade and quiet over lake proximity.

Reservation Tips

Summer weekends book out months in advance. Reservations open 9 to 11 months ahead. If you want a specific lakefront terraced site in July or August, book the day your window opens. Midweek visits in June and September are realistic for last-minute availability. The park is open year-round, but winter camping has limited services.

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Trails

The park’s trail system is modest compared to larger state parks, but Little Bear Trail is worth the walk.

Little Bear Trail

2.3 miles, loop. 250 feet of elevation gain. Highest point 1,350 feet. Easy. About one hour.

A figure-eight loop through ponderosa pine savanna and bitterbrush meadows. The trail starts near the campground restrooms, parallels South Lakeshore Road briefly, then goes through an underpass beneath the highway. From there it splits into two loops: the Forest Loop (1.0 mile) through pine canopy and the Bitterbrush Loop (1.3 miles) through more open terrain with views of Lake Chelan. Good for kids. Dogs allowed on leash. Spring wildflowers in the bitterbrush sections.

Waterfront Path

A short walking path along the lake connecting the campground areas to the beach and day-use facilities. Not a trail in the hiking sense. More of a way to walk the shoreline without cutting through campsites.

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Activities

On the Water

• Swimming. Sandy beach with a cordoned swim area. No lifeguards. The lake is cold in spring. Comfortable swimming starts late June and peaks July through August. By late September it is cooling off again. The swim area is one of the park’s best features.
• Boating. Two-lane boat launch with 1,040 feet of tie-up space and 495 feet of dock. The south shore of Lake Chelan gets afternoon wind, which is good for sailing and waterskiing but means morning is the calm window for putting in.
• Moorage. $12/night, requires a current campsite reservation. Maximum vessel length 18 feet. No overnight boat camping.
• Kayaking and paddleboarding. Rentals available through Paninis in the Park (the on-site concession). A good way to get out on the water without trailering a boat, and the south shore is more protected than the open lake further north.
• Fishing. Freshwater fishing in Lake Chelan. Washington State fishing license required. The lake supports multiple species but Chelan is not known as a fishing destination. Most anglers here are camping first, fishing second. Check WDFW for current regulations on Lake Chelan.
• Scuba diving. The clarity of the lake draws divers. Cold water, significant depth. The glacial origins and 1,486 feet of depth create visibility you do not get in most Washington lakes. This is a destination dive for people who know about it.

On Land

• Hiking. Little Bear Trail is the main option. See the Trails section above. It is a good morning walk before the heat sets in. Not a reason to visit the park on its own, but a solid add-on.
• Bird watching. The mix of pine forest, shrub-steppe, and lakeshore habitat supports good variety. Look for osprey along the shoreline and bald eagles in the pine stands. Early morning from the terraced campsites is productive without going anywhere.
• Playground. A well-maintained playground in the day-use area. Families with young kids mention it consistently in reviews. It is shaded, which matters in July when the rest of the park is baking.
• Volleyball and horseshoes. Court and pits in the day-use area.
• Metal detecting. Allowed in the park.
• Amphitheater. Ranger-led interpretive programs run seasonally. Check with the park for current schedules. We have done a podcast episode with the park ranger here. The interpretive staff knows this lake and its history well.

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On-Site Services

Service	Season	Details
Paninis in the Park	Daily through Labor Day	Food, espresso, ice cream, camp supplies, ice, firewood. Kayak and SUP rentals. 8 AM to 8 PM

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Good to Know

• Heat. The park gets 11 inches of annual rainfall. That is high desert. July and August are hot. The RV section has limited shade. Bring sunscreen, plan for shade, and drink water. The terraced lakefront sites and south tent area have better tree coverage.
• Critters. Reviews consistently warn about aggressive squirrels and chipmunks. Cover all dry goods. Food storage matters here.
• Nearest groceries. The town of Chelan is about 9 miles east with full grocery stores, restaurants, gas stations, and wine tasting rooms. For basic supplies, Paninis in the Park carries essentials during summer season.
• Gas. Fill up in Chelan before heading to the park.
• Cell service. Coverage from T-Mobile, AT&T, and Verizon confirmed. 4G or better at most campsite locations.
• Crowds. This is one of the most popular state parks in the Washington State Parks system. The parking situation during peak season can push overflow five miles out. Arrive before mid-morning on weekends or visit midweek.
• Wind. Afternoon winds are common on the south shore. Good for windsurfing and sailing. Bad for canopy shelters and lightweight tents. Stake everything down.
• Water clarity. Lake Chelan’s depth is what keeps it clear. The glacial origins mean the lake is essentially a 50-mile-long trough carved into the Cascades. The deepest point sits 386 feet below sea level.
• 25 Mile Creek State Park. A second, smaller state park further down the south shore. Quieter alternative if Lake Chelan State Park is full.

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A Bit of History

The name “Chelan” comes from a Salish word meaning “deep water.” The lake was carved by glaciers to 1,486 feet deep, making it the 24th deepest lake on Earth.

The land that became the park was homesteaded in the 1880s. John W. Stevenson built a cabin and boat launch here between 1888 and 1890. The Belle of Chelan, one of the lake’s early steamboats, launched from Stevenson’s property in 1888. The Vollmer brothers later purchased the homesteads and ran them as First Creek Ranch, a tourist rental operation. In February 1943, the State Parks Committee acquired the property through a court-approved condemnation proceeding for $6,700 and established Lake Chelan State Park.

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Fees

Fee	Amount
Discover Pass (annual)	$45
Discover Pass (one day)	$10
Watercraft launch	$7/day
Moorage	$12/night (campsite reservation required)
Trailer dump	$5/use
Overnight unattended vehicle	$10/night

Campsite fees vary by type and season. Check the Washington State Parks reservation system for current rates.

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Nearby

• Chelan. 9 miles east. Full services, groceries, fuel, dining, wine tasting. The town is a destination on its own in summer.
• Manson. About 8 miles west along the south shore. Wine tasting rooms, smaller and quieter than Chelan proper.
• 25 Mile Creek State Park. Further down the south shore. Smaller campground, quieter, also on the lake.
• Lake Chelan boat tours. The Lady of the Lake ferries run from Chelan to Stehekin at the head of the lake. A full day trip and one of the best excursions in Washington State.
• Chelan Lakeshore Trail. A 17-mile backcountry trail along the northeast shore from Prince Creek to Stehekin. Accessible by boat. Separate from the state park but worth knowing about for backpackers.

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Official Source

Washington State Parks – Lake Chelan State Park