Dispersed Camping in Lake Chelan

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areas to camp

Below are some areas that are good locations to find a dispersed campsite. Keep the following things in mind when selecting a site :

Look for existing pullouts or clearings on the side of the road

Avoid creating new sites

Check for fire rings (a good sign of established spots)

Stick to Forest Service roads and avoid private roads : around Chelan, private roads typically end in "Lane".

Antilon Lake

Antilon Lake has a campground, with a couple of sites (A through C) run by the Department of Natural Resources and one site (D) run by the forest service. However, there are other spots around Antilon that make for a good campsite. One of the best involves a tricky road, the Antilon Spur Forest service road (8200-115). While not a long road, Antilon Spur is often fairly narrow with untrimmed bushes and branches overflowing onto the road, and near the bottom there is a steep and rutted section that is tricky to navigate. But the reward is a nice level site overlooking Antilon Lake.

Lone Peak Area

Next to the Lone Peak trailhead are a couple of level spots suitable for camping. While it is marked as Lone Peak Campground on Google Maps, there are no facilities available, and no nearby water source, short of hiking a mile down to the North Fork of Twenty-Five Mile Creek. The forest service road, 5903-100 Lone Peak Trailhead, to Lone Peak is in pretty good shape, but note, just past the camping area the road is impassable as there are numerous blowdowns.

Shady Pass Road

Nestled in a stand of trees a couple miles from where Shady Pass Road turns to gravel in the Twenty-Five Mile Creek area, is a great level spot with views of Lake Chelan. Look for it on the right hand side as you ascend Shady Pass Road, but chances are it may be already occupied if you get there on a busy weekend. There are additional potential campings spots the further you drive up the road.

Grade Creek Road

Past Antilon Lake, there are a number of suitable dispersed campsites right off the side of the road. Grade Creek Forest Service Road is generally in good condition, however it is a forest service road and a high clearance vehicle is recommended.

Slide Ridge Road

Past the Snowberry Bowl Campground on Slide Ridge road there are a number of level spots just off the road suitable for camping. Some of the spots are in stands of trees, offering a good amount of shade, while spots on top of Slide Ridge are typically in more open areas, and some have great views of the lake, however they require quite a bit of driving on the forest service road.

Box Canyon Trail

The Box Canyon Trail has three campsites along the trail, all very close to the water with enough room for a single large tent. The sites are a minimum of roughly four miles of hiking one-way. View my Box Canyon trip report for more details on the trail and location of the campsites.

rules & safety

Rules & Regulations

In the national forest, which is where dispersed campsites around Lake Chelan are typically located, dispersed camping is allowed unless otherwise noted. For example, while Echo Ridge is on Forest Service land, no camping is allowed there and it is clearly indicated on signs. Stays on forest service land are limited to 14 days in a 30 day period, and no more than 30 days in a 365 day period. Be sure to consult a map and only camp only on public land and respect private property boundaries.

Fire Safety

Forest fires are a major issue in central Washington, and the Lake Chelan area is no exception. Fire restrictions are typically present in the summer, so check current conditions before heading out and use existing fire rings only (if allowed). Chelan County has restrictions which begin on June 1st, however if you are camping on forest service land then federal restrictions take precedence, and you can find more here.

Road & Vehicle Conditions

All the areas listed above are on forest service roads which can be a bit rough, especially farther out on the road you drive. While you may be able to get away with a normal passenger car, high clearance vehicles are definitely recommended. Also note, all these roads are closed in the winter, with a number of them being groomed for snowmobiles. In the lower elevations, snow is typically gone by April, however at higher elevations on Grade Creek Road, Slide Ridge Road and Shady Pass Road, snow is present until early June in a typical year.

Leave No Trace

Help keep the Lake Chelan area clean and pristine by packing out all your trash. Refrain from damaging surrounding vegetation and use existing dispersed campsites rather than creating new ones. There are plenty of existing sites to go around.

planning tips

Water & supplies

Bring your own water, as no drinking water is available at dispersed sites, and while some sites may be near running water, creeks and streams can dry out in the summer months. Most of the dispersed camping is quite a drive to stores, so plan on bringing all your supplies with you, or stock up while passing through Chelan. There is no trash service, so be sure to pack out all your trash.

Cell service & navigation

Many of the areas listed above have limited or no cell service. Download maps and directions ahead of time, and ensure you are comfortable using offline maps.

Best time to go

Summer is the most popular time to camp around Lake Chelan, however that is the busiest as well. You will still be able to find a dispersed camping spot, but it might not be the ideal location. Also note, it can be quite dusty in the summer. Spring is an excellent time to camp, with wildflowers in bloom and more moderate temperatures. However, upper elevation forest service roads may still be impassable during the spring. Fall is a quieter time, but is weather dependent, with cold nights during the later half of the fall. Winter is not a good time for dispersed camping, as most of the forest service roads are closed due to snow.

Lake Chelan Dispersed Camping