Lake Chelan — Camping
Lake Chelan
Dispersed Camping
Where to look, what to expect, and how to camp responsibly on public land around Lake Chelan.
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Overview
Dispersed camping around Lake Chelan is a flexible alternative to developed campgrounds, especially when summer reservations are gone. Instead of a numbered site with amenities, you are looking for established pullouts and clearings on public land, usually along Forest Service roads above the lake.
The tradeoff is self-sufficiency. These areas generally do not have toilets, drinking water, trash service, picnic tables, or reservations. You get more space and quieter settings, but you need to bring everything you need and be confident with road conditions, navigation, and fire restrictions.
Many good dispersed areas sit in the hills around Antilon Lake, Twenty-Five Mile Creek, Grade Creek, Slide Ridge, and Shady Pass. Use the map below as a planning starting point, then verify current access and land rules before you go.
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Areas to Camp
These are starting points for finding established dispersed sites around Lake Chelan. Conditions change often, so treat each area as a place to scout rather than a guaranteed open campsite.
Antilon Lake
What to Expect
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
What to Expect
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
What to Expect
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
What to Expect
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
What to Expect
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
What to Expect
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.
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How to Choose a Site
Look for established pullouts or clearings along public Forest Service roads.
Avoid creating new campsites. Use places that already show durable use, like a cleared pad or existing fire ring.
Confirm you are on public land before setting up. Around Chelan, private roads commonly end in “Lane.”
Expect rougher roads the farther you go. High-clearance vehicles make the best sites much easier to reach.
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Planning Tips
Do not count on water. Bring enough for drinking, cooking, and cleanup, even if a creek appears on the map.
Download offline maps before leaving Chelan. Cell service is limited or absent in many of these areas.
Pack in all supplies and pack out all trash. There are no toilets, water taps, dumpsters, or camp hosts.
Spring and fall are quieter, but higher roads can hold snow into early June. Summer is easier but dustier and busier.
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Rules and Safety
Rules and Regulations: Dispersed camping is generally allowed on national forest land unless posted otherwise. Stays are limited to 14 days in a 30-day period and no more than 30 days in a 365-day period. Always verify land ownership and respect private property boundaries.
Fire Safety: Central Washington has serious wildfire risk, and restrictions are common in summer. Check current county and Forest Service restrictions before leaving, and only use existing fire rings when fires are allowed.
Road and Vehicle Conditions: Most dispersed areas around Lake Chelan are reached by Forest Service roads. Conditions vary by season and distance from pavement, so a high-clearance vehicle is strongly recommended. Many upper roads are snow-covered or closed in winter.
Leave No Trace: Use existing sites, avoid damaging vegetation, keep camp compact, and pack out everything you bring in. The area has plenty of established spots, so there is no need to carve out new ones.
