Family Friendly

Hikes

If you are looking to get outstanding views of Lake Chelan, and don't feel like the uphill on the nearby Fourth of July Mountain hike, this hike will take you around and through a large grove of quaking aspen before delivering on the views of Lake Chelan. And during the spring, you can expect wildflowers galore in addition to views of the lake. This isn't an official hiking trail, rather the remnants of what looks to be an old forest service road, and access is a little tricky (see below on directions) and there is no signage.

If starting your hike from Antilon Lake Campground, follow the faint trail past the lower pit toilet, which wraps around Upper Antilon Lake until it reaches a road. Follow this road for a couple of hundred feet until it intersects with Antilon Spur Forest Service Road, and take a left to begin the hike. The hike begins on Antilon Spur Forest Service Road 8200-115 next to Upper Antilon Lake, and the road quickly becomes overgrown in spots as it heads away from Lake Chelan (east and south ) before turning west through an aspen grove. In less than a half mile you will have full views of Lake Chelan, and after descending a bit and heading downlake, there is a nice ridge off the road that provides a great turnaround and break spot. While you can follow the road further, it continues on into Emerson Acres.

Beebe Springs Wildlife Area is a 200 acre former orchard on the banks of the Columbia River that has undergone extensive rehabilitation to improve salmon and steelhead spawning habitat. There are a number of short, but connected trails throughout the main wildlife area and you will find steel sculptures of Native Americans, interpretive signs and benches interspersed throughout the area. Included is Buddy’s pond, which allows free fishing for anyone under the age of 12. Across Highway 97 is another section of the park located on a hillside with 3 additional trails.

The Chelan Riverwalk is a 1.2 paved loop which passes along both sides of the Chelan River utilizing the two bridges to cross the river. There are a number of grassy areas along the walk, a raised wooden walkway, and signs with information about the various planets. It’s a popular spot in the summer to bask in the sun and grab a quick swim (signs along the walk ask people to not swim, however you will likely see many people enjoying the lake/river). People generally start the loop from the Riverwalk Park, however the trail is easily accessible from many other locations.

The Coyote Loop is .7 mile loop on a plateau above the Chelan river and is accessed from the end of the Eagle Trail. While the loop itself is only .7 miles, the total mileage is about 3.8 miles, as you will hike along the Reach One trail and Eagle Trail to reach the Coyote Loop. None of the trails in the hike have any shade, so it's best done in the mornings during the summer (not to mention rattlesnakes will be less likely to be out), and makes for a great wildflower hike in the spring.

From the Chelan Butte trailhead, follow the Reach One trail for .4 miles, and then take the Eagle Trail for 1 mile at which point you will arrive at the Coyote Loop. I recommend hiking the loop counter clockwise so you can enjoy the view over the river at the end of the loop.

The Cutthroat Loop is located off the Eagle Trail and provides for a nice hike along the bank of the Chelan River. The loop itself is .7 miles, but the total hike including the Eagle Trail and the short section along the Reach One trail make it a 3 mile round trip hike. This is a great wildflower hike in the spring. The hike is best done in the mornings in the summer as the trail doesn't have any shade, and pay attention to where you step, as rattlesnakes are occasionally encountered during the summer.

From the Chelan Butte trailhead, follow the Reach One trail for .4 miles, and then take the Eagle Trail for .7 miles at which point you will see signage for Cutthroat Loop on your left.

The Eagle Trail provides a scenic hike above the Chelan River, which happens to be Washington State's shortest river at 4 miles long. It makes for a great spring hike, when the river is flowing fast with snowmelt and the hills are covered with wildflowers. Less than a half mile into the Reach One trail, the Eagle trail breaks off for a little over a mile, and provides access to the Cutthroat and Coyote loop trails if you want to extend your hike. If you hike to the end of the Eagle Trail, you should proceed left on the Coyote Loop trail for a couple hundred yards for a nice vista over the Chelan River.

The newly opened Lakeside Trail, as of the fall of 2025, provides a nice pathway suitable for walking and biking along the south shore between the Woodin Avenue Bridge into the city of Chelan and the Lakeside park. Along the 1 mile trail are a couple of benches suitable for resting and enjoying views of the lake, as well as a small area with water access to Lake Chelan via a series of stone stairs. The trail parallels the road, and can be a bit noisy with traffic, however it is completely separated from the road by a median and is suitable for kids, either on foot or riding a bike. There are talks to extend the trail further along the south shore, however no concrete plans exist as of now.

Little Bear Trail is within the Lake Chelan State Park which is located on the south shore 15 minutes away from downtown Chelan. It's a great family hike a little over 2 miles if you complete the loop and has limited elevation gain. The trail starts next to the restrooms at the park and parallels South Lakeshore Road for a short while before going through a tunnel underneath the road. The trail then makes its way uphill, arriving at the junction of the loop. Either direction is fine, and the loop is a mix of wooded areas and more open spaces, with views of the lake along the way.

The Reach One trail, completed in 2010, comprises a couple of different sections, the first one being a half mile paved trail which starts near the boat launch and goes past the Chelan Dam. The trail then turns into gravel, and proceeds down to the Chelan River. There are a number of interpretive signs along the way, providing information about the history of Chelan. It's a great hike for families and is conveniently located 5 minutes outside of downtown Chelan.

You have the option of walking the entire trail by starting near the boat launch. This requires walking along Farnham Ave / Saunders St, and taking a left on E Raymond Street, where you will find the paved trail at the end of the street. Or start at the Chelan Butte trailhead to walk the gravel trail. Reach One provides access to the Eagle Trail, and Cutthroat and Coyote loop trails.

The Shoe trail at Echo Ridge is a nice loop hike through a mixture of open areas as well as forest, with some views of Lake Chelan thrown in. With some shaded slopes, you are more likely to find wildflowers on this trail later in the season compared to other hikes at Echo Ridge. The hike is appropriate for families, but it somewhat surprisingly has almost 400 feet of elevation gain. The trail can be hiked in either direction, but I prefer counter-clockwise for the lake views at the beginning.

Whoop-Di-Do is a short loop trail with minimal elevation gain that is accessible to both mountain bikers and hikers, and is accessed from the Lolly Pop trail. It passes through some forested areas, providing some shade from the sun, as well as more open areas, and is suitable for hiking with families with small children.