Lake View

Hikes

This is definitely one of the better hikes in the Lake Chelan area, rewarding hikers with outstanding views of Lake Chelan from the top. This hike is a 20 minute drive from “downtown” Manson, and would be easy to pass by with an unassuming trailhead a ways off the road, no real parking lot to speak of, and few visitors.

The start of the hike begins once you cross the Lake Antilon dam, and quickly begins ascending through the forest. You quickly exit the forest and traverse along the side of Fourth of July Mountain until reaching a ridge, at which point you will catch your first views of Lake Chelan. As you progress up the ridge, you’ll have better views of Lake Chelan, as well as Wapato, Roses, and Dry Lakes. Upon reaching the top, proceed a little farther north for expansive views of Lake Chelan.

Angle Peak is a small prominence along Devil's Backbone, which divides Chelan and Entiat valleys. The peak in and of itself is not particularly noteworthy, however it's a junction of Angle Peak and Devil's Backbone (as well as Four Mile Ridge trail), providing the opportunity for a fun loop through sun exposed ridges and forested mountain streams. The 15 mile drive along dirt forest service road to the Crescent Hill Trailhead means it's more popular with dirt bikers than hikers; however, it's worth the trek if you are looking for a more challenging hike around the Chelan Valley.

The loop can be hiked in either direction. Hiking clockwise will take you along Devil's Backbone, which has moderate up and down, before turning onto Angle Peak trail, which steadily descends into a forested valley, crossing and following a number of creeks along the way. Upon reaching the Lake Creek trail, you began a steady climb back up to Devil's Backbone to finish out the hike. Hiking counter clockwise has you descending down Lake Creek trail after a short ascent up from the parking lot, and then doing a steady climb up the forested Angle Peak trail, before turning left onto Devil's Backbone for a little over 3 mile hike back to the trailhead.

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.

While other trails like Elephant Head, Chelan Butte and 4th of July Mountain provide scenic views of Lake Chelan, Box Canyon is the only car accessible trail which not only provides lake views, but access to Lake Chelan. The trail was recently completed in 2025 and is hands down one of the best trails in the area. The first section of the trail switchbacks up the side of the mountain through open meadows, and while you will climb roughly 600 feet in the process, the grade of the trail is gentle. The trail then levels off and proceeds into a more forested section, before descending down towards Lake Chelan. At mile 4, there is a side trail down to a campsite and access to the lake. From here on out, the trail follows above the shoreline with a little bit of up and down. At roughly 5.5 miles, there is another side trail down to a campsite and lake access. At 6.5 miles there is a fork in the trail, with the left section deadending in a couple hundred yards. Proceed right to head down to the final campsite and lake access, with a great view uplake. Note, while there are 3 access points to Lake Chelan, these are on rocky shorelines - don't expect a nice sandy beach!

Chelan Butte hike has a good amount of vertical gain, with a couple sections of moderately steep uphill. But the exertion comes with a benefit - less than one mile into the Chelan Butte hike, you will be treated to scenic views of Lake Chelan, with additional views of the Columbia River coming in the latter half of the hike. Only a couple of minutes outside of Chelan, and wildflowers galore during the spring, this is one of the best hikes in the Chelan Valley. And if the mileage or vertical is a little too much for you, then cut the hike short and turn around at Elephant Head. Note, there is virtually no shade on this hike, so bring plenty of water and sunscreen.

From the trailhead, cross Gorge road and proceed up the trail. Look for a sign on your right about 10 minutes into the hike, which will have you cross a small gully and onto another dirt road. Follow this road until you see a sign on your left for Elephant Head and Chelan Butte trail. The trail will switchback a couple of times as it heads up the mountain, at which point it will cross over the gully and traverse around the mountain. At roughly two miles, take the side trail to Elephant Head, or proceed another two miles and 1,500ft up to the top of Chelan Butte.

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 trail follows the Devil's Backbone spine, which splits the Lake Chelan and Entiat Valleys, for close to 12 miles all above 6,000 feet in elevation. Due to the long drive on forest service roads to the trailheads on either end, the trail is more popular with motorbikes than hikers, but it offers sweeping views of the area, including Glacier Peak and Lake Chelan. While the trail is a little long for most people to hike in its entirety, on the southern end of the trail is Stormy Mountain, which makes for a very moderate outing. While one can summit Angle Peak from the northern end of the trail, and make a loop out of it by following Angle Peak and Lake Creek Trail.

If you stare at Chelan Butte during one of the many clear days in Chelan, imagine the Butte as an elephant's back, the ridges coming down are the legs, and of course the small knoll to the looker’s left is the head, hence the name. Elephant Head offers a great moderate hike, steadily ascending up the Butte with sweeping views of Lake Chelan and the city of Chelan, and wildflowers in the Spring. Accessing this hike is a breeze, with the trailhead being mere minutes away from Chelan.

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.

Mallory's Way is a moderately strenuous loop hike at Echo Ridge with views of Lake Chelan, the surrounding mountains and even the Waterville Plateau . From the North Junction Trailhead you will head north on the Outback trail, (you can also hike up / down Waterbar Heaven and hook back into Outback), after roughly a quarter mile Outback turns into a loop, either direction is fine for this hike. You will find Mallory's Trail on the west side of the mountain. Proceed up Mallory's trail until it splits, as the upper section of Mallory's Trail is also a loop. The best views of Lake Chelan are while hiking up the ridge prior to getting near the high point. Look for a summit register nestled in the rocks at the top.

The Outback Trail is located at Echo Ridge, a series of interconnected hiking and mountain biking trails in the mountains above Lake Chelan. This loop trail can be hiked in either direction, and has some views of Lake Chelan along the southwest section. The trail passes through mostly open areas, although it does contain a couple small sections of forested area, as such, its best hiked in the early or late hours during the heat of the summer. For those wishing for a longer hike, halfway through the hike Mallory's Way Trail heads up the unnamed peak above, adding roughly 2 miles and 400 feet of elevation gain. From the North Junction Trailhead, head a half mile up Outback, passing by the junction with Waterbear Heaven, and then proceed either clockwise or counter clockwise to complete the loop.

Pot Peak lies in the Twenty File Mile Creek area off of Lake Chelan, and was the site of a burn during the summer of 2021. The trail provides a nice steady climb up through the forest, large parts of which were destroyed or partially destroyed during the fire. Higher up are splendid views of Lake Chelan and the Chelan Mountains, including Devil's Backbone and Stormy Mountain. You may need to double check your map to determine when you have reached Pot Peak, as it is really just a high point along the ridge, and the trail keeps on going to Devil's Backbone. The road to Pot Peak is paved until the last half mile, with that section being in good shape.

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 Ridge View Loop is a moderate hike that links up seven separate trails at Echo Ridge, accessing the ridgeview spur trail for wonderful views of Lake Chelan and the surrounding mountains. With ample signage at all trail junctions, this is a relatively easy loop to follow and great for a family hike.

From the upper echo ridge trailhead, proceed on Upsy-Daisy to Grand Junction. Take the Lower Ridge View trail and continue onto the Upper Ridge View trail. About half way through the Upper Ridge View trail look for a marked side trail on the right which ascends up to the high point above. This is a nice break spot with it being close to the halfway point and has great views. Retrace your steps back to Upper Ridge View and continue to High Five Junction, and follow the Morning Glory trail back to Grand Junction. Hike Chickadee and Nuthatch back to the trailhead (Chickadee is just off of Upsy-Daisy a hundred feet from Grand Junction).

The Safety Harbor Creek trail is a 4.6 mile trail located on the north shore of Lake Chelan. It requires over 20 miles of forest service roads to the Safety Harbor Creek trailhead, and therefore is more popular with dirt bikes than hikers. However, it's an enjoyable trail, with the first three miles contouring around the western side of Nelson Butte with minimal elevation gain. The trail goes through a mix of forest, more open areas and a couple of cliff bands, with occasional views of Lake Chelan along the way. At 3.1 miles, it intersects with the Uno Peak trail next to Safety Harbor Creek. You can veer slights off the trail towards the creek to find a shaded spot along the creek next to an old dam, which makes a good turnaround spot. Or continue hiking up the trail along Safety Harbor Creek for 1.5 more miles until the intersection with the Summit trail. Safety Harbor Creek trailhead is typically accessible in mid to late May after the snow melts along the road, and you will find many wildflowers in the spring, including the beautiful Tweedy's lewisia. The Safety Harbor Creek trail can also be accessed from the Chelan Summit Trailhead by following the Summit trail for a little under two miles.

If you happen to look across the lake from around the Manson area on the north shore of Lake Chelan, you may have noticed Slide Ridge - a prominent ridge running along the opposite shore of Lake Chelan. While there are no official trails in the area, what appears to be an old fire line provides an easy way to access a sub ridge from the forest service road that provides outstanding views of Lake Chelan. There is a pullout on the side of the road, and it's relatively easy to find a 20 foot wide clearing which descends down towards the ridge. While the fire cut is devoid of large vegetation, it is not a hiking trail and you will pick your way through fallen branches and may need to side-hill some of the steeper slopes (not an appropriate hike for people who are only comfortable on trail). In less than a mile of hiking, you will find yourself on the ridge, with ample opportunities for amazing views of Lake Chelan. While the lake side of the ridge is extremely steep, the other side is more moderate and one can do the hike without any serious exposure. Of course there are opportunities to get close to the edge, but use your discretion as falling down the ridge would be life changing, and not in a good way. A little under two miles into the hike provides a good turnaround point, as the ridge starts to descend more steeply at this point. Retrace your steps back to the car.

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.

Uno Peak sits high above Lake Chelan in the remote Lake Chelan-Sawtooth Wilderness, and the trailhead, across from South Navarre Campground, is as far as you can drive uplake on the north shore before the road starts heading down into the Methow Valley. While the trails around Uno Peak are more popular with dirt bikers than hikers, you can combine a couple of different trails for a great loop hike around Uno Peak, with an optional off-trail summit of Uno Peak. During a typical winter, expect snow into early June on the upper parts of Grade Creek Forest Road.

Hike the Summit Trail below South Navaree Creek, descending into the Safety Harbor drainage. At 2.5 miles you will reach a junction with the Safety Harbor Trail, continue following the Summit Trail for a little over two miles, and then proceed west on the Uno Peak trail. Once over the ridge between Ferry Peak and Uno Peak, you can optionally do a non-technical scramble up the northern ridge to the top of Uno Peak, and then hike down the southern ridge back to the trail (if you don't do this, the hike should be about 3,800 feet of elevation gain). Continue along the Uno Peak trail as it descends down and ultimately connects with the Safety Harbor Trail - this section of the Uno Peak Trail has a washout which is easily passable on foot, but prevents dirt bikers from using the trail, which means the trail may be quite overgrown. Also note, there is no bridge across Safety Harbor Creek, and the creek can have quite a bit of water flowing in the early summer, so be prepared to get wet fording the creek. Continue up the Safety Harbor Trail for 1.5 miles, and then take the Summit Trail back to the road.