Manson

Things To Do

Manson Bay Park is a favorite spot for swimming on Lake Chelan, offering a safe and scenic place to cool off in the summer. Located in the town of Manson, this park features a protected swimming area with lifeguards during the summer months, making it perfect for families and casual swimmers. The waters here are typically calm, and the designated swim zone provides a safe space away from boat traffic. The park is also equipped with public restrooms, picnic areas, and a nearby boat launch, making it a convenient stop for those spending the day by the water. One of the standout features of Manson Bay Park is its proximity to downtown Manson. Visitors can easily walk to local restaurants, wineries, and shops after a swim, making it a great location for a full day of fun.

The Cider Press in Manson is a must-visit spot for cider lovers and anyone looking to partake in pressing their own cider. Nestled in the heart of Lake Chelan’s apple country, this local favorite utilizes apples grown in the surrounding orchards that otherwise would have been thrown away - small blemishes prevent these apples from being sold in supermarkets, but make them perfect candidates for apple cider. This family activity, a favorite with kids, will have you select a variety of apples of your choosing, like Gala, Sugar Bee and Cosmic Crisp, and then be guided through the process of pressing them into apple cider, resulting in 10 gallons of apple cider to bring home!

Willow Point Park, located in the quiet community of Manson, WA, is a hidden gem for swimming on Lake Chelan. This small yet scenic park offers a peaceful and less crowded swimming experience, making it perfect for those looking to relax by the water. There is no real beach to speak of, but the park has a nice grassy area to sit, picnic, and look out over the lake. The water access is better for a quick swim or relaxed shoreline visit than a classic sandy beach day. The park provides picnic tables, shade trees, and restrooms, making it an excellent spot for a laid-back day at the lake. One of the highlights of swimming at Willow Point Park is the breathtaking panoramic views of the lake and surrounding mountains, creating a beautiful and serene setting. Since it’s a smaller park compared to busier locations like Lake Chelan State Park or Manson Bay Park, it’s an ideal spot for those seeking a more relaxed and quiet swimming experience.

Nothing beats a day on Lake Chelan in the summer, cruising around the lake and enjoying various water sports like wakeboarding, wakesurfing and tubing. There are a couple of businesses in Manson which rent boats for the half day or day, as well as boat launches at Old Mill Park and Manson Bay Park (off-season only). The waters past Manson are usually less busy than down by Chelan, and Watson's Harverene resort across the lake has a gasoline pump for boats, so Manson is the perfect place to launch your boat!

Hiking around Manson offers a wide range of trails with sweeping views, forested ridgelines, and access to the lake's dramatic shoreline. One of the most popular hikes in Manson is Fourth of July Mountain, known for its rewarding uplake views of Lake Chelan stretching deep into the North Cascades. Just outside town, Echo Ridge features an extensive trail network with routes for hiking and biking, providing options for a variety of skill levels and scenic overlooks. Beyond Manson, hikers can explore additional trails throughout the region, including several at the Chelan Gorge, the well-known Chelan Butte with its expansive views, and the shorter Elephant Head Trail. For those seeking more challenging terrain, the Twenty Five Mile Creek area offers steeper, more rugged hikes such as the newer Box Canyon Trail, one of the few trails in the area that provides direct access to the lake.

While the lake can be on the colder side, once the temperatures rise in the summer swimming is a very popular water activity. Your best bet for finding a suitable spot to swim is one of the many parks situated on the water, which all have swimming spots :

• Lakeside Park - large swimming area with a couple of docks, grass and shade
• Don Morse Park- large beach area with swimming
• Manson Bay Park - Protected swimming with easy access via concrete stairs
• Willow Park - Small beach and swimming area

Additionally, both Twenty-Five Mile Creek State Park and Lake Chelan State Park have swimming areas, however a Discover or day pass is required to access state parks. There are a couple of nearby swimming areas on the Columbia River, including Chelan Falls Park. Click on the link below to view al the swimming spots around Lake Chelan

Wine tasting around Manson, WA offers an intimate look at the vineyards and winemaking that define the Lake Chelan AVA. As part of this federally recognized American Viticultural Area, Manson is home to a number of wineries that grow their own estate grapes on the surrounding hillsides, benefiting from the lake’s moderating effect and the region’s warm, sunny climate. Visitors will find wineries spread throughout the Manson area, many with vineyard views and on-site production, as well as a convenient cluster of tasting rooms in downtown Manson that make it easy to sample a variety of local wines in one outing. From small, family-run operations to larger estate wineries, Manson offers a focused wine tasting experience rooted in the unique terroir of Lake Chelan. Click the link below to view all the wineries around Lake Chelan.

The third deepest lake in the United States offers a ton of water-based activities with local parks and resorts on the water offering beaches to cool off in the lake during the hot summer. Parks are also a great place to launch a paddleboard or kayak, and of course boating is a popular activity, which boat rentals and boat launches spread around the lake. And there's also the waterpark, which is a favorite for kids of all ages and open from Memorial Day to Labor Day.