Lake Chelan — Winter
Backcountry Skiing
in Lake Chelan
Low-elevation ski tours, Sno-Park approaches, winter conditions, and avalanche resources.
Lake Chelan Things to Do →beExploring / Lake Chelan
Overview
Lake Chelan is not a classic Cascade ski-touring destination, but it does have a few winter routes that can be worthwhile when coverage lines up. The best options are usually lower-commitment tours around Chelan Butte, Fourth of July Mountain, and the Antilon Lake Sno-Park area. Expect shallow snow, variable coverage, and made-up route names used here only to help describe the terrain.
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Backcountry Skiing at a Glance
Best quick tour
Chelan Butte after valley snow
Best views
Fourth of July Mountain north side
Best cold-snow odds
Protected north aspects near Goff Ridge
Primary caveat
Coverage is often thin and highly variable
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Before You Go
Low-Snow Terrain
These tours are modest by Cascade standards. They work best during cold midwinter periods or immediately after storms.
Routes Are Descriptive
The approach and descent names are local shorthand for this guide, not official route names.
Avalanche Terrain Still Matters
Even short tours can cross avalanche terrain. Check the NWAC forecast and make conservative decisions.
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Ski Tour Ideas
Chelan
Chelan Butte
A trailhead five minutes outside of Chelan, sweeping views of the lake, and a decent amount of vertical gain make Chelan Butte a useful storm-cycle option. If coverage at lake level is low, Chelan Butte Road can put you higher before you start skinning.
- Best after valley snow
- Multiple bowls
- Low-elevation coverage can be thin
Antilon Lake Sno-Park
Fourth of July Mountain
Fourth of July Mountain is a relatively short ski tour from Antilon Lake Sno-Park with excellent Lake Chelan views. The summit is only around 3,500 feet, so the route is best during the heart of winter when snowpack is deepest.
- Sno-Park pass required
- North-side views
- South aspects melt quickly
Antilon Lake Sno-Park
South Goff Ridge
South Goff Ridge is another short tour from Antilon Lake Sno-Park. The protected northern aspects can hold recycled powder during cold, dry spells in the Chelan Valley, and you can lap the skin track to add vertical.
- Short descents
- Cold north aspects
- Uses Grade Creek Road access
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Winter Access Points
Access is often the deciding factor for Lake Chelan ski tours. Antilon Lake Sno-Park is the main winter gateway for Fourth of July and Goff Ridge tours, while Chelan Butte depends on low-elevation snow and whether you start from the trailhead or higher on Chelan Butte Road.
Antilon Lake Sno-Park
Why Go
Antilon Lake Sno-Park is located off of Grade Creek Road a couple of miles after the road turns to dirt - in the winter this will be as far as you can drive due to snow and a gate across Grade Creek Road. It provides access to a couple of groomed snowmobile trails including Grade Creek Road, which can be used to access Fourth of July Mountain and terrain around Goff Peak. The Sno-Park is typically open from the end of November through April, has a porta-potty in the parking lot and requires a Sno-Park pass (no ability to purchase onsite). If the Sno-Park is closed, park on the side of the road near the gate on Grade Creek Road.
Details
- Elevation: 2225 ft
- Restrooms: Yes
- Parking Fee: Required
Chelan Butte Trailhead
Why Go
Located just outside downtown Chelan, Chelan Butte trailhead is a free parking lot, with a porta-potty, and one of the starts for skiing Chelan Butte
Details
- Elevation: 1183 ft
- Restrooms: Yes
- Parking Fee: No fee
Chelan Butte Road Parking
Why Go
There is a small pullout one can pull over into a couple hundred yards before the road turns to snow. This is more of an informal parking spot, commonly used by folks accessing the road in the winter, and as such, no facilities exist and there is room for only a couple of cars.
Details
- Elevation: 1770 ft
- Restrooms: No
- Parking Fee: No fee
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Conditions
The NWS forecast is centered around Echo Ridge at roughly 3,002 feet. Observed data uses the NWAC Manson station at 1,972 feet — expect conditions to vary significantly by elevation and aspect.
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Avalanche Forecast
Avalanche forecasts for Lake Chelan are provided by the Northwest Avalanche Center and are typically updated in the evening for the following day.
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Webcams
Use these cameras to compare higher-elevation winter conditions with what is happening at lake level.
Near Echo Valley at roughly 2,700 ft elevation
Base area around 2,600 ft elevation
Upper lift area around 3,100 ft elevation
25 Mile Creek
South shore uplake conditions
Wapato Point
Manson-area lake-level conditions
Lake-level view in downtown Chelan
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