The city of Chelan is on the southeast end of beautiful Lake Chelan, located on the eastern side of the Cascade Mountains in the state of Washington. Its position on the lakeside makes it an ideal place for boating, fishing and water sports. Poised at the edge of the Cascade wilderness, the area is also ideal for hiking, mountain biking, wildlife observation and winter activities. If you want to slow down, there are plentiful opportunities for shopping, admiring artwork, bird watching or relaxing at spas near the lake. Chelan vacation rentals range from cozy cottages to grand houses with beautiful views of the lake. Here are some of our favorite locations for vacation rentals in and around Chelan.
1. North Chelan
Vacation rentals in the northern portion of the city offer breathtakingly beautiful views of the lake and its surrounding hills. The Lake Chelan Municipal Golf Course offers 18 holes of play in a magnificent setting. Several nearby wineries provide ample opportunities for wine tasting. A few miles north is Echo Ridge Nordic Ski Center, a great place for winter skiing, snowboarding and snowshoeing. In warm weather, the Echo Ridge Trail System is ideal for hiking, mountain biking and horseback riding.
2. East Chelan
The east side of the city of Chelan lies near the Columbia River, which is a great place for kayaking, canoeing, tubing, waterskiing, and jet skiing. You can fish the river for king salmon, steelheads, sturgeons, catfish, and other species. Nearby Gallagher Flat State Wildlife Recreational Area is a popular landing site for hang gliders and paragliders.
3. Downtown Chelan
Chelan’s historic Main Street is a perfect place to stroll and explore the charming boutiques, gift shops, specialty shops, galleries and restaurants. Chelan Riverwalk Park has a mile-long loop trail where you can stroll, jog, fish, and bird watch. Just west of the downtown marina on the beach is spacious, family-friendly Don Morse Memorial Park, where you can enjoy swimming, sunbathing, picnicking and building sand castles. The facility also has a skate park, a go-kart course and an 18-hole mini golf course.
4. South Chelan
Vacation rentals on the south side of the city of Chelan have convenient access to Lakeside Park. This lovely site has picnic tables, a playground, a sandy beach, roped off swimming areas and floating swimming docks. Also on the lakeshore is Slide Waters, a huge water park with multiple water slides, a tubing rapids ride, a wave pool, a lazy river for floating and other water activities. Nearby is Bear Mountain Ranch Golf Course, which is in a lovely lakeside setting where you can frequently observe deer and other wildlife while you play.
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5. Manson
Manson is a lovely village northwest of Chelan on the eastern shore of the lake. Its charming downtown area offers local shops, cafes, coffee bars, a brewery and surrounding the village are numerous wineries. At the marina, you can park your boat or rent one to explore and have fun on the lake. Near the marina is Willow Point Park, a lakeside park with a spectacular view that has a swimming area, playground, picnic tables and barbecues. About a mile to the north, Roses Lake, and Wapato Lake offer excellent fishing opportunities for rainbow trout, largemouth bass, and catfish.
6. Hollywood Beach
Hollywood Beach lies on the southwest shore of Lake Chelan. This lovely site is the home of the Lake Chelan Yacht Club. Vacation rentals also offer easy access to nearby Lake Chelan State Park. Its 127 acres includes a long sandy beach, a quiet lagoon, and picnic tables with shade. Popular activities include swimming, fishing, water skiing, and windsurfing. Among the park’s excellent hiking paths is Little Bear Trail, which wanders through pine forest and along the lakeside.
7. Stehekin
Stehekin is a small town at the far northern end of Lake Chelan. No roads lead to the town, so you have to get to it by boat, seaplane, helicopter, on foot or on horseback. Its position at the southern end of North Cascades National Park makes it an ideal place for outdoor activities such as cycling and horseback riding. Numerous hiking trails lead to gorges, meadows, beaver ponds and waterfalls. Activities on the water include swimming, kayaking, canoeing, and paddle boarding. Fishing on the lake and in the Stehekin River is excellent, yielding rainbow trout, cutthroat trout, and brook trout.
8. Chelan Falls
Chelan Falls lies along the Columbia River at the Chelan River mouth just a few miles southeast of the city of Chelan. Chelan Falls Park on the west bank of the river and Beebe Bridge Park on the east side both have swimming areas, picnic tables, tennis courts and other recreational facilities fronting the beautiful Columbia River. Beebe Springs Wildlife Area offers hiking trails through grasslands and wetlands where you can observe bighorn sheep, deer, beavers, raccoons and eagles.
9. Pateros
The town of Pateros is 10 miles north of Chelan on the Columbia River. It’s renowned for its summer Apple Pie Jamboree, which features an apple pie baking contest, dragon boat races along the river, and other tournaments and activities. The town has two lovely waterfront parks and is so close to the wilderness that deer sometimes roam the streets after dark. Popular activities include rafting, boating, wake boarding, water skiing and jet skiing. Nearby Alta Lake State Park is an excellent location for bird watching and wildlife observation.
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