Outdoor Recreation in the Lake Chelan Valley

Where to Play Outside

Last Updated: 11/03/2007

The following destinations should be accessed with a four-wheel drive or All-wheel drive vehicle. There may be rocks and fallen trees or branches on the roadways which can damage the sides or undercarriage of your vehicle. Cell phone service is not available in all areas.

Chelan Butte

Photos: Chelan Butte Launch Area                 &                 Sunset from Chelan Butte

Hiking Routes on Chelan Butte.

Hiking near the summit of the Chelan Butte is not for the casual. The south slopes are very steep and you'll have better luck finding a rattle-snake than finding level ground. Not that you'll necessarily run into a rattlesnake, they tend to try to avoid you by letting you know they're there. A trekking pole highly recommended. I recommend having two shock-absorbing poles for climbing up and for additional balance. Most of the hiking is following game trails and some side-hilling across open ground to visit some of the old prospects which should not be entered for obvious safety concerns.

The South Butte trail (marked in yellow on the bottom left of map) passes Otto Huni's Homestead. There is now quite a bit a sage growing on the old road but it still makes a good downhill hike.

The flags on the map beginning with the letter "m" are historical gold prospects which were worked from from 1907 to the late 1930's.

There is the remains of an old pack trail which passes by a prospect (marked 'm2' on the illustrated map) and ends at the Higgins Mine ('m4' on map) . You will need to be sure-footed with a good pair of hiking boots because if you sprang your ankle, its as much as a thousand vertical feet to the nearest road.

Stormy Mountain Trail

Not Accessible until late June or early July.

Photos: Chelan Valley Tours at Stormy Mountain Trailhead and Manson's 3 Lakes from Slide Ridge

Michel Creek Loop

Map and narrative coming Soon

Photo: East Michel Creek Trail

Grade Creek Road

The absolute furthest you can drive along Lake Chelan.

Grade Creek Road winds in and out of several valleys for 30 more miles past Antilon Lake and ends at South Navarre Campground at an elevation of 6,400 feet. Access from Manson is via Joe Creek Rd or Upper Joe Creek Road. It is about a 10 minute drive to Antilon Lake from Manson. After driving past Antilon Lake, you will cross Michel Creek, Gold Creek, Poison Creek, Grade Creek, Falls Creek, and Coyote Creek before climbing the last 2000 feet to South Navarre. Once at South Navarre Campground, the road becomes Cooper Mountain Road and travels back along the ridgeline between the Chelan Valley and Methow Valley to Cooper Mountain and Echo Valley.

An alternate destination near South Navarre Campground is Safety Harbor Creek Campground. The campground is located 1 mile off the Grade Creek Road just past falls Creek The Campground is next to the trailhead to the 3 mile trek to Safety Harbor Creek Dam. This hike is nearly level the entire 3 miles to the dam and trailhead to Uno Peak with spectacular views of the Safety Harbor Creek drainage.

Photo: Fourth of July Mountain and Lake Chelan from Grade Creek Road

Safety Harbor Creek Trail

 The earlier in the year that you can make this hike, the more run-off from Uno Peak and the rest of the Safety Harbor Creek drainage. Be aware that you are beginning to get more into bear country.

Photo: Hikers on Safety Harbor Creek Trail, Uno Peak in background.

Cooper Mountain Road

Map and narrative coming Soon

Photos: Section of Cooper Mountain Road                           Chelan Butte center-left