The American landscape is extremely diverse, but one thing all regions have in common is lakes. From the charming Northeast woodlands of Lake Champlain to the rugged Utah desert scenery of the Great Salt Lake, the United States has one of the most varied collections of lakes in the world. Many of America’s lakes are not merely scenic but also possess some impressive statistics. For example, the namesake feature of Oregon’s stunning Crater Lake National Park is that it’s the deepest lake in the U.S., reaching depths of 1,943 feet. But while Crater Lake is a fairly well-known destination, another one of America’s deepest lakes is an under-the-radar gem with some of the country’s best outdoor adventure spots. Though not quite as deep as Crater Lake, Washington’s wonderful Lake Chelan is an equally unmissable outdoor paradise.
With a maximum depth of 1,486 feet, Lake Chelan is the third-deepest freshwater lake in the United States. The lake owes its notable depths to previous ice ages when massive glacial fields eroded the soft rock at the lake’s depth and compressed its bottom into a deep and narrow basin. Lake Chelan is also notable for its unique shape. Though it hits a maximum width of one or two miles across, the entire lake is more than 50 miles long. This unique, elongated shape makes it look more like an unusually wide river or fjord than a lake! But this long shape also means that Lake Chelan’s shores cover a large area across Washington’s stunning North Cascade Mountains, with plenty of spectacular parks, charming towns, and even a prominent wine country along its banks.
The many national and state parks on Lake Chelan’s shores
Though the North Cascades aren’t on nearly as many traveler’s radars as Mount Rainier or Olympic National Park, they are easily among the most beautiful mountain regions in North America. Lake Chelan occupies a central location in the heart of the North Cascades region, within the underrated mountain bliss of Washington’s gorgeous Stehekin Valley. Here, the towering, snow-capped mountains rise dramatically from its shores, conjuring easy comparisons to the famed fjords of Norway. With such a large geographic area, Lake Chelan also borders many of the best national and state park destinations in the North Cascades.
The most prominent of these parks is the appropriately named Lake Chelan National Recreation Area at the lake’s northern edge. Lake Chelan National Recreation Area is administered as part of the adjacent North Cascades National Park, which has the distinction of being the true “hidden treasure” of Washington’s three national parks. Also along the lake’s lengthy shores is the picturesque Lake Chelan-Sawtooth Wilderness of the Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest. This part of the lake borders a rugged and pristine stretch of wild mountains that makes the perfect spot for a backcountry backpacking trip far from the closest city.
If you want to enjoy the lake’s beauty without straying too far from civilization, Lake Chelan is also home to Washington’s Lake Chelan and Twenty-Five Mile Creek State Parks, which preserve breathtaking Lake Chelan scenery while still maintaining cozy lodging, accessible infrastructure, and other modern conveniences. No matter which park you choose, you’ll be sure to find some of Washington’s best outdoor adventures in all four seasons!
Lake Chelan boasts unforgettable outdoor recreation (and wine)
