Lake Chelan National Recreation Area

Lake Chelan National Recreation Area is a protected wilderness spanning roughly 62,000 acres in the North Cascades, featuring deep lakes carved by glaciers and steep mountain terrain. The landscape is characterized by jagged peaks, thick forests, and pristine alpine meadows accessible mainly on foot or by water.

The area was established in 1968 as a recreation area within the North Cascades National Park Service Complex to protect the wilderness from development. This designation allowed the land to remain largely undeveloped while permitting limited public access.

The Buckner Homestead shows how settlers once lived and farmed in this remote mountain setting. Visitors can explore the old cabin and outbuildings to see how people adapted to life far from towns.

The area is reached only by passenger ferry or floatplane since no roads lead into the wilderness. Backpacking and hiking are the main activities, so visitors should prepare for multi-day trips and mountain conditions.

The lake stretches 80 kilometers deep into the Cascade Mountains while staying on average less than 3 kilometers wide throughout. This extreme length-to-width ratio makes it one of the most unusual lake shapes in the region.

Location: Chelan County

Operator: United States National Park Service

GPS coordinates: 48.34852,-120.69037

Latest update: December 9, 2025 18:48