Chelan Lakeshore
Jun 05, 2009
by
OrcaDan
—
last modified
Jun 25, 2009 11:30 PM
- Type of Outing
- Overnight
- Read More in our Hiking Guide
- Hike: Chelan Lakeshore Trail
- Region: Central Cascades -- Lake Chelan
- Agency: Lake Chelan National Recreation Area, Golden West Visitor Center, Stehekin
- Trails: Chelan Lakeshore (#1247)
- Avg Rating: 3.25
- Why You Should Go Now
- Wildflowers blooming
Walking the gangplank off the boat at Prince Creek.
My friend Jerry and I hiked the entire Lakeshore Trail from Prince Creek to Stehekin. I was returning to this hike for the first time since 1986. Things have changed quite a bit since my last visit. Two changes really stood out.
First of all, the forest along the entire trail had burned at some point in the last 10-15 years. With a few exceptions, there is very little shade along the trail due to lack of any forest canopy. The silver lining was that the openness makes for grand vistas of the lake and the mountains on the south side of the lake.
The other change that stood out in my mind was the proliferation of luxury vacation homes on private inholdings along the lakeshore next to the trail. These are homes that are only reachable by boat or float plane and must have been quite expensive to build with the difficulty of getting building materials and crews onsite. I imagine many of these homes were built by Microsoft millionaires or their equivalents looking for an east-side escape from the Puget Sound rat race.
We were dropped off by the very competent Lady of the Lake crew on the gravel beach at Prince Creek about 11:15 in the morning. After having some lunch and getting packs squared away, we were on the trail by noon. Immediately we had to cross the raging with snowmelt Prince Creek on a somewhat precarious log. Once across we were on our way for a very warm afternoon of hiking. A brisk downlake breeze kept the temperature tolerable for hiking. Late afternoon brought us to Cascade Creek camp where were happy to drop our packs and make camp.
The second day started with an uphill grunt back to the Lakeshore Trail and then off to Fish Creek and Moore Point where we had lunch and a siesta. We decided to keep going and proceeded uplake over Hunts Bluff and down to Flick Creek. We hung out at the Flick Creek camp for awhile dipping our feet off of the dock into the cold lake water.
Not content to stop yet, we were back on the trail and went all the way into Stehekin dreaming of having a burger and beer at the end of the day. Lo and behold, at this time of the year Stehekin closes up tight after the last boat leaves downlake at 2 PM. So we meandered down to Purple Point Campground and ate our backpacking dinner.
The next morning we poked around Stehekin and caught the noon boat downlake. A great hike and wonderful way to spend a few spring days east of the crest.
First of all, the forest along the entire trail had burned at some point in the last 10-15 years. With a few exceptions, there is very little shade along the trail due to lack of any forest canopy. The silver lining was that the openness makes for grand vistas of the lake and the mountains on the south side of the lake.
The other change that stood out in my mind was the proliferation of luxury vacation homes on private inholdings along the lakeshore next to the trail. These are homes that are only reachable by boat or float plane and must have been quite expensive to build with the difficulty of getting building materials and crews onsite. I imagine many of these homes were built by Microsoft millionaires or their equivalents looking for an east-side escape from the Puget Sound rat race.
We were dropped off by the very competent Lady of the Lake crew on the gravel beach at Prince Creek about 11:15 in the morning. After having some lunch and getting packs squared away, we were on the trail by noon. Immediately we had to cross the raging with snowmelt Prince Creek on a somewhat precarious log. Once across we were on our way for a very warm afternoon of hiking. A brisk downlake breeze kept the temperature tolerable for hiking. Late afternoon brought us to Cascade Creek camp where were happy to drop our packs and make camp.
The second day started with an uphill grunt back to the Lakeshore Trail and then off to Fish Creek and Moore Point where we had lunch and a siesta. We decided to keep going and proceeded uplake over Hunts Bluff and down to Flick Creek. We hung out at the Flick Creek camp for awhile dipping our feet off of the dock into the cold lake water.
Not content to stop yet, we were back on the trail and went all the way into Stehekin dreaming of having a burger and beer at the end of the day. Lo and behold, at this time of the year Stehekin closes up tight after the last boat leaves downlake at 2 PM. So we meandered down to Purple Point Campground and ate our backpacking dinner.
The next morning we poked around Stehekin and caught the noon boat downlake. A great hike and wonderful way to spend a few spring days east of the crest.
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Forest fires have opened grand vistas of the lake from the trail.
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Along the trail near Fish Creek.
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Relaxing on the dock at Flick Creek camp.
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