Lake Chelan

Lake Chelan, lake, north-central to northwestern Washington, U.S. The narrow fjordlike lake winds northwest-southeast for 55 miles (88 km) through a glacier-carved valley along the eastern edge of the Cascade Range. It is fed principally from the northwestern end by the Stehekin River, a glacial stream that rises in the southern portion of North Cascades National Park, just northwest of the lake. Its outlet, on the southeastern end, is impounded by a low dam at the town of Chelan. A short channel leads from there to the nearby Columbia River. Lake Chelan is—at a depth of 1,486 feet (453 metres)—the third deepest lake in the United States.

Most of the lake is situated within Wenatchee National Forest. The northwestern portion is included within Lake Chelan National Recreation Area (established 1968), which is part of North Cascades National Park Service Complex. The southeastern end of the lake, lying outside of federal lands, is dotted with vacation homes and is heavily visited. The national recreation area is largely within a federally designated wilderness area centred on the isolated Stehekin River valley and is inaccessible by road. Visitors can reach the region via commercial ferryboats and floatplanes, as well as by private boats and a network of trails. The resort community of Stehekin, near the northern end of the lake, serves as a gateway to the recreation area as well as the national park.