Lake Chelan WA

[SteveO]

I need you thoughts and ideas on Lake Chelan or another short breakacation get away. Being new to the NW, I am open to suggestions. I am taking off next week and was looking to spend 3 days and 2 nights (Monday and Tuesday) somewhere scenic and not overly far from Seattle with decent riding water. Hit me back with any ideas.

[russlars]

You might consider Banks Lake. Not too far away, good water and nice scenery. Haven't been there for a few years, but we used to stay at Steamboat Rock State Park.

[bhamripper]

Lake Chelan is great. I have been going there every year since I was four. The only thing is that you have to be on the lake early to see good water. By 11:00 in the morning the water is torn up by boats and will not calm down until late in the day.

[Hawksinkalispell]

The potholes can be pretty great. Warm water and lots of spots to hide from the wind, the scenery is marginal but you gotta bring your own fun sometimes.

[FancySauceRules]

Lake Chelan is great. I have been going there every year since I was four. The only thing is that you have to be on the lake early to see good water. By 11:00 in the morning the water is torn up by boats and will not calm down until late in the day.

Agree. Just spent a week there. Only boarding was done before 10am and after 5pm. Surfing was only thing possible in middle of the day. Lots of fun on and off the lake. Didn't see lake patrol once all week. Wineries stay open till late, and the town is super relaxed. Make sure you get a place with a good bouy or lift, we got one that had a bouy that was too close to shore. Huge pain in the a$$ to make sure afternoon chop didn't beach the boat.

[Bellinghamster]

We did Chelan last year (stayed at Watson's Resort - recommended). Even though the lake looked like glass in the morning it still had some lumpy swell coming from somewhere that never seemed to go away. In the week we were there it was never truely smooth. Also, the lake had been abnormally high and had floated tons of driftwood off the beaches. I managed to miss 'em, but it sounded like there were quite a few props killed there last season.

We did Potholes a couple week ago (the week before the 4th of July). Not a great beach in front of the state park but DANG the water was flat!. Any time of the day was fantastic for skiing. Only a couple bass boats and they were mostly hightailing off into the weeds. We did begin to understand the evolution of "siestas" in hot climates, however. I launched the boat each morning, anchored it out for the day and pulled it for the night. As mentioned, there are lots of coves and places to hide amongst the dunes.

A friend went to Banks with his family just before we went to Potholes - he said the campground, scenery and water was fantastic, but mosquitos were a problem. They may have all cooked by now...

We're going back to Confluence State Park in Wenachee in August for our church's annual Middleschool Camp. We went there 2 years ago. I was so busy cooking, washing dishes and driving the boat that I didn't pay any attention to the scenery! I do remember the water being pretty nice due to the current. Launch ramp has a dock but no real beach. Tricky to leave a boat in the water.

We went to Daroga (half way between Wenachee and Chelan) last year for the middleschool camp. The group site is far removed from the rest of the campground (and the boat launch). No beach to speak of, or dock to on/offload from near the group site, and it seemed to be windy/choppy all the time.

[Patrick Hardy]

Lake Chelan is a great place to go, it has all of the water activities and good town entertainment you would want. As for finding good water, 80% of all boaters on the lake rarely go past "The Narrows". Get your self a good map of the lake and just drive towards Stehekin, I promise you will find miles of great water. Also head down to the Columbia river for a day, it is also great.

[Patrick Hardy]

If you go to Banks Lake, this is a good place to stay. http://www.skydeckmotel.com/contactus.htm#res
We have been staying there for ever, it has everything you need right on the lake, including a nice sand beach marina to anchor your boat over night.
Where ever you go, just be prepared for some real hot weather over there.
We will be in chelan from Aug. 4 - 10.

[prostar205]

Steve O -

I'll be there all of next week with the X-30. We have a piece of dirt above Mason that overlooked Mason Bay. While everything that people have said it true about Lake Chelan, many people fail to know (or remember) there are two tiny lakes (Roses Lake and another one that the name escapes me now) that are directly above Manson that are always flat. So, that's an option.

Lake Chelan is taken down about 18-20 feet each fall/winter for some reason. What happens is drift wood then makes its way down the embankment and when the water rises in the late spring (June), the wood floats all over the lake. It take until the end of July/early August to get it all pushed back to the shore. Also, since the lake is soo deep (1,300 ft in some places) it is rather cold until the August time frame. However, it is one of the clearest, cleanist lakes you'll ever boat in.

Let me know if you decide to go and we can hook up. The X-30 will be on a moooring bouy by Lake Chelan Shores all week.

[brucemac]

lake chelan - bbbbrrrrrrrrr ;)

Sounds like maybe you have your heart set on Chelan. Here's a couple other options for next time.

Check out Sunbanks resort at Banks Lake. Fully furnished villas with AC at reasonable prices. cantina, small store and reserved mooring. The playground and "beach" is a little ghetto, but we never spend time there, we're either in the villa or out on the water. This was our 6th year there.

Lake Roosevelt houseboating with RRE at Keller Ferry, or boat camping out of Keller Ferry. It doesn't get any more scenic than Lake Roosevelt and it's not all that much longer of a trip than Chelan. Less people and warmer water, but way more isolated. This will be our 12th year houseboating on Roosevelt and next year we're going twice. :)

Good luck and hope you're settling in well.

[brucemac]

oh yeah, you might check out the motel at Pateros. they have a fenced in swimming pool for the kiddos that overlooks theie docks. killer water for riding and kind of scenic, but not much up there. it's on the east side of the columbia about 45 minutes north of wenatchee.

[Patrick Hardy]

Prostar205, do you mean Manson? That is a good place to own some dirt. There are actually three small lakes (Roses, Dry and Wapato), Roses Lake is the only one of the three that waterskiing/ wakeboarding is allowed on. The other two are fishing only. I guess I failed to mention it (Roses), because we have been skiing there for more than three decades and like to pretend it is still a secret. We also will be over in the Chelan Shores area next week, What does the x-30 look like? maybe I will see you up at Roses.

[Patrick Hardy]

Brucemac, 12 years houseboating on Roosevelt, that is awesome. Have not done that in a long time, but remember nothing but great times when we where there. We stay at the Skydeck Motel in Electric City instead of Sunbanks Resort, because like you said, it has become a little to "ghetto".

[SteveO]

Thanks for the feedback. At the risk of being shot (if it is the WA version of the Secret Spot), has anyone been to CB in Quincy Found some great rates on a new place and river runs. Not the whole Chelan scene, but closer and maybe less crowded the Chelan during the week?

[Patrick Hardy]

SteveO, no risk of being shot, it is a really mellow / laid back area. Roses is a small lake, so if more than three to four ski boats are on it at once, it is a mess. Usually it will be you and a fishing boat or two. Most days there is nothing but glass.

[Patrick Hardy]

Sorry, forgot? Cresent bar is also a good spot. It can get real busy, a lot of people for a small area, especially on the weekends and concerts at the Gorge. But the river is a great time, miles of water, if the wind is blowing hard, just drive a few miles north or south. the sand bar beaches on the west side of the river is where most people party all day. Any of these mentioned spots are good.

[brucemac]

also watch out for low water and changing water levels at CB, but a cool place and probably wouldn't be too busy on monday/tuesday.

[prostar205]

Prostar205, do you mean Manson?

Yes, Manson, not Mason. My bad. Our place is just off Totem Pole road then onto Fury. It's up on the hill about 3 blocks from the main road running from Manson to Chelan.

The X-30 is a 2002 Fire Red Metal Flake with the newer style 2005 tower. You'll know the boat because there a 4 - 10" mid bass drivers hanging from the tower (NVS Tyrants). You can't miss it. It will be moored on a bouy by Lake Chelan Shores. We are staying very close with my brother-in-law and sister-in-law in their house near the lake.

[davomaddo]

Crescent Bar is super close and wouldn't be too crowded mid-week.

Entiat is another good spot that is pretty close. It is just outside of Wenatchee on the way to Chelan. You drive by it on the way to Chelan.

There are some good camp grounds at Entiat. The water is usually super flat.

[Forrest-X45]

All great suggestions by everyone and great boating locations. One thing I don't think I saw mentioned about Chelan was it is great for the family. The wife and kids be a lot more happy with you at Chelan if they are looking for things to do away from the boat. Otherwise Chelan is not as good for hardcore boating as others have mentioned. If you want the chance for all day boating and great water try Entiat, CB, Banks, and Roosevelt. But there isn't as much for the wife and kids outside of sitting in the sun and boating.

I am heading over to Roosevelt for 5 days starting tomorrow, gonna get cooked!! Then back to my favorite spot in the world, Banks in mid August. I have been going to Banks every year for 20 years and start looking forward to the next year the day I drive away. Awesome spot, I just wish it had stayed a secret spot.

[brucemac]

Hey Forrest, if you wouldn't mind pm'ing me when you get back from Roosevelt, I'd appreciate it. Would love a report on water level (beaches), debris in water, skeeters and bees. We head out Wednesday morning for 4 nights of houseboating out of Keller Ferry. Thanks and have a great time!

[prostar205]

Does anyone know how the fires behind Chelan / Manson are effecting air quality, debris fallout, etc... I really don't want to trailer my boat all the over there and find out the place smells like the inside of a chimney.

[Forrest-X45]

Hey Forrest, if you wouldn't mind pm'ing me when you get back from Roosevelt, I'd appreciate it. Would love a report on water level (beaches), debris in water, skeeters and bees. We head out Wednesday morning for 4 nights of houseboating out of Keller Ferry. Thanks and have a great time!

No problem, Bruce. I sent you a PM as well.

[brucemac]

Thanks Forrest!

Does anyone know how the fires behind Chelan / Manson are effecting air quality, debris fallout, etc... I really don't want to trailer my boat all the over there and find out the place smells like the inside of a chimney.

My brother lives in Manson, I'll call tonight and get the scoop.

[Power]

We're currently camping with our XStar at Chelan City Park and all is well. We saw the lightening start the fires last night but this morning there was no smell of smoke. Currently in the distance we can see some smoke behind one of the hills but there has been no impact to the area around the lake.

[brucemac]

yeah, i talked with my wife. no smoke there, at least now. most of the fires are under control. there's been many small one's and a lot of strikes i guess. should be fine.

[prostar205]

Thanks for the update. We'll be there with the X-30 starting Sunday night (after the boat gets a workout at Seafair) thru Thursday afternoon.

[brucemac]

have fun at seafair, be careful, that place is going to be a zoo.

[Eagle]

Chelan is a great fun and fantastic for the family. We stay in Chelan (Campbell's) but for skiing/boarding though, we drive a few minutes down to the Columbia River and launch at Beebe State Park. The water's usually flat all day. Best of both worlds.