Lake Chelan National Recreation Area is an ideal place for camping adventures of all kinds. There are tons of hikes and other fun activities to partake in, as well as sights to see and explore. Find the best campgrounds near Lake Chelan National Recreation Area, WA. Read helpful reviews and tips to find the perfect camping option for you and your crew.
"Along Thunder-creek trail Junction is tucked away about 10 miles in."
"This is the perfect site for a large group, but it also has quite a few smaller “tucked away” spots for individuals, couples, etc."
"The campground is divided into two parts by a crisp clear and cold Wenatchee River, flowing out of Lake Wenatchee, locat d in the central Cascade Mountains of Washington."
"_We love camping in this area of Washington. There are so many campsites and each one is just far away from the nearest town which is so nice to know that you won't be bothered by the busy road."
"You need good weather, 4W drive and high clearance. Yep, sedans might be able to do it but they shouldn’t, plain and simple. If you bottom out on this road, you have a LONG walk to town."
"If you are a thru-hiker, theres oftentimes trail magic here!! Easy hitch down to Mazama."
$27 / night
"Being surrounded by the tall Washington trees and a distant sound of the babbling creek felt like a dream."
"We stayed 1 night at site 57 near the river on our way over the pass and it was a nice stay. Lots of campsites spread out among several campgrounds."
"The park itself is really well maintained, and in a beautiful location. The lake and surrounding hills were beautiful."
"Alta Lake is a nice, clean park with decent tent sites. We had a site in Loop 2 on the right (on the lake side). It was away from the main area, parking lots, boat launch or store, so pretty quiet."
$20 - $60 / night
"If you're like me and not from Washington, remember to get a discovery pass (~$10 per day) if you're parking at the Baker Lake Trailhead. The hike in to Maple Grove is approx. three and a half miles."
"Not too far from the trail at baker lake. Quiet and peaceful."
"This was a gorgeous hike along the pacific crest trail (PCT) that ended at a beautiful alpine lake."
GuideThe campground is divided into two parts by a crisp clear and cold Wenatchee River, flowing out of Lake Wenatchee, locat d in the central Cascade Mountains of Washington. The deep lake is glacier fed, the campgrounds are well loved by locals. Nice pay showers, and the outside campsites in the north part of the campground feel more secluded. Mosquitos are thick in June, but leave due to dry hot weather in July. Huckleberries sling simple hiking trails. Nearby “Enchantments” hikes are more challenging and spectacular.
TravelerAfter camping here for the maximum two week period, I was absolutely in love. Being surrounded by the tall Washington trees and a distant sound of the babbling creek felt like a dream. An easy ten minute walk led you to Lake Wenachee, the most amazing alpine lake with a great beach and camp store where you can rent kayaks, paddle boards, and get ice cream. The campground hosts were very friendly and there are flush toilets and running water as well.
LegendThere are lots of camping options at Baker Lake and they all have beautiful views and similar amenities.
If you are fishing or have a boat, Horse Camp doesn't have a boat launch but there is one at the campground nearby, Shannon Creek.
TravelerWe love camping in this area of Washington. There are so many campsites and each one is just far away from the nearest town which is so nice to know that you won't be bothered by the busy road. I always have the best time and have the best memories here.
ScoutBig, open sites. Quiet spot. Room to roam. I think there’s paddock to bring horses but I’m not sure. Tons of dirt bike/side by side trails in the area.
TravelerWe love Lake Wenatchee and it has become an annual trip with a couple other families that we camp with. The sites are roomy and well taken care of. The bathrooms are clean and accessible. There are some great trails that you can walk to and more if you're up for a drive.
The lake is beautiful, though it gets really windy in the late afternoon, so you'll want to spend you time there earlier in the day.
The town of Plain is close by and has a really useful grocery store with great ice cream and a good selection of emergency supplies. There is also a laundromat behind the grocery store, just in case!
GuidePersonally I really enjoyed this park and camping. The park itself is really well maintained, and in a beautiful location. The lake and surrounding hills were beautiful. Even with the few private homes nearby, it didn't really take away from the scenery in my opinion.
I camped in the upper loop in a site that backed to the hill side. The layout of the sites are very unique, no two sites (in the upper loop at least) are alike. My spot had a lower parking area with room for two cars. The you step up to the "living room" where the picnic table and fire pit were, then off of that area was a isolated tent pad area.
The next spot over on one side was up hill from me, so didn't really see them (but could hear them). The spot on the other side was closer and lacked a little bit of privacy, but as far as state parks go, it was still fairly spread out. I was also there for a Saturday and Sunday night, so Sunday the park completely emptied out and I think there were only 2 or 3 others in the entire upper loop, and not near me at all, which was nice.
I'm sure there are times when the lake gets overrun with motor boats and jet skis, but the weekend I was there (6/8 & 6/9) wasn't to bad at all. Paddle boards and kayaks outnumbers the boats with motors, and even those weren't racing around the lake, they were all fishing.
I mostly camp in dispersed camping areas, but this is a state park I would put on my short willing to return to list.
TravelerAlta Lake is a nice, clean park with decent tent sites. We had a site in Loop 2 on the right (on the lake side). It was away from the main area, parking lots, boat launch or store, so pretty quiet. Our site was sweet, it had a trail down to a small open sandy stretch of beach that was basically our own private beach. Took the cooler and a pop up tent and enjoyed the beach all day. We went in August and it was hot, the lake was super refreshing! (photo from WA State Parks & Rec commission)
GuideSite was adequate. The picnic table was super close to the fire pit and a huge rock but you can’t move it. The table is chained to the ground. The site has decent shade during the day. But enough exposure to dry clothing and tents. Baths are okay. The shower rooms were clean. $0.50 for 3 minutes. Water was close by. Garbage and bathroom were a short walk.
Horse camping near Lake Chelan National Recreation Area in Washington offers a unique blend of stunning landscapes and equestrian-friendly facilities, making it a perfect getaway for horse enthusiasts.
Frequently Asked Questions
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular equestrian campground near Lake Chelan National Recreation Area is Junction Camp — North Cascades National Park with a 5-star rating from 3 reviews.
TheDyrt.com has all 12 equestrian camping locations near Lake Chelan National Recreation Area, with real photos and reviews from campers.
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