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Chelan, Washington

Looking for the best backpacking in Chelan? We've got you covered with the top trails, trips, hiking, backpacking, camping and more around Chelan. The detailed guides, photos, and reviews are all submitted by the Outbound community.

Top Backpacking Spots in and near Chelan

  • Leavenworth, Washington

    Climb to the Summit of Colchuck Peak

    12.5 mi / 5300 ft gain
    Getting There: From US2 in Leavenworth, Washington, turn onto Icicle Creek Rd. Drive 8.2 miles and turn left on Forest Service Road 7601—you might be able to spot it more easily as the turnoff for the Bridge Creek Campground. In 3.7 miles, you'll arrive at the Stuart Lake Trailhead parking lot; w...
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  • Leavenworth, Washington

    Snowshoe to Colchuck Lake

    3.3
    16 mi / 3000 ft gain
    From Leavenworth, head south on Icicle Creek rd for 8.2 miles until you reach USFS rd 7601. This road isn't plowed and is blocked by a locked gate about one quarter mile from where it intersects with Icicle Creek Road (usually from November to May), so parking at the intersection is probably your...
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  • Leavenworth, Washington

    Scramble to the Summit of Dragontail Peak

    16 mi / 7000 ft gain
    Getting There From Leavenworth, WA, drive Icicle Creek Road for 8.5 miles until you reach Bridge Creek Campground. Turn left here onto Forest Service Road #7601 signed for the Stuart Lake Trailhead. The pavements ends and the road gains elevation quickly as your car transports you high above the ...
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  • Leavenworth, Washington

    Hike to the Enchantments' Horseshoe Lake

    1.0
    16 mi / 6000 ft gain
    Getting There From Leavenworth, WA, drive Icicle Creek Road for 8.5 miles until you reach Bridge Creek Campground. Turn left here onto Forest Service Road #7601 signed for the Stuart Lake Trailhead. The pavements ends and the road gains elevation quickly as your car transports you high above the ...
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  • Leavenworth, Washington

    The Enchantments: Stuart Lake Trailhead to Snow Lake Trailhead

    5.0
    18.02 mi / 4626 ft gain
    There are a couple different ways to tackle this hike through the stunning Central Cascade region. I recommend checking out this handy resource for more detailed info. Bottom line: this is an absolutely amazing hike for people willing to take a little bit of an ass kicking. Aasgard Pass rises 1,...
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  • Quincy, Washington

    Ancient Lakes Trail

    4.7
    4.34 mi / 213 ft gain
    On the hunt for a dry, scenic backpack during a weekend of dreary, wet, early September weather in the mountains, we decided to head toward the high desert outside of Quincy, WA. After a short hike in, we found a site seldom seen - waterfalls and lakes in the midst of the desert - an area known a...
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  • Leavenworth, Washington

    Hike to the Summit of Mt. McCausland

    8 mi / 1800 ft gain
    Begin by driving a fairly smooth Forest Road 6700 for 2.5 miles to the Smith Brook Trailhead and park in the space on the left. Much of the signage has been taken down along the trail, so it may be helpful to bring some written directions with you. The hike begins by keeping close to the road, me...
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  • Cle Elum, Washington

    Backpack to Navaho Pass

    12 mi / 4220 ft gain
    This is a beautiful trail in the Teanaway area, located in Washington State. The trailhead starts along the Stafford Creek Trail and follows the creek for the first couple miles of the trail. There are a number of different types of wildflowers out here that make the first few miles a nice warmup...
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