Winter Sports

The Lake Chelan Valley is a heavily skied area. In Echo Valley, 12 miles northwest of Chelan [1], Echo Valley Ski Area (509/687-3167, www.echovalley.org [2], mid-Dec–late-Feb. Sat.–Sun. 10 a.m.–4 p.m., $20) has day and night downhill skiing on 3,000-foot Echo Mountain, served by three rope tows and a Poma lift. Other facilities here include ice-skating and snowmobile trails. Get to Echo Valley aboard the free Link buses connecting Chelan with Manson; ski racks are on all the buses.

The Echo Ridge (trailhead parking on Cooper Gulch Rd., www.lakechelannordic.org [3], $5) area contains 27 kilometers of groomed cross-country ski trails for every level of ability. Vistas from the summit are extraordinary, encompassing Lake Chelan [4], the Cascades, and the Columbia River Valley. These are maintained by the Lake Chelan Nordic Ski Club and are used as mountain bike paths in the summer.

Other Chelan-area Nordic ski trails include three miles of groomed runs at Lake Chelan Golf Course ($5), and another three miles of groomed trails plus plenty of backcountry touring at Stehekin [5]. Get ski trail maps from the chamber of commerce.

Rent cross-country and downhill ski equipment from Lake Chelan Sports (132 E. Woodin Ave., 509/682-2629, www.lakechelansports.com [6], Mon.–Sat. 9 a.m.–6 p.m., Sun. 10 a.m.–4 p.m.).

Snowmobilers will enjoy the 125 miles of trails on both sides of Lake Chelan [4], accessible from three Sno-Parks. For information contact the Lake Chelan Ranger Station (509/682-2576).

Ice-skaters will find outdoor rinks at Don Morse Memorial Park in Chelan [1], Echo Valley Ski Area, and Roses, Wapato, and Dry Lakes in Manson.