Trip Date: May 5-6, 2018
Chelan Lakeshore Trail Traverse: Prince Creek to Stehekin
Prince Creek Landing
Moore Point
Hunt’s Bluff
Stehekin Landing
Trip Report Summary
Region: North-Central Washington Cascades
Sub-Region: Sawtooth Mountains
Areas: Lake Chelan – Sawtooth Wilderness & Lake Chelan National Recreation Area
Starting Point: Lakeshore Trailhead at Prince Creek Landing on shore of Lake Chelan (Elev. 1100 feet)
Way Points: Prince Creek & Rattlesnake Creek & Rex Creek & Pioneer Creek & Cascade Creek & Meadow Creek & Round Mountain Bench & Moore Point & Fish Creek & Hunt’s Bluff & Hunt’s Creek & Lakeside / Flick Creek Camp & Flick Creek & Fourmile Creek & Hazard Creek (trail hike)
Ending Point: Lakeshore Trailhead at Stehekin Landing on Lake Chelan (Elev. 1100 feet)
Campsite: Moore Point
Approximate Stats: 18 miles traveled; 2500 feet gained; 2500 feet lost.
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Chelan Lakeshore Trail Traverse – October 2013
Full Trip Report
Eileen and I joined Kevin and Maria for a season-kickoff backpacking trip on the Chelan Lakeshore Trail. Fay also joined us for the second half of the trip, as this was a good opportunity for her to climb Round Mountain above Moore Point. I had done the lakeshore traverse several times before in the autumn but never in springtime; now I understand why it is such a popular May hike.
Day 1: Fields Point to Prince Creek to Moore Point
We boarded the Lady of the Lake at Fields Point and cruised up-lake on a mild, partly sunny morning. The mountain of backpacks filling the starboard bow of the boat, which was designated for Prince Creek-bound passengers, provided tangible evidence that this is a very popular springtime hike.
- Backpacks Heading To Prince Creek
- Maria, Kevin, and Eileen At Prince Creek
Despite the mass start, it never felt as though we were part of a large peloton, simply because we were all hiking in the same direction. The entire trail was in very good condition, having received much attention from Washington Trails Association work parties over many years.
- Eileen Hiking Up Trail On Day 1
Wildflowers were plentiful along the way, and we passed through numerous groves of flowering dogwood trees. After about 11 miles of rolling terrain, we descended onto the large alluvial fan of Moore Point and made camp on a flat-ish bench closely above the lake (6.8 hours from Prince Creek).
Grassy Trail On Day 1
The bouldery shoreline provided us with a nice dinner and campfire site for the evening. Fay strode into camp at 10:30pm, feeling completely thrashed after her ascent of Round Mountain.
Day 2: Moore Point to Stehekin Landing & Fields Point
We awoke to mostly clear skies and mild temperatures. During breakfast, Fay described her horrific bushwhacking experience of the previous day. When she pulled up her pant legs to reveal numerous lacerations on her shins, it became clear that she had encountered big-league brush.
- Breakfast At Moore Point
After breakfast, we all packed up and continued northward on the main trail, making a mandatory stop on Hunts Bluff to admire the Chelan Mountains down lake…
- Chelan Mountains From Hunts Bluff
…and the North Stehekin Mountains up lake.
- North Stehekin Mountains From Hunts Bluff
Our last stop along the trail was at Flick Creek Campground, which gives a fine down-lake view of Mirror Mountain and Bearcat Peak.
- Chelan Mountains From Flick Creek Campground
The last few miles of trail follows more closely to the lake shore. Nonetheless, the entire trail is deceptively undulating.
- Eileen On Upper Segment Of Lakeshore Trail
Photo Gallery
Click to enlarge…
