Lake Chelan State Park - Little Bear Trail

Lake Chelan State Park is small, with only a few miles of trail, but presents a fine opportunity to take a stroll along Washington’s longest lake. It’s worth a visit if spending a weekend in the area.

The park’s interpretive signs and mild terrain also make this a nice outing for youngsters. Start with the Little Bear Trail, named for the bear cub that was spotted by rangers as they surveyed the trail route. Enter the woods and quickly pass through a short tunnel beneath South Lakeshore Road.

The route then wanders though pine forest that has remained largely untouched since the park’s creation in the 1940s. When you reach a junction, you have the option of going right on the Forest Loop or left on the Bitterbrush Loop; turn left so you can make a wide loop that incorporates both trails.

Continue past the junction with the Forest Loop. The trail eventually leaves the shelter of the forest to meander through Eastern Washington ponderosa pine savanna. The path is punctuated with grasses and bitterbrush, and offers a decent view of Lake Chelan. Eventually the trail reenters the woods, where you can wander under the Forest Loop’s canopy before returning to the first junction.

WTA Pro Tip: The large campground at Lake Chelan State Park offers more than 100 campsites, some with hookups for RVs. The park’s dock and boat ramp make it popular with water enthusiasts; stand up paddleboards are available for rent.