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 Washington State public lands parking permit. Starts July 1, 2011. Supports our parks. |
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Contents Descriptions Fall update October 2010 The paddling on cool days with fall color is good on Lake Wenatchee. The State Park was closed but the Glacier View Campground was open and free of charge. See the fall color picture taken along the shore near Lake Wenatchee State Park. Location Glacier View Campground is on the southwest corner of Lake Wenatchee in the Cascade Mountains east of Seattle, Steven's Pass and west of Leavenworth. For the exact location check the Google Map provided. By clicking the map to enlarge it you can find directions and mileage to the kayak put-in location. The put-in The Glacier View Campground is named as such because of the lovely view of Glacier Peak and surrounding mountains. If you are fortunate to be there on a sunnier day, the views from the launch and paddle are AWESOME! Paddling This area offers a wide variety lake, pond, bog, river paddling. Note the rivers can have fairly strong currents. The mouths of the rivers cause currents in the lake near where they empty into the lake. Strong paddlers and them that are prepared might enjoy the work out going up stream. Going down stream or up be careful, there are plenty of snags under water and brush along the shorelines. If you make up the river safely there are ponds and small lakes to explore between the Little Wenatchee River and White River. Check the map for some ideas. Do these paddles at your own risk and with skill levels and gear to keep yourself safer. Conditions The water can be freezing. There are two rivers that empty into this end of the lake. The Little Wenatchee and White River. The White River is name comes from the fact it is colored by glacier silt. So, that means the water is COLD. Cold water can kill. So be prepared. Most people paddle around without cold water gear like wetsuits of dry suits or even PFD's personal flotation devices. Since this is a fairly popular area to paddle you might want to have assisted rescue skills and gear like rope, space blanket when you are the one that has to help the to stupid to breathe that are not prepared when they go in and get hypothermia. Cell Cell phones work here with a bar or two. The state park at the other end has 5 bars. This mentioned this if you need help. Weather Can be sunnier then the west side of the Cascades. But it can also be very windy. Afternoon winds are more common then not. Waves can get pretty good side with serious white caps. I can remember looking down from my parents car on the north side in a storm as a small child in awe of the violent water. Stunning Glacier View put-in and campground rates extremely high on the awesome meter. The site has pretty much what it takes to ring my MBS bells. More quiet then not except when the jet skiers and others are about. Some fossil fuel noise in the sky heading for Sea-tac. The scenery is out of a high end travel brochure of mountain, water and estuary scenery. This is a spot that brings a lot together in nature along the diverse shorelines. A true knock my socks off place. Can be breath taking. Conditions This May 2010 paddling adventure was over several mid week into the weekend days. Come early and stake a claim on a nice camping spot. Reservations are not needed or accepted for most forest camps in this region. First come first served. Off season is best because of several things. Firstly this is a popular spot. Since the state park and other camping areas are extremely populated in peak season, folks come up the road to hike up to hidden lake. Beat the crowds and camp from free during the off season. May 15 or so into the fall it costs to camp for only $14.00 a night. More often the mornings are better to paddle for calmer conditions. Afternoons are better for hiking or biking or laying around in camp. Night can be great for calmer paddling. Bring a light for the craft for any night paddling. Warnings Lake Wenatchee is famous for mosquitoes and yellow jackets. Come prepared. I suggest netting for sleeping, clothing, insect repellent and a head net when paddling in the estuary. Biting flies are another wonderful bug. Cold water wind. Can that be said enough??? Flora The camp in May has a hint of skunk cabbage smell which is a sign of spring. The rivers and shorelines have the sweet aroma of cottonwood trees. Wildflowers are everywhere around the camp and on hikes. The rivers offer spring blossoms which means bees. Yes, there are still some bees here. Be prepared. Much of the estuary was wide open with the water rising from the warm days causing more snow melt in the mountains above. During the summer a lot of the inlets are clogged with lily pads and other water plants. Critters Song birds and eagles by the ton. On the first day of arrival the fish and game dumped thousands of fish in the lake. Eagles dined well that day. Birds are everywhere including hummingbirds buzzing around. Beavers are in the estuary. Bears are supposedly abundant in the rivers in the fall when the berries are ripe and the fish are spawning.
Contents Provisions Supplies of all sorts can be found on the main highways outside of the Nason Creek Campground and Lake Wenatchee State Park entrance. There are small groceries to the north at the turn off from highway 207 that comes from highway 2 from Seattle. Check out the Midway Grocery for WIFI. Each of the stores generally has some sort of non nutritional foods and camping supplies. If you have special diet concerns like real food you might want to bring it with you or have a few days or so of corporate cancer diet junk food. Showers can be found in Lake Wenatchee State park at the east end of the lake. They are located at the beach area.
Contents Accommodations Camping Glacier View Campground $14.00 a night as of May 13, 2010. Features one of two public boat launches on the lake. Down the road from Glacier View are two other campgrounds. Lake Wenatchee State Park or Nason Creek Campground both about 4 miles down the Cedar Brae Road used to access the Glacier View launch. The above links provide information about other forest campgrounds in the area of the Little Wenatchee, White River and elsewhere like Tumwater Canyon on Highway 2 on the way to Leavenworth at the start of Tumwater Canyon. Cabins etc. Other accommodations can be found by doing a Google search for Lake Wenatchee, Leavenworth and Plain. There are no hostels in the area.
Contents Additional Information  Deliverance rating.The creep meter is fairly low in the Lake Wenatchee area. But, remember the rule about not keeping valuables in the vehicle. With gas prices rising fewer addicts and other trouble makers have the bucks to drive out to such a place and hassle people. Fishing Reports, Stocking Reports & Fish Counts from the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife. Things your need to know. Read Me disclaimer, warnings, paddle at your own risk.
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See some of the weather conditions in Washington State by viewing Web Cams in diffefrent locaitons before you head out paddling.
The west end
Lake Wenatchee and the east end topographic maps from the USGS Store. The west end features the Glacier View campground, trail to Hidden Lake, Little Wenatchee River, White River, Squaw Lake and other features. Good stuff to check out when planing and executing a paddling adventure in this area.
Approximate distance from:
GPS: 47.824269,-120.80920
Region: Cascade Mountains
Overall rating:
5 paddles.
Launch rating:
5 paddles.
Parking: Very limited parking for launching and even for campers. Washington State public lands parking permit
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Last Update: 04.07.11 12:55pm