more stats
17.1 miles
Distance
4,811 ft
Climb
-4,742 ft
Descent
1 mile
High Point
69 ft
Altitude change
5,523 ft
Altitude min
6,618 ft
Altitude start
6,686 ft
Altitude end
0.1%
Grade
-56%
Grade max
33.6%
Grade min
8 miles
Distance climb
8 miles
Distance down
2,343 ft
Distance flat

Chelan Summit Details

  • Activities
    • Hike
    • Trail Running
  • Riding Area
    Lake Chelan Sawtooth Wilderness
    Twisp, Washington
  • Ref Number
    #1261
  • Difficulty Rating
    Black Diamond Rate
  • Local Popularity
    5 in Hiking [+]
    • 5 in Trail Running
  • Global Ranking
    #323829 in Hiking [+]
    • #313592 in Trail Running
  • Hiking SAC Scale
    T2 Mountain Hiking
  • Trail Type
    Singletrack
  • Direction
    Both Directions
  • Dogs Allowed
    Yes
  • eBike Allowed
    No

There is no doubt that Chelan Summit Trail is a long and challenging hike but once you reach the summit it will have been worth every step. You will get to experience flower filled meadows, rugged peaks, high alpine lakes, golden larches and the North Cascades at your door step.

The Chelan Summit trail is a 38 mile high altitude ridgetop trail between Lake Chelan drainage and the Methow River valley. This trip takes at least 4 days and can be even longer if you decide to hike some of the trails that are connected with the trail. These side trips can lead you to lakes like Surprise Lake that as very good trout fishing or to peaks with amazing views like Star Peak.

There are campsites located along the trail.

Access Info

From Chelan, drive north on Highway 97 to Pateros. Turn left onto Highway 153 for 17 miles. Turn Left onto Gold Creek Road for 1 mile. Turn left onto South Fork Gold Creek Road 4330. Continue until the junction of Grade Creek Road 8200 and Cooper Mt. road 8020. Turn right on Grade Creek Road and continue for 11 miles to South Navarre Campground.

Disclaimer

Mountain bikes are allowed from South Navarre Campground to Chipmunk Pass, which is the first 11 miles.

Local Trail Association
Traditionally Indigenous Territory

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        Directions to chelan-summit trailhead (48.211120, -120.391100)
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        Nearby Trails

        Lake Chelan Sawtooth Wilderness

        Frequently Asked Questions About Chelan Summit

        ▼ Where is Chelan Summit located?
        Chelan Summit is located in Lake Chelan Sawtooth Wilderness, Twisp, Washington, United States. It is part of the Lake Chelan Sawtooth Wilderness trail network. The trailhead is located at coordinates 48.21112, -120.3911.
        ▼ How hard is Chelan Summit?
        Chelan Summit is rated as Black Diamond difficulty. The average grade is 0.1%.
        ▼ What is the elevation gain for Chelan Summit?
        Chelan Summit has 4,811 ft of elevation gain. The trail has 4,742 ft of elevation descent. The elevation ranges from 5,523 ft to 7,404 ft.
        ▼ Is Chelan Summit a point to point trail?
        Chelan Summit is not a point to point trail. The direction is Both Directions. The trail type is singletrack.
        ▼ How long is Chelan Summit?
        Chelan Summit is 17.1 miles long. The trail type is singletrack.
        ▼ Are dogs allowed on Chelan Summit?
        Yes, dogs are allowed on Chelan Summit. Please keep dogs on a leash where required and clean up after them.
        ▼ How do I access Chelan Summit? Where is the closest parking trailhead?
        The closest parking and trailhead locations to Chelan Summit are: View all parking locations in the area.
        ▼ How busy is Chelan Summit?
        Chelan Summit is a less popular trail with lighter traffic. View recent activity on this trail.

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